Winchester 6,480,xxx correct bolt color?

[CJS57]

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It is all correct parts per Riesch/Ruth except for a few obvious upgrades below. -----------------------------------------------------------------They are: Circle P Proof mark (with serifs) on the pistol grip bottom that tells me it was depot or field upgraded, not arsenal redone in total like an AA or RAA Or U marked overhauled carbine would be marked. The added parts are a Scriptic S rotary safety, an unmarked M underlined M2 magazine release, and a SA marked Type 3 front band. All the other parts on the gun are W marked and correct type/era for the 6,480,xxx serial. ------------------------------------------------Question about the bolt finish and color, It W with U subcontract mark for Universal Winding. Not a U with serifs or dots like Underwood! It is a just slightly darker color and a more blackish tint parkerized finish than the rest of the gun. What color/finish should this bolt be as installed at Winchester in 1945? It is not a semi-gloss blue/black finish that I see on all pure Winchester flat bolts and most all Winchester round bolts? ------------------------------------------------------------Question about the other upgraded parts? Since it has a SA T3 band added to it, I would assume it came out of Winchester with a Winchester T2 Band? Finally about what month of 1945 was it made?

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[mpd1978]

I think its harrisons book that says original bolts can be parkerized. I have always heard that that is not the case and all bolts were dulite blued on WW2 production carbines. I have no info to back it up, so take it for what its worth-not much. I can say I have yet to see what I thought was an original carbine with a parked bolt. That U on it is probably just an inspection mark of some kind, my 6.5 has an x in the same spot.

[CJS57]

That U on it is probably just an inspection mark

Thank you mpd1978 for that info. The reason I was thinking it is a subcontract bolt is that Winchester was offered to purchase 11,000 finished bolts from Universal Winding just a few months before the assembly of this carbine, (from War Baby pg. 320 and 333).

[BrianQ]

The bolt was refinished somewhere along the line. OEM carbine bolts were blued. The U on the bolt is an inspector mark. The bolts referenced in War Baby! were finished bolts left over from Underwood. The ones made by Universal Windings are marked WU. The barrel band and the safety may be correct, depending on when WRA got around to using the receiver.

Carbines weren't proof fired after upgrade in the field. Only the rebuild facilities like RIA, AA, BA, etc proof fired after rebuilds.

[CJS57]

Quote: "Carbines weren't proof fired after upgrade in the field. Only the rebuild facilities like RIA, AA, BA, etc proof fired after rebuilds."

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Brian, Thanks ffor the input! I always look for a blue bolt for originality myself, but there is that one book that claims some OEM bolts were parkerized. Not that I believe it on this one. Close inspeciton shows the bolt's punch mark is parkerized over, the ones on the reciever are showing white metal. ------------------------------About the SA T3 front barrel band, again close inspection shows some signs of the front sight having been removed and replaced. So with the circle P test firing proof ect. it seems likely to me the SA T3 was installed to replace a Winchester Type 2 at the same time.-------------------------------About the circle P vs. and RIA rebuild proofs. How did a rebuild facility chose which markings to stamp on a gun? Was it something like: RIA or AA equals the whole gun was dissassembled refinished, scrambled with other guns and parts into mixmaster VS. Cirlcle P equals upgrade to the newer revision parts without a full refinish? Anyone have the facts on this?

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[dbarn]

This is a subject that I will keep an open mind. I have a 6.5 Winchester with what I believe to be an original parkerized finish bolt. This one has the circle serif P on the pistol grip flat also, with no other rework markings. The extractor and firing pin are Inland. All other parts are Winchester having original finish with all wear patterns matching.

Getting back to the bolt, the parkerized finish is a very thin tranlucent gray. The punch mark is in the white, with markings very crisp. This one has a P marking underneath the lug.

I would not change anything about your carbine. It is what it is, and it's a very nice example.

[CJS57]

dbarn, Thank you so much for the pictures of your carbine and the bolt. If a bolt did truly come parkerized it is your bolt on that gun! Very convincing. But my bolt has parkerizing in the punch mark that makes me doubt mine is original. Still, what rule or military order said that all bolts must be blue from the OEM carbine supplier? But wait! .... if you rework a carbine then the bolt can be parkerized. What the hey?!!!