Blued vs. Parked Rock-Ola Bolt???

[Greg V]

I have two Rock-Ola bolts, one blued and the other a very smooth, greenish park. Both are, what I guess are called, type two. The blued one is marked ROCK-OLA on the right lug, the parked one is the same on the left lug. Would both actually have their original finishes? The parked one doesn't look like it was ever beadblasted and it headspaces quite a bit better than the blued one. I assume the blued one is earlier.

Thanks, Greg V

Information

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[Mike in NC]

All of the WWII carbine bolts had a blued or to be technical, Dulite finish. Any parkerized WWII bolts have been refinished, no mater how smooth the surface is. The bolt with the "ROCK-OLA" on the right lug is the earlier version of the two flat Rock-ola bolts. There is some varation between all bolts with respect to headspace and with some even more so. It is also possible that the earlier version with the "ROCK-OLA" on the right lug has accumulated more wear on the back side of the lugs or on the face of the bolt that the other parked bolt.

The post war replacement bolts were originally parkerized.

[Greg V]

Thanks Mike. I think I'll keep the parked one and put it in my Rock-Ola, it matches the rifle finish better.

[Bill Hollinger]

FWIW, The finish on the bolt never matched the receiver. Notice on my Underwood how the bolt is darker (Dulite) than the receiver. So having the bolt match in color with the receiver is not correct.

[Greg V]

I agree Bill, I have probably seen many more that didn't match than do. But, actually the parked one did come in the rifle. I know, still doesn't make it original to the rifle. Doesn't matter much anyway, it's just a late featured mixmaster. I do like your Underwood, Bill.

[dbarn]

The punch marks on the blue bolt show a burnishing of the metal indicating original finish. In my personal collection, I have a 6.5 million Winchester with what is believed to be an original finish parked bolt and know of someone else who also claims to have one. hth.

[Johnny Peppers]

The smooth finish of the phosphate finished bolt is probably due to the hardness of the bolt. The harder the surface the less it is affected by the sandblasting. The 1911/1911A1 pistol magazines were hardened from the feed lips to below the magazine catch. On magazines that have been refinished from the original Du-Lite blue to phosphate, there is a difference in the appearance of the finish due to the hardened area not being affected as much by the sandblasting.

[Mike in NC]

If the late Rockola is from the CMP and is one of the Italian return carbines, the bolt is absolutely not the original bolt. All the Italian return carbines were shipped from Europe without bolts and when bolts were put back into the carbines as the headspace was checked an attempt was made to put the correct manufacturer's bolt back in that make of carbine. A Rockola bolt probably wound up in the Rockola by intent, not chance.

[Greg V]

It is a CMP Italian return. Another good reason not to waste the original finish bolt in that rifle.