Enfield T - Gray Finish

[mjolnir2]

Gentlemen,

Greetings... I hope everyone is well! I am currently on my way in a plane at 38,000 feet crusiing the milsurps site... pretty amazing really!

I was reviewing the thread for my rifle and remembered Peter's statement "Do we know for a fact that the grey finish is Belgium/Holland Benelux - or whatever? It is a tough coat of whatever it is. We had a Crown Agents contract to refurbish a lot of No2 and L9 pistols for ........ I seem to recall saying this some time ago so won't repeat it. But do we KNOW where the grey finish comes from for a FACT?"

Enfield (T) Rear Receiver Flats

During my search of the forum, I ran across 2 threads that I thought were interesting...

303 sniper

Grey No 4

Is there any new information regarding this finish?

For those that have them, would you please respond to this thread... maybe we can start a little investigation going to determine how many, what country they reside, etc.

Thanks!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Peter Laidler]

Since then I have seen two Inglis Mk2 Bren guns that are grey finish

[Vincent]

The gray finish looks like Du-Lite. Often called "dulite."

It was used on several weapons of the period. I believe it's a type of black oxide finish.

[browningautorifle]

I believe it's a type of black oxide finish.

Without resurrecting the whole thread, it's the grey Teflon coat done for Belgium...it's not any type of park...

[Peter Laidler]

Ah........, that's the question BAR....... But WAS it done for Belgium? Do we have any proof of this or is this just heresay passed on and on until it becomes fact? The 9mm pistols we had to refinish for the Crown Agents programme certainly didn't come from Belgium and the 2x Brens (only bodies and butt slides) I saw recently have no Belgium connection

[browningautorifle]

But WAS it done for Belgium

I don't mean to start a fight over it. No, I don't have any proof other than what we've all been discussing. It was just a simple reply meant to address Vincent's suggestion that it was Parkerizing...I'm sure we can agree at least that it's Teflon and no park...that was all. I'd love to have some hard evidence to the point also showing it was done specific for this group or that by someone named...

[Vincent]

It was just a simple reply meant to address Vincent's suggestion that it was Parkerizing...I'm sure we can agree at least that it's Teflon and no park...

I didn’t say it was Parkerized. I think “dulite” is a form of black oxide.

“Dulite” would have been used in the 40’s. PTFE or “Teflon” was pretty rare until the mid-50’s.

I have a “Teflon” coated AK47. It doesn’t look a bit like finish on the gray Enfield.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Dulite is a proprietary Oxide finish.

Read all about the company (and products) concerned here: Du-Lite Corporation

FN (or the Belgian Army) used that grey "paint" finish on their Model 49 self-loading rifles and the Model 50 .30-06 "Mauser 98" rifles: I have owned both.

Whether that finish was applied when "new" is up for discussion, as all of the 49s and 50s I have seen appear to have had their Belgian crests ground off the receiver ring.

I also once owned a Model 49 that had been painted in what looked suspiciously like the classic black "Suncorite".

To get "black" Parkerizing, add Manganese to the brew, for a grey finish, add Zinc.

Painting over Parkerizing is common; see L1A1s in general.

If the "paint" has genuine examiner's etc stamps OVER the paint, it may be have been applied at the factory. If the paint covers such stamps, it is probably done at a later date.

your mileage may vary.

[RobD]

If I recall, there were more than 49 Shades of Grey.