finish on Lithgow metal?

[louthepou]

Hi folks,

I have been tasked with refurbing a Lithgow No1Mk3*. Trouble is, the metal has been wire-brushed quite drastically. What are my options? Leave it alone; blue it; or... ?

Thanks for any input...

Louis

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[xa-coupe]

I vote phosphate !

[Simon P]

I personally would Phosphate / Parkerize!

[Rowdy]

Blue until about 41 then parkerize.

[louthepou]

Thanks guys. Follow up- question then

How would one go about phosphating a gun in Canada?

Lou

[tbonesmith]

I've done a couple by bead blasting with very fine glass beads, then getting it all hot blued. Looks very authentic, and most gunsmiths can hot blue. I tried everywhere for someone who could parkerize, or provide me a recipe to do so, and couldn't find either. Also even if you do phosphate/parkerize it will be pot luck what colour you actually end up with, if it comes out silvery/grey it will be heaps worse than a blued bead blasted surface. Mine looked black and flat, and you could only really tell when you held it next to one with an original finish.

[Peter Laidler]

Send it to BDL in SC. He is the phosphating maestro.........................

[Brian Dick]

Yup, manganese phosphate is the ticket and original color. Many 1941 and earlier rifles were also Parkerized during the FTR programs in Australia.

[louthepou]

Thanks guys. Wish I could simply mail it to you Brian. But it'd be cross border, and therefore not an option...

"Phosphating Maestro"... I like that, Peter!

Louis