3/44 Winchester

[vintage hunter]

Some if not all formulations of cold blue also emit a very distinct odor for a good while after application. Rub the suspected area fairly hard and fast with your finger tip until you feel heat being generated and give the part a sniff. The odor is had to describe but to me it has a sort of irony, mildly acidic, skunky aroma, like someone mixed hydrochloric acid with skunk pi$$ then poured it on a brillo pad.

[browningautorifle]

That's right, that's why at shows you see guys sniffing guns. The inexperienced make a joke out of that...

[SRiverrat11]

Some if not all formulations of cold blue also emit a very distinct odor for a good while after application. Rub the suspected area fairly hard and fast with your finger tip until you feel heat being generated and give the part a sniff. The odor is had to describe but to me it has a sort of irony, mildly acidic, skunky aroma, like someone mixed hydrochloric acid with skunk pi$$ then poured it on a brillo pad.

Thank you guys. This is why I like this site. I doubt I would have learned that anywhere around here. And I will do that when I get back.

[Bob Seijas]

Should be an intertwined WP in an oval on the side of the barrel, but some got missed. We saw several like that among the Navy 7.62 conversions at CMP (see Fall 2012 GCA Journal)

[browningautorifle]

WP in an oval

Right. That's what I meant but said poorly.

[SRiverrat11]

Okay, I rubbed the trigger housing til it was warm. Didnt smell anything. But you said if it was recent. And I found the WP intertwined. Thanks for all the help guys!