M1A1 Stock Metal Finish

[ljwagg]

Just purchased an AO M1A1 and find that the stock metal is blued. All the original stocks I've seen are parked, but they've also all been through an arsenal rebuild. Does anyone know if the originals were initially issued blued or parked? I do WWII reenacting and would like to get mine correct for wartime issue. I'll be changing out the "faux" leather pad and if necessary, I can park it at the same time. I had an Inland a few years back and put a repro M1A1 stock on it and parked the metal. Looked good, but was wondering if this was really correct on the first issue of the folders.
Thanks
lj

Information

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[INLAND44]

Blued is correct. The Parkerized ones have been refinished. At least this is my take on it and I am not a M1A1 owner or expert.

[edlmann]

Just purchased an AO M1A1 and find that the stock metal is blued. All the original stocks I've seen are parked, but they've also all been through an arsenal rebuild. Does anyone know if the originals were initially issued blued or parked? I do WWII reenacting and would like to get mine correct for wartime issue. I'll be changing out the "faux" leather pad and if necessary, I can park it at the same time. I had an Inland a few years back and put a repro M1A1 stock on it and parked the metal. Looked good, but was wondering if this was really correct on the first issue of the folders.

Click here for M1A1 stock upgrades.

[Garandrew]

Mine is from 8-43, 500K range, the wire stock is not blued, its a darker park than the receiver/barrel, but not blued either.
I think Royal originally parked the stocks for delivery to Inland.
Ive had this one for 30 years.
The hardware that is the recoil plate, holding the wire stock to the carbine, has faded in color.
I have detailed pics if requested.
Andy

[Maniac]

I had a chance to inspect an M1A1 that the owner believes is unissued, it's on a 6 mil Inland and the stock metal is parkerized. I'm going back with my bolt tool to disassemble the bolt in his early spring tube WRA, he has verified all parts on same except for the bolt internals. He said I could take pix (of the M1A1 and others, including an IP) when I do I'll post them for the forum members here to examine & render opinions on. Since I'm a relative newbie to carbine collecting I haven't seen enough of them (especially M1A1's) to know what I'm looking at but this one looks unissued and was part of a 40 year old estate collection until it was acquired by the partner of the fellow who has it. The M1A1 & IP are to be auctioned off some time in the not-too-distant future but he plans to keep the Winnie for now. Rest assured, I've already put him on notice that if he wants to sell the WRA I'm VERY interested!

[Garandrew]

500K 8-43 Inland

m1a1stock pictures by AndrewG1957 - Photobucket

[Rob13]

Never saw an original that was blued!

[jimb16]

Neither have I.....