Bolt Finish

[G26ster]

Riesch's book says, "all bolts were rust blued or Du-Lite finished...." But he goes on to say, "Parkerized bolts were refinished during refurbishment." Where did the parkerized ones come from if ALL bolts were blued?

Reason I ask is that I am considering having my barreled receiver re-parked, and I would like to have the bolt refinished too, but not sure whether to have it parked or blued. Anyone?

Information

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[Bill Hollinger]

The bolt was originally blued or Du-Lite finished. They are of a different hardness and don't take Parkerizing the same. That is why when a complete carbine is refinished with all the parts at the same time the bolt doesn't match, in color, the receiver or other parts. The reason they were Parkerized when rebuilt is because the finish was worn and to bring them back and to save steps they were Parkerized. That process saves having to Parkerize some parts and blue or Du-Lite others.

The bolts were not the only part that were blue or Du-Lite finished. Sears, triggers, safeties and magazine catches had blue or Du-Lite finishes also.

[G26ster]

Thanks Bill!

[Wulf]

If you are considering having you bolt reblued...be careful. Most people who reblue cannot get the bolt to look like it originally looked. Very few people can achieve the original Dulite blue.

[INLAND44]

But in general, if you're having the Carbine refinished, the bolt would be blued along with the trigger, the pins and most other small parts. Anyone with better than average knowledge of the Carbine will be able to tell it's a commercial refinish, but it would still look great.

[Johnny Peppers]

When the finish of the 1911A1 pistol was changed from blue to phosphate, the barrel and magazine was still blued through the end of production. The tops of the magazines were tempered to keep the lips from bending out of shape, and this hardened area sometimes shows up a slightly darker color when the magazines went through rebuild and had a phosphate finish applied. The hardened area in no way affects the phosphate finish.
Does anyone know if any Carbine bolts were rust blued? The rust blue process was labor intensive and I just can't see it being used in WWII. Springfield last used rust bluing in 1918.

[Bruce McAskill]

I think the Du-lite finish is really not a bluing but closer to parkerizing then bluing. Just that the chemicals used turn the bolts into a blue/black color. A much more durable finish the rust bluing. Most collectors just say the bolts were blued and let it go at that.

[INLAND44]

Johnny; no rust bluing on carbines or any other WWII weapon that I know of unfortunately! That does give me an idea for a bolt I have, though.

[Johnny Peppers]

I think the Du-lite finish is really not a bluing but closer to parkerizing then bluing. Just that the chemicals used turn the bolts into a blue/black color. A much more durable finish the rust bluing. Most collectors just say the bolts were blued and let it go at that.

I will have to disagree there. Du-Lite is a blue and not a phosphate finish. The early Remington Rand, Ithaca, and all the US&S 1911A1 pistols were Du-Lite blued over a sandblasted finish giving it a phosphate look due to the sandblasting, but the rare Singer 1911A1 had a highly polished Du-Lite blue finish. As specified by the military, Parkerizing was a Type II phosphate finish, and bluing is a Type III black oxide finish.
The old rust blue finish was slow and labor intensive, but one of the most durable blue finishes ever used.
Du-Lite bluing is still sold today.
Du-Lite Corporation: About Us

[painter777]

Is it just me?
Or does the original blued USGI bolt finish on Saginaws look to be the darkest?

Charlie-painter777