Correct finish on Winchester 1917

[newcastle]

I have a model 1917 which looks pretty much unused - a couple of minor dings and alot of cosmo lurking but that's about it. What is the correct finish for this rifle (barrel date july 1918).
Also, it has the flaming bomb on the Bolt handle but no serial number. I'm more familiar with the P14 so I was expecting a serial number there. Am I wrong in that?

Information

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[Doug Rammel]

It won't have a serial # on the bolt. That was a British thing.

Use BLO on the wood.

[jamie5070]

Attachment 17824Original finish on the metal was blued. The post WWI parkerizing looks black and is not sand blasted. WWII parkerizing is they grey parkerizing. I have a takeoff barrel that shows the comparrison. It was parked after WW with the sight on. If the pic loads you will be able to see the difference. Second barrel from the right.
john

[Chuckindenver]

early Winchesters were rust blued, late production, mangase phosphate.

[newcastle]

This isn't blued. looks more like an 03-A3 finish - is that what the manganese phosphate finish looks like?

[Chuckindenver]

manganese phosphate is a dark grey finish, common on M1 Garands,
Zinc phoshate, is a light grey finish, common with rebuild weapons, and likely the finish on said rifle,

[mike16]

I think according to farris only the late eddystones were parked

winshesters were blued to the end?

rebuilt ones were parked

the color of the parkerizing can be altered, there may be a standard formula that results in a consistant color but under wartime conditions you will see a difference from batch to batch. also the color can be intentionally changed as well.

[newcastle]

I shall compare to the garand and see what's what. Ans handily there's a gun show otmorrow and I knwo a guy who's going who has a lot of these so I ask him too.

[Chuckindenver]

post a pic or 2...ill let you know. chances are, if the bolt,screws ect are parkerized as well its a rebuild, if the small bits,, bolt, bolt latch screws, springs ect are blue, then it may be a factory park.

[mike16]

I have an early winchester with a replacement barrel and an eddy stock, both the reciever and barrel are blued