Plum patina?

[Patrick Chadwick]

Yes, that's exactly how the extractor looks on my Gew. 98 bolt.

But please note, this is the original finish - whether or not intentional - and not a "patina". A patina on metal is a surface that develops slowly, usually as a result of (partial) oxidization, and is therefore normally dull. On wood, patina development is much more complicated, because of chemical interactions between the wood and materials applied to the surface (oils, shellac, varnish etc.) and their slow reaction to humidity, temperature and light.

In the field of old guns, a lot of what is hyped up as "patina" is just muck and corrosion resulting from lack of care. That is not the same thing at all as the patina that develops on, for instance, a piece of antique furniture that has been regularly polished over a couple of centuries!

And a splendid Christmas to you all

[musketshooter]

Plumb patnia is a result of the bluing salts degrading to the point where they will not blacken metal.

[jmoore]

Some extractor coloration photos. Sorry, no Russian rework example! :







Neither of the above rifles have been refinished, BTW. Might be able to round up some more, but none have that common Russian hue!