M1917 finish question (pics of rifle now added)

[Claven2]

It's definitely NOT a bubba finish gun. For one thing, the wood is not varnished, I had just rubbed it down with a thin coat of linseed oil before taking the photos I can see how it looks that way with the flash glinting off the oil, but I know my gun finishes and the finish here is aged raw linseed oil 100% for certain.

As for the provenance, I know for a fact it came out of an old estate collection that hadn't been added to in 30 years. It also came completely gooped in arsenal cosmolene - even the bore, under the rear sight spring, everywhere.

I am pretty certain it IS a refurbished rifle (more than one finish, evidence of sand blasting under the park, armorer replacement bolt) - the question is whether it's a US refinish, or if it was a military aid rifle refinished elsewhere and in what timeframe (i.e. post-WW1 or WW2 era or later?).

It follows the pattern of a US refinished rifle except for what appears to be a "coating" applied over the receiver which has then seen wear and use. Actually, it looks exactly like the black paint finish on the very few original finish M1903MkI rifles I have come across - maybe there's something to that?

I should also mention, there is not a single spot of rust pitting anywhere on the rifle that has been parked over. The finish is smooth sandblast, so if there was ever any rust prior to refurb, at best, it would have been superficial surface rust.

[Claven2]

PS: Mystery about the receiver coating (which I intend to leave intact) aside, I'm very happy with this rifle - it should make an excellent shooter and is in really nice mechanical condition.

[NRA]

but ...... if it was sandblasted the finish would be much smoother? looks more sanded underneath

[Patrick Chadwick]

PS: Mystery about the receiver coating (which I intend to leave intact) aside, I'm very happy with this rifle - it should make an excellent shooter and is in really nice mechanical condition.

Which is surely more important than who did what when why and how to the finish - speaking as a shooter, not a collector.

[Claven2]

but ...... if it was sandblasted the finish would be much smoother? looks more sanded underneath

You might be thinking of bead blasting, which is a more uniform micro-finish. In-hand, it's obvious that the barrel was sandblasted, which is typical of a inter-war or WW2 overhaul in the states. It's also only parkerized (not coated with anything else) and has gone that USGI "greenish" colour with age.

The receiver is another animal. If it looks gritty, that's the coating I was referring to. In the areas where it's worn off, the finish beneath is an identical sandblast to the barrel finish.

For chuck: the bolt is an Eddystone-made part. I did a quick search and checked Stratton - didn't see any info about S-marked WW1-era bolts being replacements? I don't doubt it's true - but where did you come across that info? I had thought refurb-replacement bolts are usually either K or USMC marked? (not to be confused with the Corps).

[Claven2]

Which is surely more important than who did what when why and how to the finish - speaking as a shooter, not a collector.

LOL - except that I am both, so the mystery will torture me to the grave

I wouldn't be harping on it, except its provenance of having been overhauled by a military facility is overwhelming - and yet, I've not seen any other M1917's with what is obviously something applied over the park.

[NRA]

what would a J on the bolt handle mean?

[Chuckindenver]

thats an S..and its the maker of the bolt, dont rememmber that one off the top of my head..
so ill bet that at one time some one used mineral spirits to clean the rifle, and or gasoline..and removed the oil and grease..that would also make the phosphate clump up, and come off is it was done on a hot day..you may want to whipe some grease on it, and let it sit for a while, that will toughen up the finish a little better.
iv seen that before when a customer trys to get the shipping grease off a nice newly parkerized weapon. they rust up pretty fast after that.

[Claven2]

Actually, I tried acetone, varsol and lacquer thinner on the finish to see what would happen and it didn't touch it. I think the finish is a coating over top park, not clumped-up phosphate if that makes any sense? You can mechanically remove it by scratching at it with a brass scraper. It flakes off like paint chips, but doesn't react to normal paint removers.

It's like british suncorite, but not glossy.

[NRA]

mine has an J? what does the J stand for?