M1917 finish question (pics of rifle now added)

[Claven2]

As an aside, I just went and re-checked the rifle. The bolt handle has an Eddystone "E" stamped on the underside, so I'm not convinced "S" is a separate maker, though I am prepared to believe it maybe would indicate a replacement bolt (?)

Also, looking through a magnifying glass, the "coating" on the receiver is definitely something painted on, but more robust than common paint.

[jmoore]

It looks to me like a fairly typical Post WWI US rebuild, except for whatever that coating is on the receiver. It likely "doesn't belong" on that rifle, but if it's not hurting anything I'd probably leave it be, just in case.

If it's got good forend bedding it will probably shoot very well. They seem to be pretty good about retaining the proper zero, too. Put the ladder sight at the known distance setting and pull the trigger on some 150gr flat based bullets doing ~2700fps and it ought to put 'em where it looks. At least they've done it much more often than not for me.

[madcratebuilder]

It may have a old coat of Aluma-hyde, that stuff has been around for years now. They have colors that closely duplicate Parker Rust Proofing.

Are there any Arsenal marks on the left side of the stock? Most these went through at least one clean and repair.

[Claven2]

look guys, unless someone privately degreased the rifle, applied something, then re-dunked the rifle in cosmolene, it's as it left govrenment storage. When I got it, every exposed metal surface had trace cosmolene on it. Under the woodline, there was a thin film of cosmolene everywhere, the bolt was packed with cosmo, the bore was solid cosmo-plug and none of the screw-heads were buggered except the front trigger guard screw, where someone bunged it up a bit trying to loosen it at some point. I had to use an impact driver to get it out, it was staked well.

The stock does not have a single obvious arsenal stamp (at least not anything I recognize as such), leading be to believe that it likely was NOT surplused from the US - probably from whatever country the US government gave it to after refinishing it between the wars.

IMHO this rifle was not played with or painted by any civilian.

[GeeOwn]

Did anyone ever come to a conclusion as to what this finish was? I found an Eddystone M1917 at my LGS and it's sporting the same exact look on the receiver.

[Doco overboard]

Waiting to hear what that stuff is, Its tough as nails and only flakes off. cosmoline was available off the shelf until not to long ago but I dont think its echo friendly anymore, maybe someone loaded it up for storage in the past?

[Detroit-1]

Maybe been to India? Some of the Enfields that were made or rebuilt there have the same kind of finish.

[JTDundee]

FWIW, the Eddystone/Winchester/Remington I picked up this month has that same black finish that looks like paint. The stock is well used but has no stampings or cartouches. The Eddystone bolt has that old greenish parked finish. The black coating has chipped a bit near the top of the rear sight ears but all along the barrel it looks like it was applied yesterday and the stamped inspection marks are clear and sharp and the 10-18 W mark is well defined.
I've seen a lot of parkerized firearms but never anything smooth and black like this other than some brass furniture on old Mosins that had been painted, yet that easily came off.

[AD-4NA]

In the hopes of resolving this thread, It sure looks like suncorite to me, which is now marketed as Suncorite 259 in the civilian world. The stuff is instantly familiar from collecting commonwealth weapons as well as US small arms, and solvents don't work because the stuff is well nigh indestructible.

Any search on the enfield forums on suncorite will instantly bring up a ton of information and if it is it would seem to imply that they have been in commonwealth service (not just Indian) and may have been serviced or rebuilt despite the lack of markings.