No32 Mk1, 2, 3 ..Original Issued Finish ?

[PScott]

What was the "original" issued finish on the No32 mk 1, 2 ,3?

Were they "Blued" or "Painted"? or were they only painted after a refurb?

Thanks..Paul.

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[Roger Payne]

Paul,
There isn't a simple answer to that as it depends on when they were made, by which manufacturer etc etc. Most if not all early scopes were blued, as were some later scopes (eg Cooke Troughton & Simms & REL Mk3's); but many of the late scopes also seem to have come out of the factory with a black painted finish. Of course, if any scope has been through a post-WW2 refurb it is likely to be suncorited. Hope this helps a bit.

ATB

[PScott]

Thanks Roger,

That explain,s why i have seen so many variations on the finish.

[Beerhunter]

My HB Mk.1 looks like someone on care in the community painted it black with a bog brush. I'm loath to monkey with it in case its the original finish.

[PrinzEugen]

My hbm mk1 is blued - looks original to me.

[Roger Payne]

Yep, all the HBM Co's I've ever seen that were 'unadulterated' were blued, both the Mk1's & the Mk2's. Interestingly a few of the very first production run were also dated (1941), but that didn't last long & they are generally regarded as one of the manufacturers that didn't date their scopes. I've always wanted one of those very early dated ones, but the only one I've ever seen in the flesh was at a Bisley show years ago on the most dreadful lash-up of a fake No4T that you could ever have the misfortune to see. I'd have had to have bought the whole sorry lot just to get the scope so it was a non-starter unfortunately.

ATB

[Surpmil]

I recall having a Mk3 No 16970 that had some sort of phosphate or "brunofix" finish on it. I'm 99% sure it had never been refinished from the wear.

[Roger Payne]

Yes, I think this is a finish that seems to be unique amongst Mk3's to those made by Kershaw. Did yours have a 'thin' black paint finish over it - sometimes it's difficult to know if it's original or an ordnance refurb. However some were very obviously painted from new, like the THCo Mk3's, for example.

ATB

[Surpmil]

Yes, I think this is a finish that seems to be unique amongst Mk3's to those made by Kershaw. Did yours have a 'thin' black paint finish over it - sometimes it's difficult to know if it's original or an ordnance refurb. However some were very obviously painted from new, like the THCo Mk3's, for example.

ATB

It may have had once Roger, but there was no trace of it when I got it. The brass parts were blackened and then painted and most of that had come off too. It still had excellent mechanicals though.

[Peter Laidler]

Like I always say, the finish is only of interest if you've got a rifle that comes with the factory finish too. Once they've come through our main workshops, then they get the finish that we give them! And in my engineering experience, the later phosphate and hard paint finish far, far exceeds the original controlled corrosion finish of blueing or blacking.