BSA Shirley metal finish?

[Ridolpho]

Can anyone out there tell me with certainty what the original finish (metal) on a '45 No.4T made by BSA should have been? My rifle appears, on the surface, to be in virtually new condition however it has been suggested, and I consider it likely, that it has been re-finished. Everything matches, bore is pristine, barely a ding or scrape on the metal and original stampings look very sharp. Whatever the finish is, it soaks up oil like parkerizing and looks like parkerizing under a microscope (sorry, I'm a geologist and couldn't resist!). The other thing I find interesting is that certain marks obviously pre-date the finish (for ex. the D7E in-house Enfield examiners stamp) while other marks appear to post-date it. I'll post photos later after I get home from work but thought I'd see what the concensus is regarding what the finish should be. Thanks, in advance, for any thoughts.

Ridolpho

Information

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[Thunderbox]

Most BSAs had a good quality blued finish. If your rifle appears to have a matt parkerised finish, then its probably had an (unmarked) FTR.

[Roger Payne]

T'box is right, but by late war the 4T's were generally 'brunofixed' which is indeed a sort of textured form of parkerising. Earlier BSA 4T rifles were blued. The situation is nowadays complicated further because so many honest rifles we come across have been FTR'ed post war & will generally be 'phossed & blacked' (blasted, parkerised, & then painted with suncorite).

ATB

[Ridolpho]

Thanks guys- I have a lot of "control" pieces to compare with including park'd Lithgow, Longbranch, and POF; Sunkorited FTR'd No.4T, Brush? painted Ishapore; a number of blued commercial BSA's, etc. The textures are quite different and distinct. One surprise- a green park'd 1903A3 looks radically different from other park'd surfaces and must be a rather different formulation or process? Another No.4 I have for comparison is a still in cosmoline Faz Mk2 (fifties)- what was the surface finish on those? In any case, I'll throw up a few photos tonight.

Ridolpho

[Ridolpho]

Well, here's a few shots. Having a very hard time getting photos that have colour close to real thing. The blacker appearing shots were taken two days after a light oiling of the surface. I think you can also see (perhaps with a little imagination) examples of adjoining stampings having different appearance- as if one was made before the coating and one after. You can also see how clean the gun is. Previous owner claimed to have owned it for 20 years without having shot it. So, my basic question: is this possibly an original coating on the metal? Again, under the 'scope it most closely resembles known parkerized surfaces I had available for comparison. Appreciate any thoughts.

Ridolpho

[tbonesmith]

Pretty sweet looking rifle! But clear as day refinished at some stage after leaving the factory for the first time. The model designation on the left side of the body was scratched/electro pencilled in to the original blued finish and would appear as bare metal in a factory new finish. Looks like a suncorite finish to me.

[jmoore]

Suncorite or flat black paint full of oil. Not the finish it had in '45, regardless. Stock's been redone, too, but not a bad example. The Century arms marking... 1993 seems a bit early, but it could be a only a few off. Would guess closer to 15-10 years.

If he didn't shoot it, then you need to make up for lost time! That's a good range rifle.

[Roger Payne]

Yep, that's typical 'phossed & blacked'. Suncorite, when dry, looks matte, but when you wipe it over with a film of oil it takes on a satin appearance.

[Ridolpho]

Thanks gentlemen, I appreciate your help. It will be a range rifle very soon as I've acquired a No. 32 Mk2 and original bracket to use on it. Unfortunately some forend work is needed as it appears to have been shot at some time with very poor clamping at the front triggerguard screw. Draws are the tightest I've yet owned but that wasn't enough to preclude damage. Knowing for sure that it's not original gives me the go-ahead to get serious with the repairs.

Ridolpho