WTK: M73B1 Painted or Blued?

[oprod]

I have been sent an M73b1 scope sez so any how... It has been repainted black a long time ago. there is a run in the paint up near the knob adjustment plate. The paint is more shiny then a satin but a little less shiny then a gloss. The serial number on the scope knob plate does not match the serial number on the tube of the scope although both serial numbers are withen the same range. One of the screws on the scope knob plate shows it has been monkeyed with. So my questions are thus: Were these scopes originally blued? Are the arsenals ever known for painting the scopes or just parkerizing them? (this one has not been parked) Should the knob cover serial number match the number on the scope tube? There are no numbers on the tube indicating rifle serial number btw.

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[Chuckindenver]

the scopes were blued, they didnt rebuold the 330 scopes, they just replaced them with a better scope,
likely, bubba tinkered with the scope and painted it as well, not uncommon for the numbers not to match. should be marked M73B1 on the data plate. and not scratched in the side with a jacknife or vibro tool marker.
they used a arc engraver to mark tools, guns, ect, in the mitilary, you cant remove that type of mark, it will always come back.

[xarmor]

I agree with Chuck. I have seen some painted before but they were Grey and used on Navy ships for radar aiming (or something like that).

[oprod]

I guess I should add that the serial number on the plate is engraved and the one on the tube is roll marked. no electropenciling seen but could be under paint.

[xarmor]

OPROD, (from your Jouster posting)
The two numbers you list are not the serial numbers, they are the drawing numbers for different parts of the scope. 7635029 is the data plate drawing number and 7669611 is the tube drawing number. The SN should be lightly electro penciled on the data plate right above the 7635029 number. Sounds like the scope is correct as a late war scope, just the paint is incorrect.