Ishpor Enfields, and painted finish...?

[Alan de Enfield]

A scan of an article taken from a pre-WW1 article on the manufacture of Lee Enfield barrels may be of interest '

"Browning of Barrels"

(or Blueing by another name)

[browningautorifle]

Several of the small parts on the safety mechanism actually came out with a purplish tinge

Because of the different content of the parts. We tried a stronger solution of bluing salts to give it a black finish, kind of a trial and error. Also you can use an oxynate 84 solution as for stainless and it will give them black but you may need to pickle them in Muriatic acid first to clean the metal pores.

[Singer B]

Because of the different content of the parts. We tried a stronger solution of bluing salts to give it a black finish, kind of a trial and error. Also you can use an oxynate 84 solution as for stainless and it will give them black but you may need to pickle them in Muriatic acid first to clean the metal pores.

Thanks but I like them just the way they are. It adds some character to it. Actually went and shot it yesterday with someone who had never experienced a gun like it. He had a lot of fun with it.

[Wireman134]

While the rifle is apart check the "draws". They turn to mush from all the oil migrating down when rifle is sitting in the rack. Use JB Weld to repair.

[Surpmil]

Glass beads need to be used with caution: too high a pressure or too new beads can stipple a surface more than is desirable. The effect is like a microscopic shot blast and when the beads are new and intact "balls", they can "peen" a surface much more than when they are well broken up into tiny jagged fragments, but air pressure is more important in this than the age of the beads.

A fresh coat of parkerizing is a perfect base for paint, especially if the crystalline structure is good - meaning that the chemistry of the bath has been maintained where it should be. Blotchy, inconsistent or thin finishes with inadequate crystal formation are the result if not maintained.