FINISHES

GRADE #1 Matte

Matte is achieved by glass beading and applying a black oxide coating, (bluing) and is used on most guns for hunting and law enforcement as it gives the firearm a non-reflective finish that is most desirable in the field. The majority of our custom gunsmiths use this finish on their custom rifles used for hunting.

GRADE #2 Field

Field is the finish that comes with most all factory bolt action rifles and self loading pistols. It is our most popular finish.

GRADE # 3 Deluxe

Deluxe is the deep black finish you find on the more expensive factory bolt action rifles, custom rifles, lever action rifles, revolvers and engraved guns.

GRADE #4 Master

Master is for the most demanding customer who wants a show quality finish, a true mirror finish. We can only accept guns which are in very good condition for this high quality finish.

GRADE #5 G Parkerized

Parkerized is for older military rifles. This finish will resist rust better than bluing. Please note that the gray color produced by the finish may vary with different metals, i.e., the receiver and barrel, slide and frame. Please see below for more on parkerizing colors.

GRADE #5 B Parkerized

This is the same as above except it is completely black for those discriminating customers.

BLUING & PARKERIZING

We start off with completely disassembling the firearm down to the last screw and spring. The pieces are cleaned and bead blasted to remove any rust if necessary.

The parts are sanded to remove any pitting, keeping in mind that the lettering should always remain. The metal is then polished to the finish you have requested.

After it is inspected it is chemically cleaned, rinsed, then into the hot blue tank at 290 to 310 degrees temperature or into the parkerizing tank at 200 degrees to apply the finish.

When the finish has taken to the metal, the parts are removed, rinsed in water, then put into the neutralizer tank to remove any traces of the bluing salts.

The parts are then transferred to a rinse water tank to remove the neutralizer prior to being placed in our water displacing oil, which displaces any molecules of water left on the metal.

The firearm is then reassembled, checked for function, a curing oil is applied, it is wrapped and packaged for return shipment.

PARKERIZING COLORS

An Historical Perspective by Scott A. Duff

If you want to start an argument among collectors of U.S. Military Small Arms ask: "What color Parkerizing is original?" This seemingly simple question will provoke endless discussion, and provide a wider variety of answers than one could assume possible. Research conducted in the preparation of several Ml rifle related books has provided the opportunity to examine thousands of Garands, including hundreds of rifles in original configuration. Observations indicate the color of the Parkerized finish varied with the conditions under which the Parkerizing was applied, the era of the rifle's manufacture and the condition and length of time they were stored. Specific factors affecting the color resulting from the Parkerizing process include the type of phosphate used, the temperature and duration of the process, the saturating oil bath, and the preservative coating's reaction on the com-pounds contained in the Parkerizing. In addition, the method and chemicals used in heat treating and the specified hardness of the individual component also affected the finish color. For instance, a softer metal has a darker finish than a harder one.

Descriptions of variations in color and shade are subjective, and the same finish may be described differently by two different people. With that in mind, original finishes have been observed which are: charcoal black, gloss black, black with a noticeable green tint, dark olive green, a light, almost translucent gray, and translucent gray with a green cast. The earliest original rifles examined are in the collection at Springfield Armory National Historic Site. These rifles, serial numbers 81,87, 79115, 100,000, 1 million, 2 million and 3 million, are in "as-new" condition. They were deemed of historical significance, and generally transferred directly from the factory to the museum shortly after manufacture. They all are of charcoal black color. Early production Winchester Ml's are of the same color. None of these rifles have been coated with Cosmoline or saturated with oil. It is interesting to note that M14 rifles were not subject to Cosmoline coating and are the same color as these early Garands.

Other Ml rifles manufactured during this era which have seen service, have been observed to be of gloss black or dark green finish. It is believed that the gloss black is primarily a result of repeated cleaning with solvent and oil-soaked rags which gave an almost polished effect to the finish. The frequently encountered, dark green Parkerized finish is believed to be primarily a result of the compounds present in the Parkerized finish chemically reacting to the Cosmoline used for corrosion prevention during long term storage. Observations of original Garands manufactured by Springfield and Winchester indicate a change in the finish color from black to a translucent gray during the late summer of 1944. The Parkerizing process used to finish Ml's of post World War 11 manufacture appears to have returned to the charcoal black finish. If the rifle has been stored in Cosmoline, a green tint may be noted.

So, what color Parkerizing is original? Most "as new" Garands are charcoal black. Original finishes of gloss black, black with a noticeable green tint, dark olive green, a light, almost translucent gray, and translucent gray with a green cast have been observed. The variables mentioned above and more than fifty years of use and storage make it impossible to give a specific answer. However, one thing is certain; the argument among collectors and aficionados will continue.