Hi guys,

I would like to learn the different process of treating and finishing the metal parts of guns, when it was used, for which guns (small arms, medium caliber guns or big guns) and by whom it was used. Also for ammo and bullets casings. The period I am interested is from WWI up to present times and I am also interested in knowing how the gun looks at the end because of the different processes.

I think I remember that US small arms at the beginning of WWII were bonderized and that is the reason they look like gunship grey but that later in the war they were painted black.

I would like to learn for small arms but also for bigger guns. In the case of the big guns which primers they use, how the primer looks, etc.

Thanks in advance and best regards,
Angel

Hi guys,

Nobody knows anything or where could look for that info?

Best regards,
Angel

I'll ask my dad tomorrow. He served two tours in the EOD and is an avid gun collector.

I can do this for WW2 rifles. This is the general trend I will note exceptions.

Australia
Parkerized

Belgium
Rifles covered in black enamel paint except the bolts which where left in the white.

Some MLE89/36 had blued bolts

Canada
Blued then later like Belgium painted in a black "paint".

China
Blued

Denmark
Blued except the bolt is in the white

Finland
Blued, bolts in the white. (I do not think anybody makes any of the Finnish Mosin Nagants at least not in 1/35 scale).

France
Black paint (as far as I know nobody makes the correct wartime era MAS36)

Germany
Blued expect for very late production "parkerized".

Hungary
Blued, bolts is also blued for 43M models, all else in the white.

Iran
Blued, bolts in the white

Italy
Blued, bolts in the white

Japan
Blued, bolts in the white for some type 38s, blued for type 99

Norway
Blued, bolts in the white

Poland
Blued, bolts in the white

Romania
Blued, bolts in the white

Slovak Republic
Blued, bolts in the white

Soviet Union
Blued, bolts in the white (please be aware the all non-sniper models of the Mosin Nagant had straight bolts.

Thailand
Blued

United Kingdom
Blued SMLE and the black "paint" for No.4

United States
Parkerized except for early M1903 M1917.

Yugoslavia
Blued, bolts in the white.

For hand guns all were blued except for

all but early M1911

French pistols (black paint) except for revolvers (blued)

Some United Kingdom revolved might also have been parkerized?

Oh, forgot to mention in case you need to know.

Blued refers to the standard gunmetal finish, parkerized is the gray to grayish black finish you referred to as bonderized, in the white means the metal was left bare.

Thanks Matt for your help.

Do you happen to have any photo of the blued and parkerized? Was there or is there any difference in the color between the different countries and periods?

I don't know why but I think I read somewhere that german parkerized guns at the end of the war was very transparent.

Thanks in advance,
Angel

Hi Angel,
Parkerized finishes are matte, not polished as blued finishes are. I have an M1 carbine, mid-WWII production, and its finish is dull gray, but in some light it appears a little greenish. I've seen the same tone on M1 Garand rifles.
Hope that helps.
Dick

Thanks Dick for your info.

Best regards,
Angel