[ScottsGT]

About 12 years back I held my first Springfield M1a at a local gun shop that is now out of business. All I really remember is that beautiful greenish gray parkerized finish it had on it. Fast forward about 9 years and I finally bought an M1a. Well this one is a newer model made within the last 5 years, but it has a black finish, not the greenish/gray color to it.
Anyone know why some of the older springfields had the correct military finish on it?
I'm even thinking of dropping mine off at the local 'smith to get it bead blasted and reparked so it will match my Garand he did a few years back. Just seems funny to hold the Garand, then pick up the M1A and it not match. It just doesn't seem to be a military style rifle with the black plastic look to it.

[Ed]

Mine has a USGI barrel on it and the reciever matches the barrel. It was made within the last 10 years. So I'm not really sure what you mean. It is parkerized.

[ScottsGT]

Hi Ed,

Basically, my receiver, bolt, op rod, sights and all the stock metal parts are a semi gloss black. My barrel seems to have a different color to it though. I might try and get some photos tonight and post the differences.

[Bwana John]

My M-1a (s.n.# ~100,000) has a manganese black park job. I dont think there is a "real" green park, but I have seen some zinc grey park jobs that have turned green from being stored in cosmolene.

[Ed]

Well, all of my M1A is USGI except the reciever. So I guss I'm not the one to ask. It has Springfield parts at one time but I don't remember any diference in color. Lots of times the Park will become darker/greenish with the cosmoline or other oils/grease on it as it ages. I see this on Garands more and haven't looked at lots of M1A's but I think it would react the same with the same park.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/kd5txx/garand.jpg

You can maybe see my finish.