Kilroy Was Here
Member
I happen to agree with your stance. You also make a good point about how Ishapore's were transported versus their "original" finish. Yes, I wonder if perhaps they were coated in varying types of substances...not just paint? I'm just not sure.That leaves me wondering if they finished some of these rifles with Suncorite, or something close to it. It is certainly possible, I suppose.I am one of those that seeks out collects & regularly shoots milsurps that are in their original condition. I have quite a number of them. Right place, right time kinda thing.
I, however, do not consider the horrible cheap black enamel paint that I have seen slathered on many of these rifles to represent their "original condition/format". I consider "original condition/format" to be as they originally left the factory.
Some later historical alterations I would leave untouched, like the painted band on some .30-06 Lend Lease rifles, but not a poorly applied "storage" coat of cheap black paint like this.
I also do not take the whole "original condition" thing to extremes, like losing sleep over refreshing an M1 stock with BLO rather than RLO.
Fortunately for us, there are so many military firearms from history past, which were subjected to alterations and changes. I say "fortunately" because it allows for many niche collecting circles. For example, British Lend Lease Garands (as you mentioned) have increased in value as that particular M1 niche grew...as have Russian Capture items and East German VOPO equipment (just to name a few).