Parkerizing an M1 Garand

[HankB]

I recently got another CMP Garand, this one a "Field Grade" mixmaster.

What I'd like is a recommendation for someone who does a decent "WWII" - type gray reparkerizing on M1s . . . these days it looks like most shops are doing a very very dark, almost black parkerizing, and I'd like something a little bit more "period authentic."

 

[DnPRK]

Google "Deans Gun Restorations"

 

[Sunray]

"...more "period authentic."..." This is a huge heated discussion. One site I've seen said that the original M-1's were black. However, when I had mine done by a regular metal finishing shop, long ago, I said Parkerizing and it came back in shades of grey. The gas tube included. The shade of grey depends on the steel the finish goes on. You won't get all of the parts all one colour.
Look in the Yellow Pages for metal finishing shops, call a few and ask, first if they do firearms and if they can do grey. Shouldn't be a big deal, but not all shop can or will do firearms. The colour is created by the use of different chemicals.
The important part is take out all of the springs and send only the parts you want re-done. You may run into a time lag too as parkerizing isn't a modern metal finish for industry.
You know that it's not impossible to do your own parkerizing. Just a thought.
Go here for a how-to. http://www.jouster.com/articles30m1/parkerizing.html

 

[HankB]

DnPRK: Thanks - I know about DGR (The CMP includes one of his brochures when you buy a rifle) and Dean has a good rep, but his park generally turns out virtually black.

Sunray: They parked the GAS TUBE? Surprised stainless took the finish. As for parking it myself, I've looked into it and unless I'm doing several, it just doesn't look cost-efficient to set up for it.

And as far as the originals being black . . . I don't think so. Some turned a little green from (allegedly) long-term exposure to oil, GI bore cleaner, and cosmoline, but the WWII vintage rifles I've seen were shades of gray.

 

[C-5Driver]

Orion7 did a great job re-parkerizing a reciever for me some years ago. Came out a very nice dark gray (definitely not black) It matched my original finish barrel very well.

 

[Mac's]

Mac's offers a dark gray Tuff-Gun 1 finish that we have been told is close in color appearance to some of the WWII era parkerizing. (There were a LOT of different shades!) We can apply that finish to every metal part, Stainless included. Please check out the web site or e-mail us for more info. Keep yer powder dry, Mac.
Mac's Shootin' Irons
Tuff-Gun Finishes. The Name Says It All.
http://www.shootiniron.com

 

[bosshoff]

I can't say enough about a small gunshop in Elkhorn Wisc. called Pidcocks Guns. Thomas Pidcock is the owner/gunsmith, and does an awsome job on blueing, parkerizing, and re-doing wooden stocks. He did my Garand wood, and it looks like a million bucks. My Garand was bought in 1993, and it was sweet from the get-go, albiet the barrel was worn. I had him re-barrel it using a N.O.S. USGI Garand barrel. I really should get some pictures.