-> JP> Damifino, Paul.  But I've been shooting DCM Garands and the
-> metal is JP> light gray, not black.
->
-> Gotta be somebody here-a-bouts what can answer this.  The last NIB
-> Colt
->  Commander I bought was a flat black, the dealer referred dto it as
-> "parkerized."  Is "parkerized" one specific finish, or a generic term
-> indicating  a class of finishes, or ???
I dug out my Brownells catalog, Paul, and checked out their information
on the Parkerizing solution they sell.
They claim it is Genuine, Original Parker Manganese Phosphate Solution.
Meets Mil-Spec STD171.
They say it's dull gray finish blends beautifully with camo gear and
won't "flash" to spook game and the coating's porous structure lets it
soak up oil to prevent rust.  The color will vary from light to dark
gray, depending on the base metal's alloy and hardness and Parkerizing
creates a superb base for a baking lacquer or camo paint finish.
Got no idea about this black finish.
Regards
John
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