-> JP> Parkerized is a non-reflective light-to-medium gray, Paul, not
 -> black.
 -> Uh...hmmm.  What dat is the flat black lookin' finish?
PN> 
PN>  JP> Damifino, Paul.  But I've been shooting DCM Garands and the metal is
PN>  JP> light gray, not black.
PN> 
PN>  Gotta be somebody here-a-bouts what can answer this.  The last NIB Colt
PN>  Commander I bought was a flat black, the dealer referred dto it as
PN>  "parkerized."  Is "parkerized" one specific finish, or a generic term
PN>  indicating  a class of finishes, or ???
    It is a generic term for a finish correctly referred to as Phosphating.
                        
    Depending on the length of time the metal is in the solution, that will
vary the darkness of the finish.  Also, storage and treatments after the
finishing is done will also affect the coloring, as can be seen in some WW II 
firearms which are a greenisn tinge, which occurred from a reaction with the
lube/grease they were stored in for preservation.
    "Parkerizing" can vary from light to medium to dark grey, to a black, a 
greenish tinge and also a slight brownish tinge to the finish.  This is also
dependent on the chemical composition which the original solution was mixed 
from.  One refinishing outift offered, approx 10-12 color variations on 
"parkerizing" in SGN.  This gave you the choice of matching your gun to the 
original finish color, as different countries also use different 
rmulations.
    Hope this helps... if not, at least I've managed to really confuse 
hings.
         
    :)
         
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