“The parts to be browned (the bayonet, ramrod, bolt, sleeve side plate, gate, carrier, receiver, follower, cocking piece, sear, trigger, cap spring, cleaning rod, ejector, extractor, extractor spring, front sight, hinge bar head, magazine spring and striker) (except the barrel) will be polished on tape with No. 80 or 90 emery where necessary and with 120 or finer if required, or on walrus wheels with the same sizes as emery as is used on belt, being careful not to change the dimensions or round the corners of the working parts.
The barrel will be thoroughly brushed and cleaned but not polished. The receiver and all other parts will be polished, being careful not to polish any deeper than is actually necessary to remove rust and dirt.”
How should Krag metal look?
Re: How should Krag metal look?
Mallory’s book arrived today — in Appendix 10 is the 1907 rearsenal instructions — your receiver was rust blued/browned.
Re: How should Krag metal look?
Further reading this morning — the arsenal instruction from 1907 in the appendix also gives instruction on how to recase harden rifles with either a quench in water (color case hardening) or quench in sperm oil (blackish case hardening). I am blown away with the amount on knowledge in this book.