Should I blue....?

Semislinger · 01-16-2008, 08:56 PM

So I received an M1 carbine for the very low price of $250. I posted some questions and a list of parts in a previous post: http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/m1-...ter-sorts.html (Frankincarbine? a.k.a. Mixmaster of Sorts)

Given that it has been modified from it's original form, should I blue it?

The bore is good and it shoots accurate.

Most of the parkerizing is gone. I don;t really want to re-parkerize.

What do you think?

I want to get the opinion of those who care.

Thanks

oldjarhead · 01-17-2008, 12:22 PM

It depends on whether you are interested in retaining a simple "collector" value or simply preserving the metal. My personal choice, if I was going to re-finish a non-commercial carbine, would be to re-parkerize. It is a stronger finish than bluing and will keep a military carbine looking military. I have three military carbines and I would not even consider a blue finish on any of them. If your carbine had an original blued finish then go with bluing. The finish isn't going to change the shooting ability one iota; but it will change the personality of the weapon. Years ago there was a 'brown' finish available; sort of an inbetween parkerize and blue. I have no idea if it is available any more.
My input, for what it's worth.

rondog · 01-17-2008, 03:05 PM

Strip it, beadblast the parts, and paint it with "Parkerize" color DuraCoat. Check into Duracoat with Google, it's supposed to be uber tuff stuff. It's a 2-part paint that you apply with an airbrush. There's the spray on and let 'er dry stuff, and another version that you bake on. S'poda be good shizz. comes in lotsa colors too.

Dookiebutt · 01-18-2008, 05:56 AM

Leave it alone. If you can't do that, get someone who knows what they are doing to park it for you. A bad park job looks worse than what you have.

Mooseman684 · 01-18-2008, 10:36 AM

LEAVE THE FINISH ALONE if you want it to hold Value!!!
Leave it just the way it is and NEVER Bead blast a military firearm....Since most M1 Carbines have been re-arsenaled with different parts, Thats Not a bad thing! Do Not Dura coat, paint it or anything, just keep it lubed with whatever original finish is left on it!
Rich

Dookiebutt · 01-24-2008, 06:11 AM

Speaking of re-blueing a carbine . . . I was in my yard mowing and I see the kid across the street sitting on the porch with what I think is an M1 carbine. It's kinda far away, so I figure I am wrong. After about half an hour curiosity gets the best of me and I drive over in my old John Deere. I was shocked to see the kid holding an original S'G' carbine and a drill, He says he is trying to figure out how to take it apart so he can "sand it and re-blue it." I almost $hit. I explained that the metal was parkerized and it should not have a shiny blue finish. I brought over some cleaning supplies and showed him how to break it down and care for it. That little carbine was minutes away from a real bad deal. It was early, all original with a perfect I-cut cartouched stock.

I am glad I stopped him. A year later that carbine came to live in my house.

Semislinger · 01-24-2008, 08:41 AM

Holy smokes! That was a close one.

I think I'm going to just keep mine clean and lubed.
In that case I'm going to keep an eye out for a nice original stock and bring it back to an original state.

Any ideas on the correct stock for an IBM?
Thanks

jimb2 · 01-24-2008, 09:12 PM

Depends on the serial number.....

Semislinger · 01-27-2008, 10:06 AM

Serial number is 38212XX. Barrel is marked IBM CORP with a "P" stamp.

Dookiebutt · 01-27-2008, 11:45 AM

BR-B, JL-B, LW-B, OR TRIMBLE.

GlockMeister · 01-27-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooseman684

LEAVE THE FINISH ALONE if you want it to hold Value!!!
Leave it just the way it is and NEVER Bead blast a military firearm....Since most M1 Carbines have been re-arsenaled with different parts, Thats Not a bad thing! Do Not Dura coat, paint it or anything, just keep it lubed with whatever original finish is left on it!
Rich

+1X100 for this suggestion.

But of course, if you DON'T care about the value or preserving any history, then by all means, do with it what ever you want, after all, it is yours, just do it right.

G-Meister

jimb2 · 01-28-2008, 08:00 PM

Oval cut oiler slot and high wood.....

hunter 101 · 01-30-2008, 05:11 PM

you should not blue if irt shoots acurate thats all that matters and that it does not blow up. so no i would not blue it.
hunter 101

billy · 01-30-2008, 05:22 PM

i think i am going to get the most common mosin i can find and whenever i get the urge to ...ahem...."play" gunsmith i will just screw that up instead of my nice and or valuable ones.

01-16-2008, 08:56 PM	#1
Semislinger Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Carson Valley, NV Posts: 6 Trader Rating: (0)	Should I blue....? So I received an M1 carbine for the very low price of $250. I posted some questions and a list of parts in a previous post: http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/m1-...ter-sorts.html (Frankincarbine? a.k.a. Mixmaster of Sorts) Given that it has been modified from it's original form, should I blue it? The bore is good and it shoots accurate. Most of the parkerizing is gone. I don;t really want to re-parkerize. What do you think? I want to get the opinion of those who care. Thanks

01-18-2008, 10:36 AM	#5
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,266 Trader Rating: (0)	LEAVE THE FINISH ALONE if you want it to hold Value!!! Leave it just the way it is and NEVER Bead blast a military firearm....Since most M1 Carbines have been re-arsenaled with different parts, Thats Not a bad thing! Do Not Dura coat, paint it or anything, just keep it lubed with whatever original finish is left on it! Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

01-24-2008, 09:12 PM	#8
jimb2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 496 Trader Rating: (0)	Depends on the serial number..... __________________ I am a nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, I am perfect...

01-28-2008, 08:00 PM	#12
jimb2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 496 Trader Rating: (0)	Oval cut oiler slot and high wood..... __________________ I am a nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, I am perfect...

01-30-2008, 05:22 PM	#14
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 10,865 Trader Rating: (0)	i think i am going to get the most common mosin i can find and whenever i get the urge to ...ahem...."play" gunsmith i will just screw that up instead of my nice and or valuable ones. __________________ i'll keep an eye out for ya!

01-17-2008, 12:22 PM	#2
oldjarhead Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pottersville, MO Posts: 680 Trader Rating: (0)	It depends on whether you are interested in retaining a simple "collector" value or simply preserving the metal. My personal choice, if I was going to re-finish a non-commercial carbine, would be to re-parkerize. It is a stronger finish than bluing and will keep a military carbine looking military. I have three military carbines and I would not even consider a blue finish on any of them. If your carbine had an original blued finish then go with bluing. The finish isn't going to change the shooting ability one iota; but it will change the personality of the weapon. Years ago there was a 'brown' finish available; sort of an inbetween parkerize and blue. I have no idea if it is available any more. My input, for what it's worth.

01-17-2008, 03:05 PM	#3
rondog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 1,238 Trader Rating: (0)	Strip it, beadblast the parts, and paint it with "Parkerize" color DuraCoat. Check into Duracoat with Google, it's supposed to be uber tuff stuff. It's a 2-part paint that you apply with an airbrush. There's the spray on and let 'er dry stuff, and another version that you bake on. S'poda be good shizz. comes in lotsa colors too.

01-18-2008, 05:56 AM	#4
Dookiebutt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,021 Trader Rating: (0)	Leave it alone. If you can't do that, get someone who knows what they are doing to park it for you. A bad park job looks worse than what you have.

01-24-2008, 06:11 AM	#6
Dookiebutt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,021 Trader Rating: (0)	Speaking of re-blueing a carbine . . . I was in my yard mowing and I see the kid across the street sitting on the porch with what I think is an M1 carbine. It's kinda far away, so I figure I am wrong. After about half an hour curiosity gets the best of me and I drive over in my old John Deere. I was shocked to see the kid holding an original S'G' carbine and a drill, He says he is trying to figure out how to take it apart so he can "sand it and re-blue it." I almost $hit. I explained that the metal was parkerized and it should not have a shiny blue finish. I brought over some cleaning supplies and showed him how to break it down and care for it. That little carbine was minutes away from a real bad deal. It was early, all original with a perfect I-cut cartouched stock. I am glad I stopped him. A year later that carbine came to live in my house.

01-24-2008, 08:41 AM	#7
Semislinger Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Carson Valley, NV Posts: 6 Trader Rating: (0)	Holy smokes! That was a close one. I think I'm going to just keep mine clean and lubed. In that case I'm going to keep an eye out for a nice original stock and bring it back to an original state. Any ideas on the correct stock for an IBM? Thanks

01-27-2008, 10:06 AM	#9
Semislinger Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Carson Valley, NV Posts: 6 Trader Rating: (0)	Serial number is 38212XX. Barrel is marked IBM CORP with a "P" stamp.

01-27-2008, 11:45 AM	#10
Dookiebutt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,021 Trader Rating: (0)	BR-B, JL-B, LW-B, OR TRIMBLE.

01-30-2008, 05:11 PM	#13
hunter 101 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: in the woods Posts: 1 Trader Rating: (0)	you should not blue if irt shoots acurate thats all that matters and that it does not blow up. so no i would not blue it. hunter 101