brown metal on RC K98 parts question

alberta5492

alberta5492

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Hello,

Learning as I go on the milsurp stuff. I just picked up an RC K98 and wondering if someone knows why these parts have this copper colored finish to them and if anything short of replacing can fix it. Thanks.

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It's just the poor blueing job they did during the refurbishment. It's the same for most svt-40 plum/ copper colored bolts. If you don't like it soak it in white vinegar for 10 min and then use steel wool and scrub it off, but make sure to clean the vinegar off ASAP and then re oil as it rusts very fast.
 
Yes, it will be left "in the white".

The bolt handle looks unblued in that pic and I've not seen serial#'s stamped on the handle side on several K98's I've looked at.
Mind you I'm no expert on K98's.
 
I would leave it as is. Part of the history. What you see is called Plum, which is the color of the blueing.

It is quite common on late war parts (Plum) - front and rear bands, band springs, etc. I have a late war blued front band that is almost a purple color (and not RC). You will see phosphated parts too but they are green and gray, parkerized.

In fact many wartime German rifles (not RC or refurbed) have Plum Colored parts like the extractors, etc. (I have a 1944 byf vet bring back like this)

It can be caused by the heat treatment of the metal, the Nickel (Ni) content, the condition of the blueing salts.
 
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I saw 2 of those rifles at the gun show 2 weeks ago. Didn't look very amazing sadly. Really kind of grungy looking. (flame suit on)

I've had a couple of Czech Mausers and they were a lot nicer.
 
alberta5492 said:
At least I hope it isn't a Yugo. Got it from Al Flahertys. Saw them pull them out of the crate fresh on delivery from supplier. Would the metal be better left as is, or odd finish removed?
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Leave the metal as is. The plum or straw colored springs and extractors are, as Coyote Ugly pointed out, not out of the ordinary or odd. The different color is a result of the steel composition, heat treat, and the way the blueing reacted. Pretty normal stuff on late war original German K98k's. My matching byf 44 has a straw/copper colored extractor on it probably similar to the one on Coyote Ugly's.
 
The plum colour is due to a high nickel content in the steel. Not a poor blue job, it's normal and true to the history.
 
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