Canadian AR did post some pics of the rifle on CGN. I bought the rifle from a fellow that told me it was a vet bringback as well. It is in VG condition at least. All the parts are matching and milled, rather than stamped. The consensus here was that it was a post war refurb. Nothing on it to indicate that though. None of the Nazi stamps are peened over and all parts have the stamps.
I bought the story because it came from a now departed friend that was a REME in WWII. Supposedly he found the rifle abandoned in the back of a wrecked truck and brought it home with him. I guess it was easier for the REMEs because of their unique positions. He also had several pistols and a few other rifles.
You know, I unpacked, stripped, cleaned and assembled hundreds, if not thousands of K98s and subsequent variants. Most were in well used condition, with little or no finish left. I don't recall seeing all of the different colored receivers and components you fellows mention. That doesn't mean they weren't there though. These rifles came in 150 or more on a pallet, 15 per tier and 10 or even 20 high. They were held in place by metal banding without compression corners to prevent damage.
My summer job was to take them apart and clean them up so they could go upstairs to the racks in the store. After a while, they just became a blur. The only thing I was told was to make sure head space was acceptable and the numbers matching rifles or pistols or whatever, be set aside and the parts all kept together, because they commanded a substantially higher price. That was almost 50 years ago and I have had dozens of K98s go through my hands. I have noticed plum colored parts on some of them, especially barrels. I have always assumed these were post war refurbs or RCs.
The Axis nations used a very simple "blackening" formual. 1/2 NaOH (sodium hydroxide) 1/4 NaNO3 (sodium nitrate) 1/4 NaNO2 (sodium nitrite). The solution was heated to appx 285F or 140C.
This was a very good formula and worked well, as long as temperatures were maintained. I have used this formula to refinish dozens of parts, including barreled receivers and have never had a problem turning any of them black. Even the nickel steel Springfield 03s and 03A3s. As long as the temps were regulated properly everything came out black.
If I allowed the temps to get low, especially if I was adding water to the solution as it boiled away, without removing the pieces, I would get a lovely variant of plum to almost a copper color.
I can see this occurring under wartime conditions. So it makes sense.
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