My 2 Russians have what I believe is known as BBQ paint. Is the BBQ paint just a sign of refurbishment at the arsenal when the bluing is worn off? I am curious as to information on the BBQ paint.
I think we can only say that barbeque paint is just one of the signs of refurbishment that the Rooskies used. They didn't always use it on the entire rifle, leaving certain parts unpainted. I've got one here that is painted except for a beautifully blued gas tube and bright bolt carrier.
I stripped one of my refurbs, and found a parkerize type surface underneath. The paint was pretty durable stuff, probably full bore lead paint. I think member Sheepdog should tell us what likely coating they used.
A friend of mine just bought a 1950 Tula refurb, and all the metal except the bayonet was heavily coated.
Here's a close up of my stripped rifle showing the grey matte finish that I found under the paint. jd
(http://i706.photobucket.com/albums/ww61/jdscholer/SKS%20pics/52Tula%20Pics/028_zps8v6oukdk.jpg) (http://s706.photobucket.com/user/jdscholer/media/SKS%20pics/52Tula%20Pics/028_zps8v6oukdk.jpg.html)
Thanks, jd?. I'll have to look at mine more closely to see if there are any no-BBQ paint areas.
I dont subscribe to the idea that the bbq rifles "needed" it. Perhaps some did, but I do know in the 70s/80 nit was a durable finish applied to even brand new civilian rifles as a factory finish. I think it was simply an easy and effective way to standardize the process etc.
Thank you.
I have a couple of '54 Russians with the BBQ paint on them. I bought them long before I had started doing any research or knowing much about collecting them. I bought them only because they were made in my year of birth and did the same with some varieties of the Mosin Nagants. During that time they were a "bit" cheaper to buy and the idea of collectors worth wasn't much considered. I remember the BS sales pitch on some of the Russian's that also had the blade bayo's BBQ painted were supposed to be "Night Hunters" or some similar silly Russian Ninja BS. rofl2 Some of those sales pitches got pretty hilarious, looking back on it.
So, that said, is it better to leave the BBQ finish on, or remove it, as JD did on his? As I said, I didn't buy them back then for the collectors value, more of a "Cool, year I was born! I'll buy that." thing. Now, I wish I'd been born maybe four or five years earlier? geezer1 I guess the question would be more like, if they had been sent back into service, would they have been stripped of the BBQ finish or used as is? Some of the areas around the Bolt Carrier look like they could get pretty gummed up with the finish,...not sure on that? Just wondering out loud. think1
firstchoice
Good question, firstchoice. Hopefully we will hear the answer from those in the know.