Is this the stuff they finished Lee-Enfields with? Whatever is on my No.4, it ain't bluing - looks more like creosote or epoxy.

I spent the weekend polishing the barreled receiver and am not looking forward to polishing the smaller parts this week. Is there anything short of bead blasting that will take this stuff off easily? This finish is resistant to mineral spirits, denatured alcohol, and brake cleaner. Does anything thin it?

Thanks,

Most of the No. 4’s were oil-blackened, which is a part of the hardening and tempering process where the metal parts are heated and quenched in oil that is allowed to drip and/or burn off.

Some of the Arsenal reconditioned ones that had the oil blackening wearing off were painted with a dull matte black paint.

Never tried it on an Enfield, but I have used Brownell's Steel White, and it does work as advertised.

Jason,

If it’s oil blackened it will probably need to be blasted or sanded off.

I have seen a couple Lee Enfields that had been parkerized but they all had a sort of green tint to them.

Funny you should mention creosote because the Brits called their painting process “stoving.â€