Who to send a rusting Reising to for removal of the old Parkerization, and to have it properly reparked with the historically appropriate finish?

[duza9999]

I posted this over on machinegunboards but figured I’d cross post it on here as well.

I had a very nice original finish M50 Reising that about a year ago I put in a silica infused gun sock before leaving Florida for a month. 

Unfortunately the gunsock absorbed all the oil I left on the gun during that month, and when I came back, it had some established rust.

(I’ve since switched to VCI backs and knocking on wood have had good luck so far).

Anyways in the meanwhile the damage was done, and as I understand it once rust has appeared with a parkerized finish, it really should be stripped and reapplied.

As such does anyone have any recommendations on who to send a Reising to for it to be stripped, and reparked in a historically correct way? 
 

I called the CMP a few months ago, but they said they can’t accept MG’s for work.

With regards-Mat

https://imgur.com/a/bE7uKZc

 

 

[Chef]

If it were mine, I'd go over it with an oily bronze brush and call it done. I'd never have it refinished.
No one can replicate the aged parkerized finish of US military guns.
Some people are able to tint the park to give it a greenish hue, but (IMO) it doesn't look right.
And any other parkerization is going to come out shades of grey or black.
Plus, they are going to have to bead blast it to remove the old finish, and depending on the grit of the media, pressure of the blaster and length of time it will be exposed to blasting, there is a very good chance the stamped markings will be faded or softened.

 

[johnsonlmg41]

Actually I've successfully replicated parked finishes on mil stuff without bead blasting etc.   Unfortunately I don't do it commercially.

Not sure I'd do a full refinish on the gun in question as there are likely touch up alternatives that would be less destructive overall.

[duza9999]

On 2/22/2025 at 5:07 AM, Chef said:

If it were mine, I'd go over it with an oily bronze brush and call it done. I'd never have it refinished.
No one can replicate the aged parkerized finish of US military guns.
Some people are able to tint the park to give it a greenish hue, but (IMO) it doesn't look right.
And any other parkerization is going to come out shades of grey or black.
Plus, they are going to have to bead blast it to remove the old finish, and depending on the grit of the media, pressure of the blaster and length of time it will be exposed to blasting, there is a very good chance the stamped markings will be faded or softened.

 

Even if it’s as progressed as it is in the photos shown?

I was under the impression once rust has set in on parkerization, it’s effectively compromised as it will corrode beneath it?

 

[Chef]

It's not like rust under paint on cars. It won's spread under the paint like a cancer.
With proper care (lightly oiled and not constantly exposed to humid environs etc) it will not spread or pit the metal.
It's just becoming "patina" at this point. Which isn't uncommon or unnatural on firearms of this age.
 

[gftiv]

I would try rubbing the gun in a hidden spot with an oily cloth ( up to saturated). Works reasonably well for me.

[riflejunky]

I would try getting the rust off with oil and 0000 steel wool first but if you still want to pursue the refinish then the following company seems to do a good job from what I have seen. https://www.columbusordnance.com/home

[Don.]

14 hours ago, gftiv said:

I would try rubbing the gun in a hidden spot with an oily cloth ( up to saturated). Works reasonably well for me.

The steel wool will remove the parkerizing, as it’s a form of oxidation.  Bluing is fine to use the steel wool with.