Victory Model Dulite Finish

[10-12]

I know Victory Models were issued with Parkerized and blue finish but were any issued with Dulite finish or is Dulite an obvious after market appication? I am unfamiliar with Dulite.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[10-12]

I know Victory Models were issued with Parkerized and blue finish but were any issued with Dulite finish or is Dulite an obvious after market appication? I am unfamiliar with Dulite.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Lee Barner]

i know all the Union Switch & Signal 1911A1s were finished using the Dulite process. it was one the suitable substitutes to parkerizing. never heard or read anything about it being used on any other military arms. lee

 

[10-12]

Thanks Lee. I had never heard of it as far as I can recall. Of course, there seems to be more and more things I don't recall these days.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[The Virginian]

Du-lite is nothing more than the hot blue process used today and invented in Germany in the 1930s. Dulite is the US version of this process and it was cheaper and easier to do than the Carbonia and heat blues of the day which is why it is the standard method of bluing today. Some Victorys I am sure were blued this way, but most and later were parkerized.

 

[digi-shots]

"Du-lite", trademark of the Du-Lite Chemical Corp. (chemical bluing process) uses black oxide, and has a medium to dark charcoal-blue color.

"Parkerized", trademark of the Parker Rustproof Co. is a phosphate finish and has a greenish-grey color.

I believe S&W used a black oxide method and called the finish "Midnight Black". I've seen it also referred to as "Black Magic" finish.

All three finishes were applied over a sand-blasted finish. The sand-blasting was done to speed up manufacturing and limit the time needed for final & minimal polishing.

The finish on the S&W Victory revolvers are very close to the US&S m1911a1's and both have a sandblasted charcoal grey-blue color.

Ithaca, Remington Rand & US&S all used the Du-Lite process for a short time before switching to "Parkerizing".

AS a result of US&S's m1911a1 contract being cancelled before the change to Parkerizing, all their guns were Du-Lite. US&S was the last supplier to get the m1911a1 contract and the first to be cancelled, with only 55,000 made. They went on to manufacture Carbine parts.

 

[10-12]

WOW!

You guys are better than an encyclopedia. That was quite an education. I thought Du-Lite was a current after market finish akin to hard chrome or one of those other finishes. Not only did I learn about finishes, I learned considerably more.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[digi-shots]

Here's a close up of a Victory model showing polishing (or lack of!).

I believe rough finishes were quite common during War-time production.
You can still see some file markings showing through the sandblast finish.

I think Du-Lite is still in business and sells quite a few of after market items.

 

[The Virginian]

The deep black finish you are refering to is Carbonia Blue that usually is a translucent deep black finish. It is very possible all three types of finishes were used at different points in production of S&W Victorys.

 

[Texas Star]

Linda-

That's still nice color casehardening on that trigger!

I handled and carried a bunch of different Victory Models in the USAF before the Combat Masterpiece was available in sufficient quantity. The quality of machining varied a good deal. Some were definitely smoother finished than others.

T-Star

 

[digi-shots]

T-Star,

Thanks, the case hardening color is really nice.

I've posted this pic before, but here it is again. Lettered from Roy as being shipped to US Navy 10/21/42 with military black finish.

 

[Texas Star]

Can you imagine news headlines like that now, when we're supposed to feel guilty and insensitive for hurting our enemies?!

And the racial angle! Japs...tsk,tsk.

T-Star

 

[2152hq]

Du-Lite is still very much in business, based in CT. Major supplier to the firearms industry for hot blueing supplys. Most every gun mfg uses DuLite for hot blueing in the USA now. Available for gunsmiths/hobbyists also. The switchover to hot salt blueing started in the US industry in the late 1930's. Winchester was one of the first to really go ahead and change their finishing process to include it and do away with Carbonia blueing altogether.

 

[M77]

Originally posted by digi-shots:aint that pretty
T-Star,

Thanks, the case hardening color is really nice.

I've posted this pic before, but here it is again. Lettered from Roy as being shipped to US Navy 10/21/42 with military black finish.