This should be interesting: What was the original receiver finish? I have done some research and now understand the following:

1)      Not-Standardized: US Krag finishes never really were standardized due to the short period of manufacture and the differences of opinions of all those involved in the order/manufacturing/delivery process. It makes sense to me that different branches of service and the intended type/location of service likely had influences on the particular specs for any one batch of Krags.
2)      The Service Factor: After over 100 years of existence, the Krag finishes we have today are different because of any one of the following: A) Item 1 above, B) they were refinished through WWI by an armory for sustained use in the service, or C) they were refinished by an armory for use in schools, national guard, foreign service.
3)      The Bubba Factor: The Krag finishes of old are now largely gone because of any one of the following: A) they were sold by the US wholesale to resellers who had any number of creative ways of reworking the Krag, B) well-intended maintenance/refinishing  during normal private use, C) Bubba-ization or D) they were long forgotten in some unforgiving place.

Several of my receivers have the remains of silver-toned plating which is never on the barrel (it is usually on the side plate and the loading gate, often on the 1901 rear sights also) I see many on GB that have the same issue too.  A few of the items I have have finishes that have been completely mangled by the Bubba Factor and I need to so some damage-abatement. The areas with the plating are much slower than raw steel to touch-up the blue on which makes my attempts at revival quite miserable. Plating is not required prior to modern-day bluing – any thoughts?

The Challenge: Load pictures of your receivers if you feel that you have one that is ‘original’ and let the KCA forum critique them! :-?