Why in the white?

F

Flowjoe

Member
As the title implies, why did Germany produce the GEW98 with the receiver and bolt in the white? They blued the barrels and many other parts but not those two crucial components of a battle rifle that must survive in less than optimal conditions.

I’ve been reading through reference books and searching the web but have yet to come across anything indicating the reasoning behind this decision. It’s driving me to distraction even though the answer might be unknowable.
 
My understanding is that it was a hold over from earlier weapons, going back to the Needle Gun when it was the norm to blue barrels but not receivers or locks. The Germans did start to change this in WWI though, albeit very late and only at Amberg, but postwar you see blued receivers immediately.
 
That seems plausible yet still mystifying. The receiver is crucial to reliable function at least as much as the barrel so why would those in charge elect to protect the barrel but not the receiver? The bolt I can maybe see...it slides metal to metal in several areas so blueing would be a wear item, is mostly covered by the receiver and would, potentially, be more time consuming to blue (just like plating, smaller pieces take more effort to set up and take down).
 
They were oil treated and were expected to be cared for correctly . That made them smooth and they did not have any problems when taken care of . I have oil treated bare metal and it has held up fine .
 
I have a 1942 Izvhesk, MN M38, that I'd swear was issued "In the White."

There is no "Blue," anywhere on it. (under the wood as well.) Bring Back, from my Dad. I've been told "That is not possible." 🤔

Everything I see about it, under it, indicates/shows it was issued "In the White."

I would imagine when Stalingrad was underway, they were throwing them out as quickly as possible.
 
Historically, finishing firearms in white metal was a hold over from the black powder era. Having bright metal in a smoke covered battlefield was a command and control mechanism to aid commanders in identifying the location of their subordinate units. Much like brightly colored uniforms worn in 1914. To steal one from Chris, “the guys in the red pants are France….ok, cue MG08 going cyclic”
 
ernie8 said:
They were oil treated and were expected to be cared for correctly . That made them smooth and they did not have any problems when taken care of . I have oil treated bare metal and it has held up fine .
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I can see that position but even blued or parkerized weapons are supposed to be oil treated. That’s great in the barracks but in the field it could/would be a different story.

No one anticipated the conditions of the trenches of WWI back in 1898 but they did anticipate campaigning in an often wet Europe, soggy Eastern Africa and humid Asia/pacific islands.

Highly likely we may never know for sure if no one has yet discovered documentation outlining the why of it.
 
mauser1908 said:
Historically, finishing firearms in white metal was a hold over from the black powder era. Having bright metal in a smoke covered battlefield was a command and control mechanism to aid commanders in identifying the location of their subordinate units. Much like brightly colored uniforms worn in 1914. To steal one from Chris, “the guys in the red pants are France….ok, cue MG08 going cyclic”
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Tradition might very well explain - “It’s just how we’ve always done.”

Of course the Germans and British (even the Russians) had figured out by the early 20th century that bright colors on the battle field were a bad idea. I think the French were the only ones to have not given up the traditional bright uniforms for anything but dress.
 
I am not talking about just wiping oil on the steel . The steel was impregnated with the oil . Steel is porous . By using heat and the right oil it will soak in to some extent . Bluing is more on the surface and can be worn off easier than the top layer of oil impregnated steel can . In bad conditions without care bluing can rust also .
 
mauser1908 said:
Historically, finishing firearms in white metal was a hold over from the black powder era. Having bright metal in a smoke covered battlefield was a command and control mechanism to aid commanders in identifying the location of their subordinate units ....”
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and what is more: white metal is another word for "cleaned, so no rust".
 
Many years ago, I wrote to the NRA “Dope Bag” to find out why some Argentine Model 98-09 rifles had “white” receivers, and some were “blued.”
(I thought it was German-made rifles were blued while Argentine-made were white. That idea was shot down later.)
The reply was, “We don’t know.”
I’m guessing, being a South American nation, and having a proclivity for “all things BLING” (as in their uniforms with a ton of gold braid and a chest full of medals) they liked and requested the white receivers!
 
JimF said:
Many years ago, I wrote to the NRA “Dope Bag” to find out why some Argentine Model 98-09 rifles had “white” receivers, and some were “blued.”
(I thought it was German-made rifles were blued while Argentine-made were white. That idea was shot down later.)
The reply was, “We don’t know.”
I’m guessing, being a South American nation, and having a proclivity for “all things BLING” (as in their uniforms with a ton of gold braid and a chest full of medals) they liked and requested the white receivers!
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It is my understanding that all argentines were in the white until refurb, when they were blued. I could go out on a limb and say all South American pre WWI German made mauser actions were in the white. Steyr, maybe not.
 
WilliM1940 said:
It is my understanding that all argentines were in the white until refurb, when they were blued. I could go out on a limb and say all South American pre WWI German made mauser actions were in the white. Steyr, maybe not.
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Interestingly, the Spanish Mausers were not.

This is going to bug me.

edit: one interesting note, is that in discussing the alterations that the Gew98 went through over its decades of service, Storz notes that the Prussian War Ministry ordered the change over to sand-blasted and blued receivers in November 1917 to economize on emery. (actually, the book says "ernery" but I'm fairly certain that's a typo as that word doesn't exist. I'd be mildly curious to hear what the original German is if anyone has a German language edition kicking around).

So whatever the reason was, it was desired and the switch over only made in the face of late WW1 economization needs.

Rifle & Carbine 98: M 98 Firearms of the German Army from 1898 to 1918, p. 96.
 
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