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Posted by Ron Smith on November 27, 2022, 4:37:02, in reply to "depends on the size of the weapon"
That would be Parkerizing which was much more corrosion and wear resistant than bluing. By WWII no US weapons were blued. Color with the period zinc phosphate process ranged from a deep, almost black gray to a medium greenish gray depending on how depleted the chemical bath was.
Another chemical process was used on the water jackets of water cooled machine guns that left them an OD color. Steve Wiper's first Enterprise book shows this on page 41. That process is still used today. Zoom in on theis pic and note the receiver and perforated barrel shroud are shades of OD.
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-160223-n-km939-455-philippine-sea-feb-23-2016-gunners-mate-3rd-class-174005494.html?imageid=5D71FE00-C971-403C-8C97-FA62DBBA7835&p=587397&pn=1&searchId=c2856cc21820071ba6b17d62c509f28a&searchtype=0 
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20 MM gun
Note the weapon itself is finished in typical gun blueing
This 3" Naval gun is the same color as the ship
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