It had what we call a wartime finish on the barrel
Detective Liar Day could get away with blatant lies like this because most folks were ignorant and didn't know that what he was saying was a lie.
A "war time finish" is a dull non reflective finish..... The process to create that finish was called "Parkerizing" and the Mannlicher Carcano did not have a parkerized finish. The carcano has a blued steel finish like many hunting rifles. And that surface does in fact take and hold fingerprints.
"Detective Liar Day could get away with blatant lies like this because most folks were ignorant and didn't know that what he was saying was a lie."Turning surplus military rifles into hunting rifles was and is a economical and popular thing in gun cultures like Texas.
If he is lying, many of those listening would know he is. He also knows he won't be challenged by anyone.
IMO
SENATOR COOPER - Have you fired other types of rifles other than the one you used?
Mr. BAKER - Yes, sir; the first one I had was a 30-30 Marlin lever type.
SENATOR COOPER - Have you ever seen the rifle that is alleged to have belonged to Lee Oswald?
Mr. BAKER - I saw it, a photograph of it, in the newspaper.
SENATOR COOPER - Do you know what kind of rifle it is?
Mr. BAKER -
Not offhand. I heard it was some foreign make gun. Most of the boys down there at the police
department have had dealings with foreign type guns, rifles, you know of this kind, and a lot of them sell them,
and a lot of them rework them, you know, make them into deer rifles.