I have always preferred bright bolts, including the bolt knob. You see bright bolts on many Husqvarna sporting rifles, and even on their military M-38 Swedish Mauser. It helps that the high grade Swedish steel is very corrosion resistant. (This from "The Swedish Mauser" by Kehaya and Poyer:"The steel is a special alloy developed in Sweden, it's use specified over German steels in the manufacture of Swedish Mausers being made in Germany between 1894 and 1900. It is a copper bearing, high strength, low alloy steel. The copper imparts anti-rust properties to the final product.")