Chris: Sounds like black stuff to me.......................(sorry, just hadda do that). Actually, the degree of 'matt' appearance is due (I believe) to how the metal is finished before bluing or parkerizing. I believe, but could be very wrong, that if the metal is polished 'smooth' before bluing or parkerizing your finish will be shiney. If the metal is left less finished or, let's say bead blasted to a non-relective surface, the finishing agent, bluing or parkerizing will leave it looking like a black matt finish.
I once sent a blue steel S&W revolver back to the factory for rebarrel. The only barrel they had available was in stainless steel. I asked them to bead blast the entire piece and blue it to match and the finish came out looking like the 'matt' finish on the Highway Patrolman or the Government 1911A1. JMTCW. Mikey.
