Colour Case Hardening

[Brenneke]

Following on from the reading in connection with Mauser Steel I found this interesting

"Colour Case Hardening of Firearms--Principles and Practices"

https://www.amazon.com/Colour-Case-H.../dp/1775018008

Gunmakers, often high priests of the gods of technology, often as not practiced a secret liturgy devised to insulate ordinary believers from peculiar knowledge. It was enough to know coloring could be done. Just not how. Consequently, there is still much mystery around the craft. John Seim sets about to dispel some of the darkness by systematic experimentation and research over the course of thirty-plus years. In cahoots with several custom gunmakers, the gunsmithing staff and students at Trinidad State Junior College in Colorado, he presents the results of this ongoing study in his book Colour Case Hardening of Firearms.

http://www.classicarmsjournal.com/bo...and-practices/

Unaffordable in SA

https://www.importitall.co.za/Colour...775018008.html

I wonder if anyone in SA does this ?

Seems like all out gunsmiths computers have -- gone on "lockdown"?

I think that it adds something special to a firearm ...
Looks like a lot of run ... I like -- aerated water charged with eye-of-newt and faerie dust !

[treeman]

Interesting stuff, right up Gert Odendal and Epsilon's street.

[Gert Odendaal]

Interesting stuff, right up Gert Odendal and Epsilon's street.

Treeman, it is a subject I did a lot of research on..with the furnaces now available it is a project I am going to commence with in the near future...it is al about chemical/metallurgical processes..adding carbon to steel and colors ....the challenge being a furnace that can keep at high temperatures for four hours ... excluding oxygen at every level of the process..critical point when content of sealed container hit the air rated water...

[Peter Wells]

My understanding is that warping of the part/s was often a problem with the traditional method that you describe Gert.