9-pointer;
First, I totally agree this gun does not have the appearance of the Abominal Torch job.
What I referred to as a Faux Finish is any method which produces color but is not a true CCH (Color Case Hardening). This is often done chemically, the part is "Warmed" only & splattered with the chemicals. The method of heating here is basically immaterial, it is not hot enough or concentrated enough to produce even the slightest temper colors, in fact less than boiling water temps.
As mentioned it is I believe possible for someone who knows what they are doing to apply a Color Case, without the hardening. As I understand it this would require the part to be heated above its critical temperature in a carbon rich atmosphere for the Skin to absorb the necessary carbon for good colors. Rather than an immediate quenching the temp is lowered below the critical temp & part then quenched in oxygen rich water to produce the colors.
This proces will of course leave the steel in its softest condition. I believe that even in this condition a good alloy steel is structurally strong enough so should be no problem in that area.
Just my thoughts but I think the purpose of the Case Hardening was not so much to make the frame "Stronger" but to provide a hard wear resistant surface. One point this would be particularlly noticed would be the breech face of an ejector gun with the ejectors cocked by being pushed in on closing. I would myself much prefer to have the gun in this condition than to have actually been "Case Hardened".
