doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A curious Ithaca 100

The work certainly seems to be 280 inspired. The CCH on the receiver appears too fluid in its pattern to have been done by torch. Unless it has been truly CCH, are there other faux methods that might have been employed?

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".

so, does this mean that one should never subject a shotgun receiver to high heat in the vain attempt to restore case colors?

Thanks 2-piper and others! If one of life's golden rules is to learn at least one new thing everyday, I'm already ahead of that quota!

I intend that this gun see forests and fields so I'm wondering (whatever the nature of the CCH finish might be) what might be the best way to protect the receiver's finish from wear?

No, Ed, it means that one should never subject a shotgun receiver to the tender ministrations of Ed Lander and one and all should never get their heat treat info from you.

jack

Ninepointer,

There are laquers that will give at least some protection to the CC. CSMC has one version. I've heard long term exposure to UV light will fade the colors, so store the gun in a dark place. Don't carry the gun one handed by the reciever as it will soon start to show wear. Wear gloves if you must carry the gun this way. Look at it this way, like anything else you use and enjoy the wear will take on a new meaning for you as the good times add up. I too have a customized version of the same gun. It was my first decent and good handling SxS, after 20 years it's getting shiny in places, all the right places!

Chief