I have owned a good many Foxes over the years and some have Chromox frames as they turn a bright nickel finish when case colors wear off.A good many have or had a duller gray finish and hardly if any shine.Have no idea what type steel they are.A Chromox frame has brighter case colors in my opinion.I have no idea which is best. I plan to have no engraving at all on the frame,even filed off Sterlingworth.Maybe i ought to leave it as is and not have frame hardened.It should be easy to bend frame back if it does get off face? Thanks for all the response. Bobby