Vince - I've had a small number of guns recased. The first was about 40 years, the work being done by LeFever in NY. The forearm iron came back badly warped. LeFever thought that was normal. It took me most of 30 years to screw up my courage to try it again, but I've had no problems since.

I think 40 years ago case hardening was done, but the process was not as well understood as it is today.