I discussed Dr. Gaddy's experiment with sunlight and color case hardening colors above. That was his experience with his method of color case hardening. One must realize that there must be many variations to the methods of color case hardening and the steels used.
My interest over the years has often been with shotguns by Baker Gun and Forging Company. Their method of color case hardening in later years produced very pretty colors of robin's egg blue etc. Sometimes when these case colors are worn or faded, the underlying metal looks to almost be plated , maybe like a nickel or almost chrome shine. I am assuming that this shine came from the polish given prior to coloring.
After Baker Gun and Forging Company sold the gun making business to H D Folsom in 1919, a different process was used in color case hardening Baker marked guns. This process had darker colors and seems to have been more durable colors than most other guns of the time. It is not uncommon to see examples of these guns with still vibrant colors, although the rest of the guns show wear. I do not know what process they used, but it was extremely durable.
Lefever Arms [non Ithaca] consistently used a method resulting in very pretty color case hardening. Guns showing wear often have better remaining colors on the sideplates than on the gun frames. I am assuming that this was caused by a different composition steel being used on the sideplates than on the frames.
Last edited by Daryl Hallquist; 01/17/24 11:09 AM.
