I would agree that color pattern is the most attractive, but how is it obtained?
If you go to Drew’s first post in the thread, and copy the link to Vic Venter’s book Gun Craft, on pages 92 & 94 there is an inset called “Colors on Brown Guns”. The author describes what Craigd was alluding to. It states that each hardener has their own signature style involving various techniques (secrets of the trade, jigs, fixtures, etc.) that he uses to achieve consistency of colour and pattern. Robin Brown’s colour case hardening technique involves how he packs the crucible container and positions the various components within the carbon pack in-order to achieve his desired colours, pattern and placement.
TC
