doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com color change

I believe Oscar Gaddy used Behlen's spray lacquer on freshly case colored Parkers and Damascus barrels.

I believe (vs know for a fact) the colors fade due to wear and maybe slightly acidic sweat and human oils. And perhaps very slightly acidic gun oils. I think this explains how colors are retained better in inside corners.

And the salt from your hands and sweaty gloves. This can also dye the wood on the guns people shoot to the color of their gloves. I've seen this happen, too. I had a buddy whose forearm turned red from the color of his gloves because his hands sweated so much when he shot.

Yes he did. I tried it because of hie recommendation but ended up preferring just naked colors. I also remove some colors unevenly using simichrome paste on a cotton glove and handling the gun as I would carry and shoot it.

Bill Schwarz is my gunsmith and has been for a long time. He is located in East Ellijay Ga. He did the case coloring on the LC.
Having said that, I'd like to find someone that is familiar with Manufrance Ideal's. I've got an old "Spectacle" trigger double that I'd like some fine tuning on and Bill is not so interested as he is not familiar with them. Anyone have a suggestion?

Thanks Carl, for sharing the name of the gunsmith who did the case hardening on your L.C. Smith. I'm sure he wouldn't share his secret recipe or techniques, but the results indicate he is doing something different to get those deep colors and such complete coverage. Knowing that exposure to air while dumping the pack into the quench tank seems to have the opposite effect, if I ever get around to trying case hardening, I think I'd like to experiment with purging the air at the top of the quench drum with a heavier than air inert welding gas like argon/CO2


I've often wondered why anyone would pay good money to have case hardening done, and then use Simichrome paste or Scotch-Brite to remove some of the colors.... unless trying to fake honest wear, which happens eventually with normal use, and which most of us hope to avoid.

It sounds about like buying a brand new truck or car, and then intentionally adding stone chips, scratches, and parking lot dents to make it look well used. Or maybe like a lady paying a plastic surgeon to add crow's feet, sagging skin, and age spots to her face. Of course, in a similar vein, some gun owners knowingly vote for the Democrats who wish to ban our guns, which makes a strong case for I.Q. testing of voters. (I had to sneak that in for the Nutty Professor and his Liberal Democrat pals!)

Thanks Carl, for sharing the name of the gunsmith who did the case hardening on your L.C. Smith. I'm sure he wouldn't share his secret recipe or techniques, but the results indicate he is doing something different to get those deep colors and such complete coverage. Knowing that exposure to air while dumping the pack into the quench tank seems to have the opposite effect, if I ever get around to trying case hardening, I think I'd like to experiment with purging the air at the top of the quench drum with a heavier than air inert welding gas like argon/CO2


I've often wondered why anyone would pay good money to have case hardening done, and then use Simichrome paste or Scotch-Brite to remove some of the colors.... unless trying to fake honest wear, which happens eventually with normal use, and which most of us hope to avoid.

It sounds about like buying a brand new truck or car, and then intentionally adding stone chips, scratches, and parking lot dents to make it look well used. Or maybe like a lady paying a plastic surgeon to add crow's feet, sagging skin, and age spots to her face. Of course, in a similar vein, some gun owners knowingly vote for the Democrats who wish to ban our guns, which makes a strong case for I.Q. testing of voters. (I had to sneak that in for the Nutty Professor and his Liberal Democrat pals!)