16 http://www.riflemagazine.com Rifle 305tana 59464; smbgunrestorations.
com), and since that first visit, we
have become friends. With a bit of
timidity, I asked Al to explain his
pack color case hardening pro-
cess, of course without disclosing
any trade secrets. To this Al re-
plied, “It’s an art that should never
be lost, so I have no secrets.” Healso stressed to me that his meth-
ods are not the only way to pack
harden steel, but he has had suc-
cess with them.
Here’s how he proceeds: Of
course, getting the parts ready
comes first. If they are new, as in
never previously color case hard-
ened, he polishes them with 400DOWN RANGE by Mike Venturino
Color Case Hardening
This Model 1886 Winchester was
restored by Al Springer, including the
color case hardening.Al Springer is placing a crucible in a furnace for color case hardening.grit emery cloth. He feels it gives
a better surface. However, if the
parts have previously been color
case hardened, he first anneals
them in wood charcoal heated to
1,375 degrees Fahrenheit for a half
hour. After cooling overnight, they
get the same polish treatment.
Lastly, all parts are thoroughly
cleaned with acetone.
Now there are two ways toA
used car salesman once told
me, “Paint sells.” To paraphrase
in regard to firearms, “Color case
hardening sells.” That’s in today’s
marketplace. In the old days, I sus-
pect attractive colors were a by-
product of hardening rifles’ and
revolvers’ steel or iron receivers
for safety’s sake. Today, steel can
be plenty hard and therefore safe
without color case hardening, so it
is applied more for cosmetic pur-
poses.
There are two basic types of
color case hardening. One is done
by a chemical process using cya-
nide. The other method consists of
packing the part in a dry mixture,
baking it to very high temperature
and then quenching it suddenly
in water. This second method is
called pack hardening. It’s a lot
more complicated than this para-
graph might indicate.
Over a year ago at a Montana gun
show, I was browsing the aisles and
came across a gunsmith’s display
of his firearms restoration work.
Among the items shown were ex-
amples of his color case harden-
ing, and to say it was attractive
would be an insult, so I stopped
to visit. His name is Al Springer
(Snowy Mountain Blue, 816
West Fork Road, Moor, Mon-