Re-Case Hardening question
 

If a frame that has been re-case hardened and case colored - if it is determined that the hardening process was done in a manner that left the metal 'soft' - cna the frame be re-hardened and re-colored without negatively affecting the frame etc.?

Allen,

The case colors are a result of the case hardening unless someone used a tourch. Any heat from a tourch that was hot enough to add color would soften metal. The color purple isn't just a movie! Purple on the receiver, especially purple circles, is a sure sign of a tourch job!

Take it to an expert for re-casing. They will first need to anneal the receiver before re-casing.

Mark

Mark, I know that case hardening/case coloring is as much a science as art and probably more science than the other. But is it possible that the hardening process done to a gun, any gun, could be done incorrectly so as to leave the metal 'soft'? I hope I'm asking this question correctly / clearly? Can someone screw up and not harden a frame as well or as hard as it is supposed to be in this process (and I admit that I don't know how the hardness in this process is measured (Rockwell?) if at all.

They would have to be grossly incompetant. I suppose anything is possible, but it is not probable. The screw up is more likely warping the frame.

Allen, As Mark states correctly the color is a result of the hardening process albiet done in such a manner to produce the wonderful colors that are expected on these old guns. In an industrial setting where case hardening is done for just that purpose colors are not a primary concern. An example of this would be case hardening cold rolled steel. The steel is brought up to the correct temp and then dipped in cyanide. The finish from my experience is the color grey.

The only two things that I can see happening to an alloy that wouldn't harden would be that it wasn't brought up to the correct temperature or the wrong steel was used and it didn't contain enough carbon.

It was not brought up to the correct temp. But it's being corrected as we speak. Thanks everyone, you confirmed it.