Parker Case Color:

[Bruce P Bruner]

I thought it would be fun to take some photographs of Parker Brothers case color while doing my ritual oil rag wipe down. Some of the photos are today’s, others are legacy.
It’s probably a rerun to many, but there are new members who may be curious.

[Andrew Sacco]

Wow, this is the stuff I really appreciate. Thank you.

[Garry L Gordon]

Beautiful to behold—thanks!

[John Allen]

No other American gun has that deep metallic blue tint. Once you have seen the real thing the restored guns just jump out at you. Thanks for posting.

[Dean Romig]

The Parker I had years ago in what has been termed "unfired" condition by some of the most esteemed PGCA members is the very best I have ever owned in terms of condition of originality. The fact that it is a Grade 1 with minimal engraving allows us to fully view the casehardening colors. I suspect the current owner, like myself, has never fired it either.


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[joe tilford]

Beautiful. Thanks for these photos.

[Reggie Bishop]

Beautiful examples!! Thanks for posting those!

[Rick Roemer]

Outstanding examples both Bruce and Dean. What comes to my mind is that at one time colors like these were a normal, every day occurrence when you went to a gun dealer. Art achieved through function is remarkable.

[Gary Kephart]

Wow that's gorgeous thanks for sharing

[Dan Di Stefano]

A re-quote from a noted fly fisherman…” shotguns and fly rods are jewelry for men”.

[edgarspencer]

I don't think it's purely coincidence that Parker, Colt and Winchester, all Connecticut companies had such beautiful colors in their case hardening process. I had an order to produce twenty four 410 Stainless steel packing boxes for Colt Mfg Co. I was asked to come over to their plant, only a few miles from my foundry, to go over their design before we made the pattern equipment. I remarked that I had several first generation single action army revolvers that still exhibited wonderful color and was told they continued to use the same packing materials in their process, developed in the 1860s, with the exception they no longer used dried horse 'road apples'. That was as far as they would go.
The attached picture is of a documented gun, issued to E. Burke, Company E, 1st Volunteer Regiment. It was returned to Colt for conversion to Artillery configuration in 1901, and never reissued. It was re-case hardened at that time.

[Dean Romig]

Also, as a matter of educational information to the newcomer, on the Parker hammer guns after considerable use to the point where the color has worn off or mostly off the frame, the lock plates will usually retain significant case hardened color.
Case in point, a 1-frame C-Grade that I had several professionals work their magic on nearly every aspect of the gun, with the exception of the frame… I wanted to leave the frame untouched because of the subdued beauty of the lock plates with some color remaining from when the gun was manufactured.


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