Everyone told Ed Muderlak he was crazy to pay Ed Ulrich $6K for his unfired NIB Trojan 20 gauge some years ago. Ed said something like, "Yeah, you'll feel my pain!" When he finally sent it to auction a few years later just before he died, it hammered for somewhere around $10K. Condition, Condition, Condition!!!

Kevin, I believe it sold closer to $12k at Jim Julia’s.





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Condition sets the upper limit, but utility sets the lower.

Hello All,
I have a question for those more informed . I've been see a number of parkers on GB and GI that look like they were re case hardened. But the colors to me seem artificial . Almost as if they were sprayed on. Because , looking closer it looks like the engraving is filled in. Is there a technique to do a faux case harden?

Yes Harry - the Parker Reproductions have faux case hardened colors.





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I have a very nice 28 gauge VH, blued receiver, average restock, paid $2600 for it. A member put me on to it. Thanks. I have never tried to remove the blue. When 28s become valuable, I may send it to Doug Turnbull.

Thanks Dean, Interesting. Do you know how it's applied?

I’m sure I don’t but I believe it was chemically applied then heated.





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Household white vinegar. It turned in just a few seconds. The Ruger blueing always looked to me like some sort of surface finish, for want of a better term. It doesn't look like a normal hot blue to me. The ones I have seen reblued remind me of the old Winchester nickle steel guns reblued with a little plum cast to the color.

Harry: a nice example of DelGrego cyanide colors

https://photos.smugmug.com/Gun-Stuff...ors%20GH-M.jpg

Bone charcoal recase. Note 'ghosting' around some of the pins

https://photos.smugmug.com/Gun-Stuff...0re-case-M.jpg

It is possible to recolor actions using cold blue and an acetylene torch, and the results are...uh...not attractive

https://photos.smugmug.com/Gun-Stuff...20Leader-M.jpg

Krieghoff bone charcoal case coloring, again with 'ghosting'

https://photos.smugmug.com/Gun-Stuff...20colors-M.jpg

Krieghoff cyanide colors; used primarily now related to difficulty case coloring the chrome moly (and maybe other stuff which they are not sharing) alloy frames

https://photos.smugmug.com/Gun-Stuff...roll%202-M.jpg

More on cyanide coloring
https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums...55072&page=all