Case color question
 

How does one tell the difference between cyanide color and bone charcoal case coloring process. What are the tell tail sign to indicate which process may have been used?

From examples I have seen, the cyanide coloring just looks "painted on" compared to the bone charcoal process, which to me is softer, and more authentic.....

The appearances of the two are completely different from each other.

Cyanide coloring has streaks or bands apparent. The process produces these bands, and they are a telltale sign. Case coloring will show more blending of shapes and colors, and you can often see different coloration around "features" in the frame (like screw and pin holes). Just looking at several of each will teach you a lot. You should be able to find examples on line.

Also...check out a couple of Josh L.'s for sale ads. The one he notes as a "Reference" gun is a good example of Parker case coloring. His ad for a "unique CHE" will show you an example of cyanide coloring (look at the pictures of the frame bottoms on each gun).

I’m sure someone is in a position to post photos of both, side by side. Once you see them side by side you will be able to tell easily.

Garry, I took your suggestion and looked at the 2 guns you mentioned for comparison purposes. The case color difference between the two guns is very apparent. Thanks again.

About 10 or 12 years ago I had DelGrego restore a parker 16 ga for me, total restoration. The case colors on the gun look to my eye to have been produced using cyanide. I was far less knowledgeable then as now to all things being Parker. Never paid much attention to the colors as they looked fine to me at the time. Live a little, learn a little

Cyanide colors....

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Bone charcoal color case hardening colors.


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That "finger" up through the floorplate of the last gun seems to be a sign of real case colors if not original Parker case colors. Dean, is the last floorplate pictured an original Parker case color example?

Yes it is Bill and it belongs to Edgar.





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There is a story to go with that bone charcoal case-hardened, original-condition 12-gauge, 30-inch barreled VH, written by Edgar Spencer, with illustrations by Mark Ouellette. It can be found in PARKER PAGES Volume 20, Issue 3, of Autumn, 2013.

The “out of the box New” qualities of the gun were overlooked for several hours, due to other distractions. Then the gun was un-sleeved in the natural light of day…like it stepped out of Time.

It is an amazing gun. I have examined it personally. (Thanks Edgar)





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Allen:

Here are some observations on cyanide vs. bone charcoal re-coloring made by Bruce Day, posted on this forum a while back.

1. Del Grego's do not do their own color case hardening. They take them to a contractor in nearby Herkimer for cyanide process or more recently, to Turnbull for charcoal process if selected by the gun owner.

2. Case colors can be muted or removed by hand polishing over the course of an evening while watching television.

3. The color patterns of cyanide case colors depend on the technique of the person doing the work. Results range from near charcoal case colors to the discussed tiger stripes. The process uses a liquid bath and the tiger stripes result from multiple depth immersions. Similar to dyeing an Easter egg.

Falling into FWIW, category, this is a cyanide process done by the same folks who do the Browning low walls. This is done in Montana. Frames are done and then shipped to Miroku in Japan for assembly into the complete gun. https://i.imgur.com/pzJfjk5h.jpg

That’s very pretty.





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