Assembled or Not

[Bruce Day]

Brad, thanks. Related issue: the Parker factory had frame straightening fixtures which they sometimes had to use. I am aware that some contemporary shops have occasional warpage after the re-color case hardening process and in some instances, they were never able to get the frame right again.
Can you address the dreaded warpage issue, or not to put you on the spot, would this topic be better left for a presentation/discussion perhaps at an annual meeting such as you came to last year?

[Parker Bachelder (Brad's Profile)]

Bruce
Until the last ten years or so the process was done by only a handful of individuals, skilled or well trained in the field. Dr. Gadys article opened the door to experimentation. Brownells marketed it as a simple process and made the basic equipment available. It is not a simple process like caustic bluing and many a fine gun has been ruined by bluing.
Warpage is some thing that happens only when a mistake is made. Shrinkage unlike warpage is benefit to case hardening. With great care shrinkage can be controlled. Even with the great number of guns that I have cased, I still draw a bead of sweat everytime I open the furnace and grab a crucible.
I am not aware of a complete set of instructions on the process. What I have seen is only an introduction.
Iam not positive, but I believe the straightening fixtures were used during the soft fitting stage prior to hardening. Much torque is applied to fitting causing the parts to move.
In the early years I spent a considerable amount of time at Smith & Wesson, back when they built guns. From the forges to maching, soft fitting, hard fitting, heat treat, and finishing. I gleened a tremendous of knowlege from that experience.
Strict unwavering diciplines must by applied to every process to gain acceptable results. One can not learn that from a set of instructions.

Brad