Brad,
When the day comes that you find yourself on the brink of retirement, I would suggest that you consider publishing a detailed and extensive book on case color hardening, divulging all the detailed processes, formulas and secrets of the craft that you have learned and employed over the years. There are plenty of explanatory and "how to" books on bluing, stock making, checkering, engraving, mechanical gunsmithing and even custom gun building in publication.
There is nothing of the sort on bone charcoal case color hardening. The closest we have is Dr Gaddy's two published articles in DGJ which, as you noted, divulged just enough information to open the door to experimentation. Aside from gaining recognition, if not immortality, and perhaps generating some income; the most compelling reason for someone in your virtually unique position to publish a detailed book on the process is for the future protection and preservation of vintage doubles.
Some will not enjoy the thought of it, but the fact remains that people--qualified and otherwise--will always seek to restore vintage doubles with new case colors. In the absence of a definitive instruction manual, as is the case today, far too many vintage guns will continue to be ruined by high heat warpage, or result in period inaccurate colors and patterns. With a detailed treatise in circulation, much of the current experimentation will not be necessary, and the ruination of many old doubles would be prevented as a result.
In any event, if you ever do decide to publish such a book, put me down for a signed copy of the first one that rolls off the printing press.
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