Case colors for the Trojan

[Craig Larter]

Most don't in my opinion. I only know of one that has it correct. But what do I know��

[Parker Bachelder (Brad's Profile)]

The process of color case hardening is actually a very simple one. Results can be obtained with equipment available from Brownells. unfortunately many hobbyists have attempted it and compromised good guns. Every manufacturer has certian signature traits in case colors. To duplicate original colors and patterns, requires a tremendous amount of research and a true understanding of the dynamics of the process. This does not happen overnight, it takes years of research and trial and error.
The ability to determine original colors requires an intense study of high condition original guns.

Brad

[Bill Murphy]

Some who attempt to duplicate original case colors on shotguns have never even seen a high condition gun of the brand they are attempting to duplicate. Brian, Doug, Dewey, and Brad are exceptions. They have seen benchmark guns. It is up to you to determine whether they duplicate the original colors correctly.

[B. Dudley]

Bill, to clarify, I do not offer case coloring.

[BRDHNTR]

Brian, but when one of your customer's wants their gun re-cased colored, you have Turnbull do the coloring. Is that correct?

[B. Dudley]

Yes...

[Bill Murphy]

Brian, most of my comment was that most gunsmiths have never seen a benchmark Parker. You are one of the chosen few who have actually seen such a gun.

[Big D]

A friend of mine and I went out to Brad's several months ago, and took with us my friend's outrageous 10 gauge AH to show Brad. After he admired the gun, he called his worker who specializes in barrel finishing up up front and showed him the gun, saying "Take a look at these barrels - This is the way they came out of the factory". Spreading the knowledge.

Hopefully, this will get you to the discussion of the gun a while back

http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthr...highlight=nice

(or search "Nice One")

[Mike Poindexter]

I have had a GHE and an LC Smith Trap Grade completely restored by Turnbull about 15 years ago, including engraving chased/recut. The colors on both were perfect in my opinion. Different of course, but perfect for the marque. I had an Ithaca Crass 2 restored by Pfommer and I'm not sure who he used for case color. Colors there were OK but not as good as DT's. All three guns showed minor warping in the quench, not enough to affect functioning but enough to bother me. The Parker picked up a wobble on the hook that had not been there before, the Smith had one side plate that was a few thousandths proud, and the Ithaca had a wobble in the top lever with a couple of thousandths of visible clearance where there had been none before. I swore off re-caseing after that. The Trojan you've got looks pretty good after your cleanup to me. I'd leave it alone.

[BRDHNTR]

Brad B has done a number of Parkers for me. Re-case coloring, ejector repairs, stock making, Damascus barrel refinishing etc. etc. His prices are reasonable and Brad and staff are an absolute pleasure to do business with. I just can't say enough about how decent these people are and the way they run their business and take care of customers.