Sorry to introduce the 'C'word but I have a question regarding a Colt New Service .455 revolver made in 1900 serial No. 27** and 4.5" barrel, and I'm trawling all areas for an answer.
I'm considering an example available here in the U.K., which has a hammer, correctly one piece with firing pin, but which is colour case hardened unlike the trigger and sideplate/grip screws which are correctly 'niter' or 'fire' blued.
I've looked at a few examples coming up for sale at Rock Island in Dec' and their pics and descriptions all show these early frame examples to have 'niter' blue hammers, not case hardened.
Can anyone tell me with confidence that these early frame New Service examples all had 'niter/fire' blue hammers, or that they are sometimes found to have been assembled with hammers that were case hardened? I'll be at Tulsa over the weekend, so even if anyone could suggest the names of one or two reliable Colt gurus to ask, that would be appreciated.
This gun is London proved and would have been sold through Colt's London Agency.
Thanks for any help guys.

Sorry to introduce the 'C'word but I have a question regarding a Colt New Service .455 revolver made in 1900 serial No. 27** and 4.5" barrel, and I'm trawling all areas for an answer.
I'm considering an example available here in the U.K., which has a hammer, correctly one piece with firing pin, but which is colour case hardened unlike the trigger and sideplate/grip screws which are correctly 'niter' or 'fire' blued.
I've looked at a few examples coming up for sale at Rock Island in Dec' and their pics and descriptions all show these early frame examples to have 'niter' blue hammers, not case hardened.
Can anyone tell me with confidence that these early frame New Service examples all had 'niter/fire' blue hammers, or that they are sometimes found to have been assembled with hammers that were case hardened? I'll be at Tulsa over the weekend, so even if anyone could suggest the names of one or two reliable Colt gurus to ask, that would be appreciated.
This gun is London proved and would have been sold through Colt's London Agency.
Thanks for any help guys.

I would ask over on the colt forum.
http://www.coltforum.com/forums/index.php

A colored case hardened hammer is correct for an old model New Service in the serial # range you report. Trigger should be fire blue. See my book "Colt New Service Revolver" page 6 (nom de plume "Bob Murphy")