Case Colored Frame

[AJR337]

As a continuation of my Model 36 personalization project (phase 1 was "chip flint" stippling the backstrap), I gave the frame a case colored finish.

I'm soaking it in oil for a few hours but snapped a couple of initial pics...



I'm pretty pleased with the result for my first try...I'll post some additional pics later.

 

[pasound]

Looking good! An interesting project. Complete restore or just a refinish to try out the idea?

 

[AJR337]

Looking good! An interesting project. Complete restore or just a refinish to try out the idea?

Thanks!

It was already in very good condition but I just enjoy personalizing my guns.

I stippled the backstrap, bobbed the hammer, and case colored the frame.

I'm leaving the cylinder and barrel blued...as well as the top strap.

This is the look that I wanted to recreate...



I'm also planning to install a WC 13lb rebound spring and a Wolff XP hammer spring.

Basically, it's my rendition of the prefect carry 36...

 

[Jon651]

I've seen this on Henry rifles and it looks great. An few honest questions - How durable is it, in that does it resist powder residue and cleaning chemicals? And can it be 'touched up' if scratched?

 

[AJR337]

I've seen this on Henry rifles and it looks great. An few honest questions - How durable is it, in that does it resist powder residue and cleaning chemicals? And can it be 'touched up' if scratched?

Thank you...I used Birchwood Casey Plumb Brown Barrel Finish and Super Blue. It required multiple coats to get the final finished look so I'm sure that it will be decently durable but I can easily touch it up or refinish it when it does eventually wear.

 

[drgbike]

How about a detailed walk through, be very interested in the process.

 

[AJR337]

How about a detailed walk through, be very interested in the process.

Apologies for the delay...it looked very good with a coat of oil but not great once it dried a bit.

I decided to strip it off and try something different so I applied several coats of BC Plum Brown Barrel Finish to the frame and I'm very pleased with the result which (depending on the lighting and angle) appears chocolate brown/copper to purplish blue.

It's definitely a process with each coat requiring heating to around 250°+, applying the Plum Brown, cold water rinse, carding, and rinsing again. It's easy to see why some aren't successful/satisfied with the outcome since it requires extensive prep and at least 5 coats (I did 7) to even the color, etc.

I left the barrel, top strap, backstrap, and cylinder blue so it should give it an interesting contrast.

I've also got a pair of Altamont Bonded Ivory grips on order and I'm deciding on a grip adapter as well.

It's currently soaking in some Barricade but here's a quick pic...



Here's another pic which shows the variation in color with different lighting...

 

[drgbike]

Most case colored guns are sprayed with lacquer or some other protective coating. So maybe it would have been OK that way. I am still interested on how you achieved that coloring? If you would not mind. Thanks. Carl/drgbike

 

[AJR337]

Most case colored guns are sprayed with lacquer or some other protective coating. So maybe it would have been OK that way. I am still interested on how you achieved that coloring? If you would not mind. Thanks. Carl/drgbike

To get the case colored look, I started by applying the BC Plum Brown to most of the frame on room temp steel which produces a lighter brown/copper color.

Once that set/dried a bit, I dipped q-tips into BC Super Blue and dabbed them in and around the Plum Brown sections.

The chemicals seemed to mix a bit which created cool variations in color including dark brown/black, copper/bronze, and shades of blue/purple.

I continued to dab the chemical mix around the frame until I achieved the look that I was going for and then I gave it a thorough rinse in cold water.

After that I soaked it in motor oil and let it sit overnight.

Like I said, the result looked great with a coat of oil but upon drying, the colors looked less vibrant.

As you mentioned, I could have tried coating it with a lacquer or other coating but then decided to strip it and Plum Brown the frame instead.

I hope that helps but feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

 

[Onomea]

I think I have read somewhere that the original process for case coloring is a tricky one involving heating the steel up in burning bone.

I think perhaps Turnbull still does this.

 

[AJR337]

I think I have read somewhere that the original process for case coloring is a tricky one involving heating the steel up in burning bone.

I think perhaps Turnbull still does this.

Yes, real color case hardening is actually a heat-treating process that increases the surface hardness of carbon steel and creates a combination of mottled and vibrant colors as a byproduct of the process which includes heating parts in a charcoal/bone mixture and then quenching them.

Most case coloring that you see today is achieved with some form of chemical process.

 

[Journey]

Sweet. So much more impressive in conception than just a blue job or cerakote. I have a nickel 36-1 with that round butt and 3" barrel. One of my least preferred because it looks out of proportion. I also have a 2" square buttt that looks a little strange. You have managed to give yours a unique personality.

 

[AJR337]

I finished the Plum Brown rust finish on the model 36 frame this weekend and enhanced the color case coloring on the bobbed hammer and trigger.

I had some time earlier today to reassemble it and I'm pretty pleased with the results...I really like how the color looks different with changes in lighting, etc.

Just waiting for a pair of Altamont Bonded Ivory grips and a BK grip adapter to finish it.

 

[drgbike]

Thank you very much for your reply and instructions. Much appreciated. Carl

 

[chief38]

I love a case colored frame if that is what the firearm was originally made with. I have no issues with a firearm being RE-case colored because the originals are weak, gone or worn beyond recognition but would not want to do that on any highly collectible piece or one that was never CC'ed in the first place.

Case coloring a gun that was never meant to be that way doesn't thrill me and actually looks sort of out of place. Everyone has different thoughts and views and obviously it's their gun and can do as they please. Not saying they are wrong - just not my personal style. That's what makes horse races.

 

[AJR337]

I'm glad that I decided to try the Plum Brown rust finish instead...I think it looks great and can't wait to get the black BK grip adapter and bonded ivory grips on it. I updated my grip order to include bronze medallions (instead of silver) which should match the old school look better.