How to "beautify" dull Case Hardening?

[413Maxwedge]

I purchased a NOS S&W factory-bobbed hammer for my m10 stubby. While the stock hammer has beautiful case hardening that looks oily-black, the bobbed one is very dull and ugly.


What would be the best way to make this look dark and shiny, similar to the original? All I've done so far is rub it with a clean cloth. Ive thought about oiling it but wanted to ask first.

Thanks!

 

[H Richard]

I would try the Renaissance Wax.

 

[silicosys4]

Not much you can do short of sending it off to be redone or finding a brighter one.

The color is a very thin layer. Once its faded, all you can do is try to highlight what's still there with a clearcoat. Oil will highlight it but wipes, dries, or runs off.

 

[DGNY]

With no guarantee of complete success implied, I would try wiping it down first with water and if nothing popped wipe with a little oil and then take a picture of it with the oil on and any highlights revealed - such as are already present in your picture of the right side.

Then I would clean it well and, having reference to the photo, apply oxpho blue, or your preferred equivalent, on a rather well pointed Q-tip and attempt to darken that which appeared darker. I would continue until reasonable satisfaction, wipe it down with some oil and declare victory.

Very little to lose and perhaps some color to gain. Please advise when/if you find something that works for you.

 

[Hawg Rider]

First of all, color case hardening is a fairly complex process that uses charcoal, bone, and a very hot kiln/oven (1400 deg.) and quenching. Perhaps Turnbull or another qualified gunsmithing company would color case harden your hammer while they're hardening some other parts. Otherwise, flame coloring may be your best bet. You can find some interesting videos on YouTube that use a torch and various oils. I actually flame colored some small parts from an old Marlin 1895 rifle (it was a beater that I just used for practicing my "shadetree gunsmithing"!). A propane torch and some oil added some fairly nice flame coloring to the parts.

 

[steelslaver]

You have to stick the part in a small metal container full of a mixture of bone charcoal and regular charcoal. . Heat it to 1400f then drop it out of the box and charcoal into aerated water quench it. I have a heat treating oven etc, just never got the bone charcoal rounded up

Here is smiling Larry from Midway to show you how.

 

[stansdds]

You might try cleaning it with oil and copper Chore Boy scrubber pads or bronze wool, that will remove oxidation, but I don't think it would damage the case hardening. After that, evaluate and maybe apply some cold blue in a splotchy pattern to create more of a case hardened appearance, then seal with Renaissance Wax or oil.