New 617 - trigger is discolored

[mattadata]

I got my first revolver today. A new 617 .22 with 4 inch barrel. It looks good except for the trigger. Seems to have a lot of discoloration. Is that normal? What is the best way to clean/polish it?

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

Looks normal to me. The trigger and hammer are suppose to have that case colored discoloration. You could polish it out with Flitz if you wanted to.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

As noted above, it's called "case color", and it's meant to look that way. Traditionally, it was the result of a carburizing surface hardening process called case hardening, which forms a thin layer of of hard wear resistant steel (the "case") while leaving the interior steel softer.

It's questionable whether S&W truly case hardens these modern MIM parts, or if it is just a surface coating made to give the appearance of case hardening. I'm inclined t believe the later. Either way, the parts seem to work fine.

 

[loeman]

In many cases (pun intended) the case hardening process left a beautiful, almost a muted rainbow effect that many find very attractive and desirable. And that certainly would include me.

I'd like to have a 617. I hear and read that they are really fine shooting guns. Congratulations on acquiring yours and let us know how you like it.

 

[Camster]

The hammer has it too.The color varies from part to part.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Kernel Crittenden nailed it, as usual. That trigger looks completely normal to me. Use caution polishing it, as that will certainly affect any future sale - most often negatively. Leave it as it is supposed to be.

 

[bigwheelzip]

I've rubbed my trigger with a Lead-Away cloth, and it cleaned it up.

 

[mattadata]

Thanks everyone. This is new territory for me since I have only owned polymer-frame semi autos until now.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

First time I saw case hardening, long ago on a Colt Single Action Army, when I was just a pup, I thought it was some kind of damage to the finish.

 

[Macinaw]

Here is an example of a Color Case Hardened revolver. Just for the heck of it.

 

[TTSH]

It's questionable whether S&W truly case hardens these modern MIM parts, or if it is just a surface coating made to give the appearance of case hardening. I'm inclined to believe the later. Either way, the parts seem to work fine.

I think you're correct in terms of this being "fake" case hardening intended to look like the real deal (but falling a little short, IMHO). I'm not so sure it really fools anybody.

 

[Inusuit]

Ruger put fake case hardening colors on their blued Vaqueros. I don't know if they still do. I suspect the current S&W CC is also fake and I might polish it off if I were inclined to buy a new revolver.