Color case hardening, I'm gonna to do it

[12th Man]

I've been kicking the idea around of color case hardening (CCH) my pops Win Model 94 32 Win Special. I've had a couple conversations with Turnbull Restorations. He wants $1600 to disassemble and reassemble, plus any metal work he has do. That didn't include the CCH which was $650 as I recall. $2250+ for CCH is too much for me. I guess if he's getting it, great for him.

I'm having my gunsmith add some flush cup sling swivels to my 6.5 CM McMillan stock. We got on the topic of CCH. He gave me the name of gunsmith in Houston that specializes in CCH. I gave him a call to discuss my project. I asked him what his assemble and disassemble charge was. He said one hour @ $50.00. He said it's not rocket science. He did say that was the assemble/disassemble charge, however, if he has to do metal work he would provide a quote. For the CCH it would be $450.00. His work is excellent according to my gunsmith. He said none of his customers he sent to him were ever disappointed and raved about his work.

I'll be shipping my pops rifle out next week for an estimate, incase he needs to do additional work. Pops 94 is in excellent condition or so I think so. The gunsmith did tell me, I have differing opinions with customers on excellent condition. I get that!

Hopefully I'll have pics to share in six weeks or so.

[JunkCollector]

This is a personal choice on an heirloom gun.
I bet it will look great

I've always left mine as they were.
Just something about erasing / altering the earned character they have from those before me.

[Japhy]

case hardening changes the dimensions. If there are tight tolerance parts there may be some machining required: pins and tapped screw holes?
Somedude may have more info on the topic, I remember asking him that question.

[12th Man]

This is a personal choice on an heirloom gun.
I bet it will look great

I've always left mine as they were.
Just something about erasing / altering the earned character they have from those before me.

I fully understand about leaving it as is. I like the CCH and it should add to the value. Next week I'm getting ready to start work on my firearms catalog for my wife and kids when I leave this earth. Pictures of each gun, serial numbers, conditions and the approximate worth of each one. I could see my wife selling my 1949 Browning Sweet 16 which is in mint condition for a couple hundred bucks, not knowing the true value. And NO, I'm not selling for a couple hundred bucks!

[JunkCollector]

I've done similar
Mainly just a list with values.
It's pretty outdated now.....just various ammo now is something to consider.

[Justsomedude]

I only know enough about color case hardening to get myself in trouble. I imagine it could cause some warping as it consists of the parts being packed in charcoal, sealed and heated to red hot for a few hours then dumped in water where it retains the temper colors. I'm guessing here but I assume the warping would be minimal by them using a low carbon content steel for the parts which would be stressed much less.

[CPJ 2.0]

I only know enough about color case hardening to get myself in trouble. I imagine it could cause some warping as it consists of the parts being packed in charcoal, sealed and heated to red hot for a few hours then dumped in water where it retains the temper colors. I'm guessing here but I assume the warping would be minimal by them using a low carbon content steel for the parts which would be stressed much less.

I’d wager the slow process (I can spell color case hardening, grain of salt etc etc) normalizes the steel and sets the twisty demons free.


As to the CCH adding value, it’s possible. If Turnbull did it, I’d wager it would. You’d have the fancy paperwork that comes with the service. If Joe Bobs CCH Service did it, maybe not. Even if JBCCHS did a better job than Turnbull, they ain’t Turnbull. Just a provenance thing.

Most old gun weirdos like their guns old, crusty, and original. Me? Ceracote it if it makes you happy.

[CPJ 2.0]

$1600 to take it apart and put it together?
Thats what you charge when you don’t want/need work.
Good on him for finding customers though.

[Wambli Ska]

Turnbul is at the stage of the game where he doesn’t need to find customers.

I’m also for doing to guns what makes the owner happy. Some I leave as found but I’m not against doing a full facelift on a firearm just because I want to make it look “ better” in my eyes. I love the idea of a case hardened ‘94 as long as the work is good.

[Justsomedude]

And here I have a customer that's pissed that I've had his S&W revolver that's rust pitted to hell to reblue for 1.5 months. To add salt in the wound he was another "iM iN nO hUrRy. "

[12th Man]

I agree with Turnbull charging what he can get. Go for it! I just don't have that kind of money to throw around.

[Gene L]

This is a personal choice on an heirloom gun.
I bet it will look great

I've always left mine as they were.
Just something about erasing / altering the earned character they have from those before me.

I fully understand about leaving it as is. I like the CCH and it should add to the value. Next week I'm getting ready to start work on my firearms catalog for my wife and kids when I leave this earth. Pictures of each gun, serial numbers, conditions and the approximate worth of each one. I could see my wife selling my 1949 Browning Sweet 16 which is in mint condition for a couple hundred bucks, not knowing the true value. And NO, I'm not selling for a couple hundred bucks!

I don't think it will add to the value to a collector, but that doesn't matter if you want a CCH Model 94. Sounds like a good deal.

[Varmintmist]

Apparently the banhammer didnt swing hard enough