Casehardening ????

[1988RRC]

Is there a difference between 'casehardened' & 'color casehardened'?

[Roscoe Coles]

The amount of color.  Case hardening is a process of adding carbon to the surface of steel so that the inside remains relatively soft and flexible and the outside becomes hard, resisting wear.  How its done determines the color you get, though all case hardening tends to leave some kind of color.

[Montana Slim]

...good info...I'll add that generic casehardening tends to have a "gray" appearance on some (most) metals. Some metals such as 8620 will naturally color during most casehardening processes. I've seen components for modern weapons (black rifle) come out of casehardening with a nice colorpattern. Then, these parts are blasted and Manganese Phosphate treated.

Regards,
Slim

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[1988RRC]

are some casehardened parts then 'blued' for finish or are they left the casehardened color?

[Montana Slim]

are some casehardened parts then 'blued' for finish or are they left the casehardened color?

Yes & yes. Could do either.
I define blued as a very quick or thin coat of black oxide (that's why it looks blue, rather than black). Longer tank time or multiple exposure to black oxide creates the dark modern type of bluing. Casehardened parts can be surface prepped and applied with black oxide (blued), or recieve other finish. There are also chemical/heat applications that make parts look like they are color casehardened.

Not sure if that answers your question...

Regards,
Slim

[vintagearms]

Case hardeneed and quenched in oil leaves a dark or grey finish early Springfield trap doors are a good example Color case hardened are quenched in agitated water

Mike