I'll agree with Chuch that not all CCH is created equal, and some does seem to wear better than others. Mike's AyA's are a case in point. One gun I own, my meat rifle... a flintlock muzzleloader, has taken almost 30 years of perspiration, sunlight, rain, snow, black powder residue, boiling water and scrub-brush cleanings (sometimes several days after shooting...shame on me), and it still has very vibrant case colors with only a hint of wear. I've definitely carried it more miles than any firearm I own. I have not taken any unusual precautions such as lacquering. That's why I'll stick to my guns and advise Hoof to go with his preferred action finish, maybe use the lacquer and try to avoid abusing it without getting anal about it. I really don't carry my guns with a sweaty paw wrapped around the receiver very often. Like Rookhawk said, a casehardened gun with some honest wear has a certain appeal too. In answer to his question about CCH, it all remains after the color is gone. Only annealing or physically removing the thin carburized surfaced, colored or not, will make it go away.
