doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Telltale signs of redone case colors

Many times, the right look has a different colored 'ring' around the border of an entire part. If it's right for the gun, then to me the variation is interesting whether it's original or redone.

Vince - I've had a small number of guns recased. The first was about 40 years, the work being done by LeFever in NY. The forearm iron came back badly warped. LeFever thought that was normal. It took me most of 30 years to screw up my courage to try it again, but I've had no problems since.

I think 40 years ago case hardening was done, but the process was not as well understood as it is today.

I agree completely. From the case hardening to the rust blueing to the wood finishing, and even the photography... a lot of talents on display there! I've read about blocking or pinning, but I had never heard about the use of clay plugs to prevent ringing or ghosting as damascus relates. Many thanks to those who share their knowledge with us.

Possibly a sure sign of cyanide colors is the absence of 'rings'

This thread just reminds me of how much I dislike re-colour hardened guns. To each their own, I guess.

But if a client wanted one, you would sure as hell provide.

No, I always provide as much advice as I think helpful on a job. To date I have never re-colour hardened an action on a project.

Some things I won't do. I have refused to sell a gun with a 15" original all wood stock to someone who wanted me to cut it to 14 1/4". I have also turned down requests to de-activate nice working hammer guns so people can hang them over the fireplace. There will be other examples that don't spring to mind. When people come to me, I try to provide a service that helps them, rather than just do what they want - regardless of the wisdom involved.

If you want someone to put a rubber recoil pad on your Purdey hammer gun and cut the barrels down to 27", go to someone else.

Never get tired of seeing your work Doug, amazing how good it looks !

To Small Bore's point, I paraphrase G. Bernard Shaw:

The English and Americans are really one people.

Divided by levels of taste.

(over here we like Duck Dynasty and Turnbull recase jobs!)

I, for one have never seen a recolored gun on Dig's web site. He has printed in his books how much he despises recolored actions and qualifies his statements as to his reasoning. I believe Diggory would strongly oppose the recoloring of an action, even if a client were to request that. Also, I think people who cut these stocks are making a big mistake because the ideal heel to toe measurement is about 5 1/4" whether the stock is 16" LOP or 14 1/4" LOP. Once an original stock is cut, the 5 1/4" heel to toe dimension is lost.