The key to correctly hardening your sear Stan is to identify what type of steel you have. Try bringing it up to cherry red and quenching in oil, if it becomes hard you have high carbon steel and need to temper it. Most sears on good quality guns are made of high carbon. If you use Kasenit or another method of pack hardening on high carbon steel you will through harden it and it will be very brittle and chipping or even breaking the sear tip is a likely outcome. Surface hardening compounds are for use on low carbon steel which impart a hard outer skin while leaving the inner core ductile. Hope that helps.
Steve
