doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Case Coloring an RBL Grey

Are there any issues associated with having a french grey RBL case colored? I'm considering it as much for added (albeit minimal) rust protection as aesthetics.

The main issue would be that the action has already been hardened once, then the colors have been taken off to produce a french gray. I wouldnt put it right into the furnace without annealing it, but some people in the trade might. Then after annealing you have the polishing, etc, a lot of work. I think it would be much easier and less risky to sell yours and order or buy one with the same specs + a colored action.

I tend to agree with Mr. Will. Your action should be already hardened & re-caseing it will only cost more money & not add anymore rust resistance. The action would have to be annealed, polished by hand then re-cased and reassembled.

It was my understanding that the RBL in "French Grey" has not been hardened. Check with Galazans for clarification.

IF, the action isn't hardened --- there is no need to anneal and case hardening can be done straight away.

Sell it and buy one that is already case colored.

Not sure what the "case coloring" process is on an RBL, but the color on mine began to flake off (not wear off) shortly after receipt. It appears to be some sort of painted on treatment. BTW, Galazan repaired the defect quickly with no questions asked.

True French gray is actually a hardening process, with the final quench done in a solution of potassium prussiate, instead of water. There are several other ways to get a gray color that do not involve hardening, including cutting regular rust blue back with an acid. You will have to know exactly which process you have to proceed. Any of the above gun finishes are fairly delicate, and don't hold rust at bay very well. Finishes that do hold rust away are not traditional for dougle gun use. I suppose that is why we don't see a Robar option, or epoxy finishes, listed in the Galazon catalog.

I noticed in the last Galazon catalog I received the company seems to be pushing case colored guns, and the gray isn't even an option on the 12 and 16 gauges coming out next year. Maybe the gray is the color collectors look for in the future?

It likely would be simpler just to find an RBL with the finish treatment you wish.

Best,
Ted

Mr. Ted, I have been color casing guns for years and removing the color via elbow grease and steel wool & Lysol toilet bowl cleaner. The final look is a coin finish which tones down with handling & dirty oil to a soft french grey. My shop sample has been handled for years & has yet to show signs of rust. Will be happy to explain step by step to anyone who calls.

"??" Is the RBL action made of case hardened low carbon steel or a heat treated higer carbon alloy steel, then "colored". Before you go sticking something in a furnace it's wise to know what it is, less you totally destroy what the manf'r put there.