Kid,
That finish is what is known as cyanide case coloring, a process that came on strong after about WWII. I believe a few American guns had that finish, usually lower end guns like Stevens and Savage shotguns. My I'm told that the cyanide process does impart some hardness to steel, but, I've seen plenty of examples with "flaked" finish, and wonder how hard they can be. I like case colors on a gun, but, will admit I like true, bone pack colors, better.
Best,
Ted
Ted - Ted - Ted - Ted - Ted You obviously don't know know that Remington ear Parkers and Fox guns starting in the late nineteen teens were were cyanide case colored, don't think there is anything cheap about those guns and I have
never seen cyanide colors on a properly prepared piece of steel flake. And yes cyanide case treatment hardens steel just as well as the bone and charcoal method if proper temperatures are used.
