Joe-
It most deifnitely is a fad, and I did not say it passed, as you quoted me, but rather I will be glad when it has passed. You are taking bits of information out of context and using them to make your argument.
The Mausers were not colored cased, they were case hardened at different temps than you need for the colors that are the fad these days. I would like to see the military mausers or commercial Mausers that were color cased from the factory in WW II. TO say soemthing is case hardened does not necesarily mean it was color case hardened. This horse has been severely flogged on this board for quite soem time now.
When you look at the guns and rifles of old, you will not find the clor casing liek you so today. Even 15 years ago you did not find it. I would like to see any exapmples you can produce that show CC'd scope rings, scope bases, grip caps, bolt shrouds, Mauser actions, bottom metal, etc., etc. If it is out there in more than a trivial amount, I have never seen it. The earilliest versions of German rifles did have it, as they were using different steels and cartridges. English single and doubles are also a different horse in a different race.
I also pointed out that some newer steels, such as 8620, are approaching indestructable when case hardened, but as I said in th efirst post-not when COLOR CASE HARDENED. THe temps needed to give the steel its super-strength do not produce the colors which are the fad these days.
And besides, this is not even what the original question is about. He asked about modern steels being CC'd vs. old steel. It has nothing to do with the older English shotguns you mention. I hope this does not seem like picking nits, for it is not. Apples to oranges comparisons. One cannot pick bits of information here and there and assume they transfer to anything else. This is what 97.349% if the gun writers do, and thta is why the magazines of today are nothing compared to what they were 25 years ago.
