CPA
I believe that a significant amount of the "blue" is a color balance technique
and not from the CCH process.
Could you please elaborate on that, Steve?
Yes, please elaborate. I have never seen any suggestions, recipes, or techniques for getting a high percentage of blue colors during case hardening.
I've noted that high condition Syracuse Lefevers have a much higher percentage of blues and purple-blues than most makers. Many are predominately blue over the sideplates with only a bit of ghosting around screw holes or the edges. When I see a Lefever with a lot of mottled colors, I immediately start to look for other signs that it has been refinished.
There is a huge difference between refinishing and restoration. And very few so-called "restorations" on Lefevers have anything approaching the period correct case hardening colors. I have the name of one case hardening gunsmith who seems to be able to consistently pull it off in a convincing manner. Most cannot.
Here's a DS Grade Lefever that illustrates what I'm saying even though it has seen a fair amount of use.