Listen up Henry

[Sir Henry]

I believe true color case hardening is done while the part is heated surrounded by bits of bone and and burned leather. When Colt started making the S.A.A. after several years of non production, they had to call back some retired workers who knew the process.

That is correct and then it is cooled rapidly by dipping it into oil. But I've also heard of surrounding it with other material. The oil dipping is what case hardens it and the material is what gives it a certain color and pattern. I believe the case hardening only hardens the very outer part of the metal so the inner metal stays softer. They do this because they want the outer material to withstand dings but not let the inside to become too brittle.

At least that is what I've been told. I've never done it but have heard of home kits where you can do it at home. I think it only works on steel. Has anyone here actually tried it?

[Travlin]

That's true about only the outer surface gets hardened. Also if not done by one who knows the correct procedure, I think that there is a chance of warping the frame or part .

[Skinner Sights]

I wouldn't count it out... Henry has been bringing out so many new models, they cant bring them all forward at once. There may be a case hardened Steel frame Big Boy in the future.

[eldermike]

I have done some case hardening in my life. A long time ago I was a tool and die maker and we used the process to add wear resistance to low carbon steel parts. We used a product called Carbonite to bring up the carbon percentage of the surface. You heat the part to about 1400 degree from and then dip in carbon and reheat and then oil quench. Produces a very hard surface. Getting special colors would require knowledge beyond the process of hardening.

[Travlin]

Case hardening vs Color case hardening.

[HenryHoarder]

Form the posts on the color hardening it is obvious that there is definitely a market for this type if finish on the Henry Big Boys.
I refrain from shooting my shinny brass guns as It only takes one mistake to mar the finish.
To begin with, my first lever 38/357 was a Rossi.
The action was awful which led me to a "Steve's slick up job" which took me a week to bring the action to the standard of what I know now is typical of a Henry off the shelf.
I sold the long barrel Rossi and found a short barrel to replace it. It was more in line with the Henry's which I found out before I bought it.
I later found that Rossi was impossible to get parts for from the factory. Here again I had made a mistake, but shooting it takes the worry of scratches off of me.
Oh well, Maybe someday Andy will take the plunge.

[Sir Henry]

Form the posts on the color hardening it is obvious that there is definitely a market for this type if finish on the Henry Big Boys.
I refrain from shooting my shinny brass guns as It only takes one mistake to mar the finish.
To begin with, my first lever 38/357 was a Rossi.
The action was awful which led me to a "Steve's slick up job" which took me a week to bring the action to the standard of what I know now is typical of a Henry off the shelf.
I sold the long barrel Rossi and found a short barrel to replace it. It was more in line with the Henry's which I found out before I bought it.
I later found that Rossi was impossible to get parts for from the factory. Here again I had made a mistake, but shooting it takes the worry of scratches off of me.
Oh well, Maybe someday Andy will take the plunge.

I have a couple Rossi' too and had to do the Steve thing to them. Even the wood needed some improvement but in the end I ended up with a nice rifle.

I have three rimfire Henrys with the Brasslite finish and while in the beginning I thought they would be delicate I've found they can take a lot of range trips. I buy firearms to shoot, not hang on the wall.