Color Case Finishes question

Sky C. · Post by **Sky C.** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 4:30 pm

Howdy Shiloh Team-

I was wondering what the difference is between the standard color case finish on your rifles and the optional "pack hardened" finish.

Any special considerations for either as regards maintenance and keeping the colors looking good?

Thanks-

Sky C.

wolfie · Post by **wolfie** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 pm

the bone pack has much better colors with better paterns i will have this done on my next one as it was not avabile when i got mine.check out the right up on doug tunbull in this months american rifleman great photos.

Rickd · Post by **Rickd** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 4:17 am

The optional "bone & charcoal case hardened" finish is the way it was done 130 years ago. The receivers were hardened by a heat treatment in a mix of charcoal and bone meal and one of the results was some pretty interesting color developments in the finish...blues, gold, yellow. Shiloh does this very well. Doug Turnbull of Turnbull Restorations is known for his color case work. Very classy.

Post by **Lucinda** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 12:53 pm

SKY,

IF YOU GO TO OUR CUSTOM FEATURES AND THEN TO THE METAL FINISHES ON OUR WEBSITE, YOU WILL ACTUALLY SEE A CLOSE UP VIEW OF BOTH FINISHES. AS YOU WILL NOTICE, THE PACK HARDEN FINISH HAS STRONGER BROWN COLORS MIXED WITH THE BLUES AND THE COLOR CASED FINISH IS VERY STRONG SWIRLS OF BLUES. STRICTLY A CUSTOMER PREFERENCE.

LUCINDA

Sky C. · Post by **Sky C.** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:55 pm

Hello Lucinda-

Yes- I see the differences in the colors. What I was trying to understand is...

1) The Shiloh 'standard color case finish' - what is the method used? I'm familiar with the charcoal/bone pack hardened process.

2) Any special precautions or recommendations for how to maintain the colors for each type. Many older oiginal guns case colors faded. If there is a good way to preserve the nice job you folks do for your Shiloh's - I'd like to know so as to give them the TLC that they deserve. My understanding is that some types of 'color case' methods are chemical treatments that may be damaged by use of some solvents. I'd hate to learn the hard way.

Thanks-

Sky C.

Texas Shooter · Post by **Texas Shooter** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:59 am

Sky C.

Good question. I figured I would post, so when an answer is given, I'd be notified.

Thanks,

Texas Shooter

Rich Siegel · Post by **Rich Siegel** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 9:33 am

I have the original color case finishes (not the bone finish) on my Shiloh's and I purchased my '63 carbine used. It had seen four or more years service in N-SSA skirmishes and I've used it for four more years. That's a fair amount of shooting including practice in all sorts of weather. The only wear I really can see is that the colors on the loading leaver are starting to fade, in some places they are gone. Also from cleaning, the area on top of the action, just behind the breech, that is cut for the paper cartridge to slide into the chamber, has some shiny spots from the cleaning rod tips.

As a side note, I have a six year old #1 with the heavy barrel that has not been shot much and I baby the gun. The only wear I can see on it is the barrel blueing. It has worn on the corners of the flats under the barrel where I rest it on sand bags or cross sticks.

Rich

Sky C. · Post by **Sky C.** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 6:06 pm

Back to top - Hoping to learn what the Standard color case method is and how to care for it.

Thanks-

Sky

Smokin · Post by **Smokin** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 9:44 pm

Sky C,

The colors you see on the steel from the case hardening process are oxides and make up a relatively delicate finish. As I understand it, the french gray finish is case hardened metal which has had those oxides gently and precisely polished away. Therfore, uncareful handling can too quickly wear away the colors, as is sunshine supposed to increase the rate of fading of the colors. So don't abuse the finish and it should last into the next century, but it will by then be patinized. An artful word for a classy finish.

Good luck

Ray Newman · Post by **Ray Newman** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 11:00 pm

Some of the Senior Shooters that I know claim that a light coat of True Oil will help to preserve the colors....

Post by **Kirk** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 6:52 am

Hi Sky, No matter what you do with color case, it will fade a little, it takes a long time to do this though. Use the old stock slick by TDP, you will find it in the catalog and it will preserve it and make it look good to. The only way to completely preserve color, is to keep it in a dark room and never let hand acid or sunlight get to it. Thanks Kirk

Shiloh Rifle Forums

Color Case Finishes question

Color Case Finishes question

Case color