That is beautiful.
Does anyone know how they achieve the coloring?

How durable is the finish?

I never thought I would see a tie dyed Hi Power.

 

Nice pistola, thanks for all the pics.

 

From Turnbull Restoration's website:

"Color case hardening (or case color hardening or case hardening):
A traditional process used originally to harden carbon steel using very high temperatures and bone and wood charcoal. Used more recently to reproduce the original finish on carbon steel firearms without substantially hardening the steel, this process is still known as color case hardening.
Color casing (or case coloring):
A modern, industrial process used to add colors to carbon steel. This process utilizes a potassium cyanide salt bath to achieve the desired colors. Note: Even if a firearm has been “color cased” manufacturers and proprietors will often refer to it as having been “color case hardened,” even though this is an inaccurate description."

Many years ago I read a statement by a well known gunsmith whose name I don't recall who was asked by a customer to put a "beautiful color case hardening finish" on a gun. The gunsmith replied "You can have it bright and colorful or you can have it done correctly... but you can't have both". A properly done color case hardening will be somewhat dull. Such a finish is also only a few thousands of an inch deep.

 

Actually, the old color case hardening was often brilliant in color, but handling & sunlight are the 'enemy' here as well as neglect. Done properly today some put a light shellac over it as a temporary protectant.

 

The point the old gunsmith was making was that if the colors were brilliant, the case hardening was shallow and not durable. To achieve the maximum case hardening depth and durability, the colors would turn dull.

 

Thanks for posting!!! You may have helped me make my decision about which flavor of Inglis to get!

 

Isn’t it interesting that ‘today’ we want the bright, brilliant colors, but in the ‘old days’ they wanted whatever color would provide the longest lasting protection?

Personally, if it was all about the longest lasting protection, I’d get the ‘dullest/longest lasting’ of the options; however, I absolutely…LOVE contrsting colors. IMNTBHO, a color-case hardened frame looks best with a solid frame, and vice~versa.

Sam

 

I know this thread is a bit old, but I just ordered one of these from Palmetto State Armory. It hasn't shipped yet but I'm guessing it should arrive at my FFL next Tuesday or Wednesday.

How has this gun been holding up for you so far? This will be my fourth Hi-Power. I have 2 Browning's, and a Tisas Stainless Regent. I will admit I love the color case hardening. And I'll be anxious to get it.

 

I know this thread is a bit old, but I just ordered one of these from Palmetto State Armory. It hasn't shipped yet but I'm guessing it should arrive at my FFL next Tuesday or Wednesday.

How has this gun been holding up for you so far? This will be my fourth Hi-Power. I have 2 Browning's, and a Tisas Stainless Regent. I will admit I love the color case hardening. And I'll be anxious to get it.

Not a huge amount, but the case color Inglis I got from Family Firearms before they closed has about 250 rounds through it. The gun itself is doing well and I really like it. Both magazines feed & function well, hold the slide open on the last round, and drop free when the mag release is pressed.

They use some kind of lacquer finish over the case color, and it is just starting to wear on the front of the grip frame. I imagine that it will get removed eventually if it starts to look bad, but so far you really need to look for it before you can notice it.

 

Thanks for the reply. Your grips really look good. They have just the right amount of contrasting color.

 

Don't quote me, but in a prior discussion on CCH finishes here, two or three members with knowledge of the chemical treatment process vs the heat treat process revealed a few key ways to determine one from the other. With chemically treated guns, the colors appear in rather uniform waves, kind of like wisps of smoke. The chemical treated guns also lack rich golds and bright reds. Supposedly only heat treating will produce rich reds and rich gold tones. Another likely clue as to which is which is cost. Guns that achieved their color case hardening via heat treatment will cost much more than the little extra paid for the chemically treated models.