Receiver finish options?

[walkinboss]

Hi Spencer Shooters,

I have seen Reproduction ArmiChiappa  Spencers with either a steel-grey receiver or a case hardened receiver. Anyone know why they made both or if one is better than the other?

Thanks,

Walkin' Boss

[St. George]

My originals are case-hardened, though the color's not dramatic.

Regrettably, case colors fade with time, use and exposure to the elements - sometimes faster on the new guns.

Case hardening is a microns-thick surface-hardening technique used to ensure that the various openings on a receiver didn't wear prematurely, and was common during a time before steel was used in construction.

It happened to look good, and made for a very attractive piece - but that enhancement was merely cosmetic and the end result of a process designed to give a greater strength to the weapon.

There have been a number of posts regarding the more technical aspects of case-hardening - a thorough review of the back pages should illuminate things further.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!