case color on experienced hammers

[River Jordan]

I am considering sending a couple of newer Colt hammers of to be case hardened.

However, one of the guns has a very slick action job by Bob Munden with the hammer's surfaces  on the outside edge highly polished so the sear will slide easily between the notches.

what would happen if the hammer is case hardened? does the surface retain its molecular arrangement and change color or does the bone meal and charcoal impart a new thin layer of deposit on the steel?

My suspicion is that a slight re polish would be needed to restore the surfaces but I am not sure.

I know that this is only part of an action job but this gun is really slick and smooth.

has anyone case colred their hammer after the action work was done?

[August]

Thickness and polish relatively unchanged (assuming no warpage occurs).

I have a pair of USFA SAs with case hardened hammers and they scratch easily UNLESS the hammer is relieved and sufficient clearance exists between hammer and frame. 

So.... relieve the hammers first and send 'em off to be hardened.  They do look nice in the holsters.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Thickness and polish relatively unchanged (assuming no warpage occurs)...

Ditto. It's rare that a small parts such as a hammer warps. Usually large or flat pieces tend to warp and they have to be "blocked" prior to case hardening.