Spencer case hardening?

Kent Shootwell · October 18, 2011, 06:10:08 PM

Got a Spencer receiver along with some Sharps to case color and got to looking for a photo of what the originals looked like. Not finding a good photo I'm hoping you fellow can help. This is how mine looks.

Trailrider · October 18, 2011, 11:13:56 PM

I can't help you with photos of an original with the case colors showing, but food for thought... colors on case hardened parts will fade to a mottled gray over time, and, believe it or not, with exposure to sunlight or even indoor lighting. That is why it is so rare to find an original Spencer or other firearms with the colors intact. Colors will also depend on the type of quench fluid used in the process.

JimBob · October 19, 2011, 01:36:47 AM

The dust cover on Marcot's book has a decent picture in color showing Spencer case colors.A lot more blues and browns with little of the silver colors compared to yours in one example.Another one almost totally black as if quenched in oil like a Krag receiver.Nice job by the way.

Many commercially produced cased firearms had a clear lacquer finish over the case to preserve it which if not redone as it wore off made the colors fade over time leading to the silvery looking surface normally seen.Exposure to oxygen is the enemy in preserving the case.