Century International Arms Pietta

[Niederlander]

Gentlemen, I'm looking at a Pietta SAA imported by Century International Arms.  It looks really nice, but I have a couple of questions.  Were they actually case hardened?  From the pictures, it would appear so, but pictures can be deceiving.  Was the quality as good as the current Great Western II's?  Any opinions would be welcome.

[Abilene]

I believe those do have transfer bars, if it makes a difference.

[Niederlander]

Huge difference.  I'll ask about that.  Thanks!

[Major 2]

the short answer is.... no

Pietta uses cyanide  to chemically case color ( as did Ruger  )
Uberti use a different salts bath formula ....
These do harden the surface to an extent , however with today's  modern steel it is really for an artistic look

when you ask " Were they actually case hardened? "  
I believe you mean the original leather or bone process of Casehardening  the surface of low-carbon steel or iron by carbonizing the surface....  so NO

This was necessary in the day the to harden the surface to prevent wear in the irons used .
Today's gun steel is of much higher grade  so the case color hardening is just an intentional chemical discoloration of the surface, no need to alter to the carbon content of the steel.
Today gun parts are annealed in order to make them easier to machine then re-tempered after the part is made.

that said...
Black powder C&B guns use 1026 steel so they are easier to machine then Surfaced "case" hardened to about 40 Rockwell  or so.

so yes  BP guns themselves are in effect ...Case hardened  chemically  

In the cartridge arms, like the Pietta you mention , modern ordnance steel is used , the process is not necessary to make a stronger frame so the idea is to replicate the look of the old firearm, strictly for looks.

[Major 2]

FYI

Pietta uses sodium cyanide heated to around  1700 °F
, as did Ruger when they used to color the OM Vaquero , Blackhawk, etc. Ruger also used a poly top coat to seal the color.   

Uberti uses a nitrate salt solution which can be done at a lower Temp about 1000 °F  or so 
the advantage here is less likelihood of heat distortion in the final part....
USFA used this method , until they farmed out the for the Bone case look ( read pricey  )


There some other processes ....but to my knowledge not use for color

self taping sheet metal screws for example are case hardened by heated ammonia gases