Case Coloring

Posted by Tom Salzer on June 8, 2012, 9:09 pm
173.48.189.57

I had a local gunsmith restore a 12ga. field grade for me and I'm unhappy with the case colors. Looking through the archives, I came up with the following names. Doug Turnbull, Brad Bachelder, Dewey Vicnair,and Dan Printz. Are there any other gunsmiths I should consider to recolor my lock-plates and action, and is there one of these smiths that is more highly recommended than the others?

Re: Case Coloring

Posted by Chris Dunlap on June 8, 2012, 10:36 pm, in reply to "Case Coloring"
184.36.14.241

Tom, John Gillete at Classic Guns does excellent work and is much cheaper than Dewey or Doug. His turn around time is much quicker as well. His number is (708) 946-6141

Re: Case Coloring

Posted by Mark Bynon on June 9, 2012, 5:42 am, in reply to "Re: Case Coloring"
184.39.156.227

Yes I agree I was very happy with classic guns, good price and a fast turn around. Here's an example -

Re: Case Coloring - a name I found

Posted by Jeff on June 10, 2012, 5:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Case Coloring"
24.24.245.205

Dan I am not endorsing but found him and would like to know if anyone here has used him. Maybe it's useful to you ..... http://danthegunman.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 Jeff

Re: Case Coloring - a name I found

Posted by charles cleveland on June 10, 2012, 7:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Case Coloring - a name I found"
66.211.114.250

jeff i have read that you can tone down the case colors...you mite be able to do it your self....im sure someone here could tell you how to do it... charlie

Re: Case Coloring - a name I found

Posted by Tom Salzer on June 10, 2012, 8:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Case Coloring - a name I found"
173.48.189.57

Jeff, I also found Dan's name on the internet. I have reasons for not selecting anyone to redo my case colors unless they advertise explicit experience with L.C. Smiths. I don't want to publish my reason on-line, but will be happy to answer individual inquiries if anyone is interested.

Re: Case Coloring - a name I found

Posted by Tom Salzer on June 10, 2012, 8:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Case Coloring - a name I found"
173.48.189.57

Charles, Case colors are the result of oxides forming on the surface of the steel. Variations in oxide thickness determine the colors we see. I have read that various de-oxidizing cleaners such as Flitz can be used to "adjust" colors, but I have not tried this technique.

Re: Case Coloring - a name I found

Posted by Justin on June 20, 2012, 10:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Case Coloring - a name I found"
50.37.85.165

How about posting a photo of the case coloring results that you are not happy with? You should also be aware that recoloring more than once causes the metal to become increasingly brittle which increases the risk of a serious problem, like a crack. For that reason, many case coloring experts will not attempt to color a gun that has already been redone.

Re: Case Coloring

Posted by Tom Salzer on June 21, 2012, 4:27 pm, in reply to "Case Coloring"
173.48.189.57

Okay, here is the case coloring I am concerned with.

Re: Case Coloring

Posted by David Williamson on June 21, 2012, 6:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Case Coloring"
174.49.147.138

Tom, yes that case coloring does not look like it replicates the original.... but then again neither does the stock or the checkering. Still a nice job on both, and a nice gun.

Re: Case Coloring

Posted by Justin on June 21, 2012, 11:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Case Coloring"
50.37.81.234

Yup, those are some mighty bland case colors for an LCS.

Did you inlet gold into the LC Smith logo

Posted by Jeff on June 27, 2012, 12:41 am, in reply to "Re: Case Coloring"
72.129.87.42

?????

Re: Did you inlet gold into the LC Smith logo

Posted by Chris Dunlap on June 27, 2012, 8:30 am, in reply to "Did you inlet gold into the LC Smith logo"
150.226.95.18

The gold in the L.C. Smith looks like a product called "Gold Lode" that is available through Brownells and other suppliers. It is a gold powder that is mixed with a solution and then applied with a small paint brush. Once you "paint" it on, you then wipe the excess away and it will leave any engraving/stamping with a thin coat of gold in the recessed area.

Re: Did you inlet gold into the LC Smith logo

Posted by Tom Salzer on June 27, 2012, 9:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Did you inlet gold into the LC Smith logo"
173.48.189.57

Actually,the original engraving was carefully undercut so that in cross section it looked like a small dovetail. Then fine gold wire was hammered into the dovetailed lettering to lock it in place.

Re: Case Coloring - a name I found

Posted by Steve Arnett on June 28, 2012, 12:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Case Coloring - a name I found"
65.188.174.186

I imagine that if the frame and lockplates are properly annealled, that brittleness would not be a problem. I'm no metallurgist, though.

Re: Did you inlet gold into the LC Smith logo

Posted by Chris Dunlap on June 28, 2012, 4:31 pm, in reply to "Re: Did you inlet gold into the LC Smith logo"
184.36.14.241

Tom, If that is the case it was certainly done by someone else. That was not done in Fulton on Field Grades.

Re: Did you inlet gold into the LC Smith logo

Posted by Tom Salzer on June 28, 2012, 8:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Did you inlet gold into the LC Smith logo"
65.96.238.211

Both the case and the gold inlay were done by a local gunsmith - not in Fulton. The barrel rib joint was also done in gold like higher grade guns.