Posted by Tom Archer on March 10, 2016, 4:25 pm, in reply to "Grade 3E Case Color"
Unless the frame is pitted, rusty, or the engraving is worn/damaged and needs to be recut (in which case the gun probably needs a lot more work); I suggest leaving the gun as is. There are risks associated with re-casing (frame warpage, and occasional cracking); and I don't care who does the work, a re-cased gun always looks like a re-cased gun. Original case colors naturally fade over time from use, exposure to sunlight, and chemicals contained in oils and solvents; and when that happens, the steel alloys within an LC Smith gun frame give that frame a very bright appearance almost most like nickel plating. Perfectly normal; and once that happens, it becomes a lot easier to see and appreciate the engraver's art.