Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Color case hardening quotes run the gamut!

I didn't check Brownell's, always good to save a few bucks.

YoU might want to dial up the Single Shot thread and see my two new No. 1s.

Wonder how long it will take your "boy" to say: "You don't either one you [bleep] azzhole liar."

Funny how those same deck boards appear behind every one ..... must be a lotta #1 owners with the same porches eh ? LAFFIN

Turnbull's shop does some truly breathtaking work. I've been a customer for more than 15 years.

However, their expansion has come at a certain cost in terms of quality control and price increases to support their overhead. I recently had to send a piece back for the first time because the case coloring just wasn't up to snuff, certainly not in comparison to the other work I've had done by them. I don't know if it was a heating problem, a quenching problem or what, but there was very poor coloring and coverage.

This particular job was also a bit of a cluster-**** in terms of just about every aspect. The initial quote was incorrect (on the high side) and had to be corrected. Then my credit card payment was lost, resulting in the piece sitting for a week in their shipping dept. Then a problem was discovered right before it shipped that required a re-do. Then when I got it, it was still in need of a re-do and I had to send it back.

However, in all fairness, this was the worst fumble I've ever dealt with and they re-did the piece and shipped it back to me at no charge. They do stand behind their work, and that's worth its weight in gold. 99% of the time, they will wow you.

The bottom line is you're no longer having Doug Turnbull refinish your firearm, you're having his employees work on it for you. And people make mistakes, especially when they're dealing in high volume work, and if you just look at the OEM casehardening Turnbull is doing for various companies, clearly, he's doing high volume business.

I couldn't attest to other's casehardening, as I've only ever used DT, and will continue to do so until they raise their prices to where I can no longer afford it (they're getting close). As I say though, they are masters at what they do.

In my opinion Turnbull's colors can be, well, too colorful. I own a couple of custom single actions that he did the CCH on as well as some hammers and triggers of S&W's. A couple of years ago my sixgun builder started using a guy local to Houston and his colors are more subtle and just look right to me, very much like early Colt SAA's. I have since had S&W triggers and hammers done by this guy and they are a dead match for the factory work. He is also far less $$$ than Doug.

Good info Sonvolt and Tony!

How big DT has gotten was a consideration for me as I weighed the decision.

I'm glad to have chosen a smaller provider and when/if the results are good I'll post up pics and reveal the name of the guy.

Tony, one thing you've got to realize is that Turnbull's colors are made to "pop" more because of the lacquer coating (I've heard second hand that it's Tru Oil). Lacquer on top of case colors is nothing new, nor is it untraditional, but some do and some don't. Colt and S&W don't, and to my knowledge, never did.

A lot of the vividness of DT's color is attributable to this, but if requested, they'll not apply the lacquer, giving a duller appearance.

It is not the lacquer, it is the color. I have never seen a Colt or Smith parts with color like this. Pretty? Sure? Pleased? Sure, they are mine. Just stating a view on what I see.

I have never seen lacquer added to CCH part that made it pop more... to my knowledge lacquer is just added to protect the CCH from wear and fading... I have seen some lacquers used that have added a general yellow tinge but never seen colors become more vivid from it. I would love to see some before and after pictures of such a situation.

Oh man, what a beautiful pistoli.

When I say "pop," I mean add vibrancy. It's the same effect as when we use mineral spirits (or water) on a piece of unfinished wood to see what the color and grain will look like with finish. The lacquer simply adds a depth and glossiness that enhances the colors. That's not to say it changes the colors themselves.

I examined a case colered frame once, and from just looking at it, it appeared to be coated with clear powder coating.