Average price for color case hardening locks?

[Martin_G]

Rather than "brown" a lock with the rest of the furniture, does anyone have an idea on the cost to "color case harden"  a brand new L & R lock ?

While looking around for prices last night, I saw them listed from about $60.00 to right around $200.00. For the most part the "low end" price doesn't sound bad , but I wonder where the difference in price of $140.00 +/- comes from.

I would think that the prices would be closer.


Thanks,

Martin

[The other DWS]

there are different ways to color case, using different methods and techniques, some are pretty much cosmetic others are actual case hardening with color. durability and resistance to fade,  actual colors and patterns of color all figure into a price. as does experience.  No one wants a brightly colored and very pretty, but warped, lockplate

[Martin_G]

I don't recall which method was being advertised for the price. Because of the variety in methods I would think that the prices were for the crucible method unless others were specified.

Now, I may be wrong but that method (crucible) comes to mind first.


Thx...guess I'll have to look out for that now!

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I think that the prices vary according to whom you are sending your stuff.  You can buy a longrifle for $1200, or for $12000.

[Acer Saccharum]

Don't expect good color from poorly finished parts. You need 400 to 600 grit finish to get bright colors. Coarse finish equals dull colors.

The guys that do high end work charge more because they can taylor the heat treat to your wishes, pattern, colors, etc.  I would not expect to have much choice on the low end of the price scale.

[Martin_G]

At first the prices didn't make sense but now that its been explained better it does make more sense now!

I did know about how the degree of polish affects the outcome, however, I wasn't aware the colors could be purposely adjusted by temperature to get certain colors. I thought that  the temperature was a kind of balancing act between getting decent colors and watching out for parts warpage.


Now I know to avoid the "bargain basement" deals and just go to a reputable business in the first place!


Thx!

[Acer Saccharum]

Fred Heinzelman         
790 Washington Ave.      
Carlstadt, NJ 07072      
1 201 933 4800   

This is a firm I used for my Sharps(excuse me) action, was very pleased for the price, which was so long ago, I don't remember what it was. But in that, I asked for blue/brown, and they hit it pretty nice. Included in the job was a big hooked buttplate, guard, breech, lock, hammer, lockscrews, etc.

There is also Doug Turnbull, out in central NY, who does wonderful work.

[Dphariss]

Rather than "brown" a lock with the rest of the furniture, does anyone have an idea on the cost to "color case harden"  a brand new L & R lock ?

While looking around for prices last night, I saw them listed from about $60.00 to right around $200.00. For the most part the "low end" price doesn't sound bad , but I wonder where the difference in price of $140.00 +/- comes from.

I would think that the prices would be closer.


Thanks,

Martin

Some people charge more. Some are far more experienced than others and do better work.

I use Wyoming Armory.

Dan

[T*O*F]

Another thing to consider in the price are the number of parts involved.  Many will charge as much for a single part as they do for a number of parts.  The work is the same, whether just a lock is in the box, or the breech, tang, guard and buttplate or action are also included.

[kutter]

Turnbull has a $100 minimum on C/Color work now AFAIK.
Call and maybe you can get X number of locks done for that,,,and maybe not!
He used to charge $50 apiece for S&W hammers and/or triggers for restorations I did.

Heintzleman's uses Cyanide case coloring. I don't know if they do bone/charcoal c/coloring too.
We used them for recoloring AH Fox shotguns in the same cyanide colors that Fox started using on their guns after WW1.
Heintzelman was in fact the same company Fox originally use back in the 20's and 30's for their cyanide case colors.
Last one (Fox) I had done by them was about $100 for a complete action w/forend, lever, ect. But that was perhaps 12yrs ago.

Classic Guns/John Gillette doesn't list anything for small parts case coloring. Gotta call I guess.
He and Turnbull and some others like Rons Gun Shop used to charge $50 each for things like hammers, trigger guards, etc.
That was a couple of years ago.
http://www.classicgunsinc.com/pricing.htm
http://www.ronsgunshop.com/pricing.html

Seems to be alot of smaller lesser knowns doing CCH now. Some doing work just as nice as the big names. Best bet would probably be to seeek them out and get their pricing in hopes of a better break.
It takes the same time to do the process wether it's a big/small box,,full or not. So to make a run costs the same pretty much for the purveyor of the art.
I've seen some great work posted here of late.

[David Rase]

My container is big enough to case color harden 2 complete locks.  It costs the same for electricity, charcol and time  to harden one part or a flask full, that is why like Turnbull, I charge a mnimum fee.  I also tell my clients I do not do any polishing.  Too much work and most do not want to pay for it.  I degrease, pack, harden and then temper.
Dave

[Roger B]

Try Wyoming Armory.  They did my lock plate, hammer, breech and tang, and trigger bar foraround $50.00 and they are pretty.  It was cheap because they used the parts as "fill" around their bigger jobs in the crucible.
Roger B.