Ruger Vaquero ain't the same no more!

[dgludwig]

I am shocked to find the case hardening is fake ! I bought my Vaqureo in 1994 new, 4 5/8 45lc. The hardening looks real to me

The "coloring" is real; the case hardening isn't. A two year old thread that is still breathing.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Don't know about Sharps but Ruger cast frames are not to be hardened. Turnbull pioneered the process by which authentic case colors are applied to Ruger's cast frames without actually hardening the part. The result is the same and the colors are just as durable.

Turnbull may have pioneered something, but it isn't "authentic" if the metal isn't hardened. On the real thing, case hardening is a method of heat treating to (duh) harden the steel. Whatever colors result from the hardening are nothing but an incidental result of the process, unrelated to the purpose. And, as an incidental result, not a "finish."

"Case coloring," on the other hand, is nothing other than a faux superficial finish, intended to replicate the appearance of the colors resulting from true case hardening. There is nothing authentic about case coloring. Turnbull's may look more like the real thing, but if he doesn't actually heat treat the frame, his colors are not "authentic." They are just a better job of fakery.

 

[Bob Wright]

Turnbull may have pioneered something, but it isn't "authentic" if the metal isn't hardened. On the real thing, case hardening is a method of heat treating to (duh) harden the steel. Whatever colors result from the hardening are nothing but an incidental result of the process, unrelated to the purpose.

Not quite true. Case hardening is a surface hardening to produce a wear resistant surface while leaving a more or less flexible core. Ordinary files, for example are case hardened, and have only that gray color. By adding leather, bone, and/or cyanide, colors were induced soley to improve the appearance.

Bob Wright

 

[Armybrat]

Well, my Colt Texas Sesqucentennial SAA looks fine with the blue frame. Of course the gold trim doesn't look too bad either, IMO (please pardon the poor photograhy):

 

[Eghad]

I have two Ruger New Vaqueros I purchased when they came out. The case hardened ones looked cheesy so I bought two in stainless steel which has a nice polished finish looking like nickel plated ones. Put some nice wood grips on em.