Back From Case Colour Hardening - The .470 Engraved by Paul Lantuch.
Here we are again! The colour on colour off question! I know that 99% of people who have seen the previous post of this rifle before it went to case colour hardening will say "take it off". A seemingly easy answer as the engraving obviously stands out so well when silver and will stand out even more now that the colour is on, the steel will be grey and retain a deep back ground.
Keith on August 11, 2016 at 9:22 pm
Many thanks for sharing the beautiful rifle and its amazing engraving at so many stages during its creation.
I am sure that it will give its future owner a lifetime of pleasure, and will be a prized possession for generations of owners to come.
A totally subjective opinion; the case hardening has come out with such depth of colour (and the corners and very thin sections are still pale, as they should be), and the engraving is so strong and deep, that I think the two complement each other beautifully.
Gary Duffey on August 11, 2016 at 8:40 pm
It is just stunning in every way! The really good new is that neither approach represents a mistake. That said, if it were me I would leave it, color on. It will wear from use and handling, from cleaning, and even from the case(s) in areas of the gun that will create a “natural” patina that will make it yet more complete. The owner will know the source of wear in total and be the sole source of any of that patina. I would thank the WR craftsmen and the engraver (Master of the Lion) for a wonderful result and then inform you that, “Gentlemen, I will take it from here”. I hope to see it again in 10 years.
Mark Mitchell on August 12, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Hi Simon,
Another vote for colour on from me.
Best regards
Mark
Rex on August 12, 2016 at 10:43 pm
Couldn’t agree more with the posters above – the case coloring is remarkable, it would be very hard to improve upon it aesthetically.
Lajos on August 15, 2016 at 8:22 pm
Ahhhhhh! No comment! Agree with all above.
And speechless…