Case Hardening - blue black patina repair?

[Marplot]

I have an antique pistol and some of the case hardening blue/black patina. How can I carefully cover this up? I have read articles with "old school heat treatment" but don't want to go that route etc.

Could this just be wear or did someone accidently remove it, maybe some chemical solvent? Some wipe on blue black could work?

Or should I leave it alone?

 

[Rifleman97]

That's color case hardening, it is supposed to look like that, no need to cover it up. I'll find a picture of a good example of it and attach it to this comment

That's an example of perfect color case hardening by I think Doug Turnbull. It's not meant to be all one color. The color patterns are achieved on purpose using charcoal and some other chemicals, I don't know much more than that about it but it's pretty neat. I have a few old shotguns made with it that aren't nearly this pretty

 

[Marplot]

I think you are right I'll leave it be. I have a gun done by Turnbull. He is fantastic. But he is all about hand work in the old school. 1920 Buechel Meister. Before and AFter

 

[Rifleman97]

Turnbull's work is far better than any factory I've ever seen. I think your pistol is still really pretty, it's just not turnbull level. Glad to see you leave it be, I still think it looks nice