Strawed parts

Straw color is achieved by heating the metal. Have been doing this for about 30 years. Straw starts at about 440 more heat makes it darker. Keep heating--gets purple--then bright blue--more heat gets gray then bright. Brightness of straw gets better the more the steel is polished. Note that front and sides of triggers still show some file or mill marks but are polished fairly bright otherwise. Back of trigger was not polished so color is darker and less pronounced. Colors and degree of polish vary from 1900 to 1937. Straw wears off with use more than blue.