[Jeff Higgins]

Steels used in firearms are actually relatively "soft". We don't want hard and therefor brittle, we want soft and malleable. Those steels are "tougher" when it comes to containing the sharp pressure spikes inherent in firing them. That's where various forms of surface hardening became popular (my favorite being "color case hardened", like on the frames of Colts and other guns). This provides a scratch resistant hard outer shell, with a softer and tougher body underneath.

Sorry, no pics. Cameras are expressly forbidden on our range. I've wanted to film some video and put it up on YouTube, but we are not allowed. I guess there might be some "valid" reasons for that, although I kinda disagree. If someone is against, or afraid of being captured on film, I start wondering if he should be on a gun range in the first place. But that's just me.