From what little I know about it, the process is an oxidation, like gun bluing. Originally, the oxidized finish was coated with a clear lacquer or something similar. I believe the SS scabbards were pretty much a deep blue-black originally, regardless of manufacturer. It's my opinion only, but it appears the browning seen on SA scabbards held up better over time than did the SS finish. In any case, the SS finish did not last well, especially once the clear coat was gone or partially gone. Leaving the bare finish without treating or protecting it in some way led to the same results you see on a firearm whose blued parts have been neglected. It seems the clear coat would not adhere well to the oxidized finish over time. Some SS dagger owners painted the scabbards when the finish began to look shoddy and, of course, the "anodizing" process was given up in favor of factory-painted finishes eventually.