Cleaned up basket hilt

[Strings]

As someone who worked FAR too long refinishing metal, let me agree with those who have said "leave the saber alone"! I shudder to think at the damage I've seen done to heirloom pieces over the years...

As for preserving the basket and blade: use Renaissance wax. Works better than ANYTHING I've ever seen.

Oil is good, but you have to keep reapplying.

Last thought: if it has a leather sheath, don't store it IN the sheath. Many leathers have chemicals that will combine with oil and turn into an acid (have a rapier that was damaged that way. Don't ask about the Automags!)...

Looking good so far!

[cavscout]

If this is an antique, go with what others have said about getting it evaluated by an expert and care for it accordingly.

Assuming this is a replica and you would rather it be polished, I've had good results with jewelers rouge and a buffing wheel. I'm not saying the experts will agree but sicne I don't do it for a living and don't want to put a lot of money into it, I'm working with what I have on hand. You have to be very careful so the metal doesn't get to hot but working in short bursts or across a large area I've not had any problems getting badly tarnished blades looking good again.

[Strings]

Do folks want me to detail how we used to take care of issues like this?

I know most people don't have polishing lathes in their workshops, but the ideas do sorta carry-over...

[Nighthawk]

Well, I guess I'll leave the tarnish then! Thanks for the advice. I had actually at one point thought for about .5 second about getting the blade reforged into a basket hilt... and then my better sense kicked in! That sword is astounding- 150 years old and it still has all of it's spring and flexibility.

[Strings]

DO. NOT. TOUCH!!!!!

Not that I have feelings about it, or anything...

[Highlander31]

Nice work. Is the red material original, or did you replace that as well?

[Woodsheal]

If this is an antique, go with what others have said about getting it evaluated by an expert and care for it accordingly.

Assuming this is a replica....

Greg's sword looks to be one of the Indian or Pakistani made replicas. That's not a bad thing! Those folks are skilled metal workers, and their hand-forged blades quite decent. My main quibble with these broadswords are the over-sized baskets....

[beloitpiper]

Let me give you guys a little background on my sword. It's form India, but high carbon. A fellow Gordon sold it to me for $20 because he needed some quick cash and we're friends. SO it came with a little rust which I got out with a little steel wool and oil. I figure it is perfect for a wall-hanger or whatever. Nothing too fancy, but perfect for the price.

[macwilkin]

It looks great! What did you use to clean it? I have my great grandfather's saber from the Civil War- in near perfect condition, aside from tarnish- and I would love to clean it.

NOOOOOO!!!

DO NOT CLEAN AN ORIGINAL SABRE FROM THAT PERIOD!

I have seen that so many times when I was working at the battlefield. It destroys much of the value of the weapon according to a collector friend of mine.

T.

[Bigkahuna]

You got a great deal!