Taji04
Private
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2013
- Location
- The Great White North (brrrr)
Pards,
I just picked up an imported and unmarked (likely French) M1850 officer's sword with a metal scabbard made of sheet iron/"steel" with brass top and middle mounts, and drag. The etched blade and ray skin grip are in fantastic shape and everything is tight. But, I cannot tell if the scabbard was originally a dark color, that is "browned" (there is some evidence that it may have been dark at the brass mounts) or if it was painted silver (after the war?) as most of what was there is now what seems to be bare or light color on the metal. There is little patina on the brass and iron/steel. It has not been recently polished or cleaned.
The scabbard has no dents and is in great shape. I have done quite a bit of looking and cannot find similar imported or domestic common M1850 metal scabbard that is a silver/metal color. They all seem to have been browned or blackened. The question is, what was used to "brown" the metal and is there a way to restore the scabbard to its former glory to match the condition of the blade without painting it? Or someone who does restoration work?
Thanks in advance.
I just picked up an imported and unmarked (likely French) M1850 officer's sword with a metal scabbard made of sheet iron/"steel" with brass top and middle mounts, and drag. The etched blade and ray skin grip are in fantastic shape and everything is tight. But, I cannot tell if the scabbard was originally a dark color, that is "browned" (there is some evidence that it may have been dark at the brass mounts) or if it was painted silver (after the war?) as most of what was there is now what seems to be bare or light color on the metal. There is little patina on the brass and iron/steel. It has not been recently polished or cleaned.
The scabbard has no dents and is in great shape. I have done quite a bit of looking and cannot find similar imported or domestic common M1850 metal scabbard that is a silver/metal color. They all seem to have been browned or blackened. The question is, what was used to "brown" the metal and is there a way to restore the scabbard to its former glory to match the condition of the blade without painting it? Or someone who does restoration work?
Thanks in advance.