My Due Diligence

[lelliott19]

and even lick them (fake patina has an acidic taste)

Can you please elaborate on this acidic taste you describe? And do people ever look at you weird? You know like when you say, "Hang on just a sec. Ive gotta lick that sword before I buy it."

 

[25Times]

Can you please elaborate on this acidic taste you describe? And do people ever look at you weird? You know like when you say, "Hang on just a sec. Ive gotta lick that sword before I buy it."

I'm laughing at this...but even more funny is, when I get to the office in the morning hope none of my co-workers sees me licking that sword.

 

[25Times]

First of all its always hard to tell from photos as I like to hold them in my and and even lick them (fake patina has an acidic taste) In looking at the Ames it's right as rain as it has all the proper marks. IMHO The CS arty short sword is a repop as if you look in the Richmond stamp you don't see any pitting in side the letters as it is outside plus the lines on the handle are running the wrong way. Also tap the handle and tell me if its hollow or solid. IMHO the Naval is also a repop as the CSN isn't right as well as the eagle.

Thank you very much for the deed back. My research is paying off.

 

[UCVRelics]

One thing that all fake patinas have in common is some sort of acidic. Which is what puts the fake patina on them. I have dug many CW brass pieces and when you lick them thay taste like dirt and fake will taste acidic. Back in the early days of the fakes you could take an eye dropper will ammonia and put a drop on it and if fake it would shine like a new penny but folks would get PO at me so I went to the lick test which I learned from an old digging buddy. Here is a Boyle & Gamble short handle I found in Corinth and if you lick it it taste like DIRT.

 

[25Times]

One thing that all fake patinas have in common is some sort of acidic. Which is what puts the fake patina on them. I have dug many CW brass pieces and when you lick them thay taste like dirt and fake will taste acidic. Back in the early days of the fakes you could take an eye dropper will ammonia and put a drop on it and if fake it would shine like a new penny but folks would get PO at me so I went to the lick test which I learned from an old digging buddy. Here is a Boyle & Gamble short handle I found in Corinth and if you lick it it taste lice DIRT.
View attachment 311717

Wow...what a cool find. I'll be coming through Corinth next week headed to fish Pickwick.

 

[Deleted User CS]

Welcome from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

 

[25Times]

Welcome from the Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing Forum and North Mississippi! Be sure and visit the Forum soon.
Regards
David

Mississippi is my birth state. Born in Greenville. My dad played football at Ole Miss 1964 was his freshman year. My great uncle played there also...he played under Vaught and still holds the single season rushing record. He has held it since 1949.

 

[Seduzal]

Welcome to CWT from the Smoky Mountain side of North Carolina. Just jump right in and enjoy.

 

[redbob]

Can you please elaborate on this acidic taste you describe? And do people ever look at you weird? You know like when you say, "Hang on just a sec. Ive gotta lick that sword before I buy it."

You think that this is strange, you should see what he does to a rifle... and a cannon-don't even ask. But all kidding aside, Richard knows his stuff.

 

[zburkett]

Welcome to the forum and please keep the photos coming. We all learn from good photos and in some ways we learn as much from the fakes as we do from the real.

 

[AnnaLee]

Hello and welcome from Appomattox, Va.

 

[25Times]

How about round two? Next will be long swords. This was a tough one to research for me. There are so many variants of each sword and an overwhelming number of manufacturers. Couple that with confederate copies and it becomes a huge tangled web of information. So the first one…

*British Pattern 1821 Troopers Light Cavalry – I believe this piece to be original. Not sure of the manufacturer, as there is no makers mark on the ricasso and no other identification marks I could find except for a small proof stamp on the upper front of the hilt. Maybe one of you can help identify the maker? These swords were exported to the Confederacy during the war and were the 'mothership", if you will, of the US M-1833 Dragoon saber. According to a British source, British service 1821's never had a brown leather and wire wrap grip, whereas a number of American swords did. Flat top, single fuller blade all the way to the ricasso, iron hilt with knuckle bow, slot in the knuckle bow for a sword knot, two branches on one side & a smaller thumb branch on the other, this sword is missing the leather hilt washer and there is no scabbard for it. I have figured out the key difference in the British pattern 1821 Trooper and the M-1833 Dragoon is, the 1821 Trooper has ears on the grip that help pin it to the tang. There are other 1821 variants that do not have the ears. I love the feel of this sword.

Next....

*CR Kirschbaum M-1840 Heavy Cavalry Saber (Aka: "Wristbreaker") – I believe this to be original. CR Kirschbaum knight head stamp on ricasso, straight wood handle wrapped in leather and twisted wire, it has a brass hilt with three branches, leather hilt ring is intact, brass pommel, brass guard, blade has a narrow and a wide fuller all the way to the ricasso, blade has a flat back, complete with its scabbard. Scabbard is correct with a single rivet holding the throat and there are two suspension rings, there is a number or stamp on the scabbard drag but I can't make it out. This is probably my favorite sword in the bunch because of the shape it is in.

I have one more long sword I am saving for later today, after I have done a little more research. Then we will be on to the the bayonets.

 

[25Times]

Wristbreaker Pics......