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Post by sicheah on Aug 10, 2009 1:28:11 GMT
Hi guys,
I know this is not the right forum to ask, but if you have an antique sword, I would like to know how one should proceed in maintaining it.
I know this is a stupid question, but what happens if someone (assume he is not a professional) cleans and antique sword...say using fine sandpaper (to get a nice polish)? Is it going to diminish the value of the antique?
Thanks for any input
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Post by hotspur on Aug 10, 2009 3:30:17 GMT
An awful lot depends on the individual sword. I would say what I do with some I collect would qualify more as restoration than conservation. Then are though some real differences between cleaning and actually changing the properties of an item. I have gone too far more than once. You might benefit from and enjoy reading this article. swordforum.com/articles/ams/conservation.phpThe article regards what minimal but effective cleaning can acomplish without changing the item significantly. Japanese swords particularly need to be pretty much left alone until you can ascertain its real worth. Some may benefit from work beyond that but don't start with papers in mind just to make thigs shiny. That said, some blades I have worked on truly benefitted in some polishing to remove haphazard modern sharpening (one I continue to work on). As far as blades on western military go, it really does require the judgement of whether or not to start polishing. Accept that you will never remove black pitting without changing the blade dramatically. A good many deserve to be just left alone after dealing with any active rusting. Again, the specifc item needs to be categorized before I would advise more than even wiping a blade with light oil and a soft cloth. Grip and handle material as well can be very fragile. One cavalry sabre I had recently acquired needed little in the way of the blade but more than a decade of soot on the hilt and grip was something I have been addressing. As this is my sword and I don't expect the heavy black/gray patina to attract a higher price, I have chosen to get down to the brass and to also work on the grip with Picard's leather treatment (an item I have been using with good results on other items as well). My tool kit includes copper pot scrubbers, green scrubbies (such as Scoth Brite), a host of picks and soft scrapers, solvents, low abrasive powders (I like Bon Ami) and metal polishes. Some use nothing but paste wax as both to clean swords but to also preserve them. Windex, toothbrushes (including my trusty Braun oscillator). On and on. Silver polishing cloths ad infinitum. I dislike fine steel wool for two reasons. It sheds horribly and rusts more or less spontaneously if not used with oils. I had recently added plating with no electricity for some silver work I have been undertaking. For a couple of my swords, I have used wet/dry papers in 800 and 1500, while saving almost all the scraps for even finer polishing. Basically, look at tools and equipment from the least agressive to the most in meeting the needs. Even rubber erasures of different grits (that one made it to SBG FAQs) Pencil and pencil types vary quite a bit, in and of themselves. Tell us about your sword. Hotspur; That conservation article is a good place to start.
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Post by sicheah on Aug 10, 2009 3:41:45 GMT
Well actually I did saw a nice antique tulwar on sale at SFI, I think the owner did not know that the tulwar was antique and proceed with polishing the entire sword with fine sandpaper. One of the forum members then told him that the sword was an antique and he personally think he has "done too much on the sword". The sword is now under antique classified for only $100. I just find it odd that no one would want to buy an antique for $100 and I suspect that his polish diminished the value of the sword. If it helps, I could post the link here. Edit: Not sure if it is okay to link a thread from different forum, I will remove it if needed: forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?t=72760And yes the conservation article is very helpful. Thanks.
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Post by hotspur on Aug 10, 2009 4:24:22 GMT
I dunno,
It looks to me like a decent opportunity for someone in starting to collect such swords. There are many reasons that the sword might not sell at the given price but the truth is that sector of the market is not really in great demand unless it is an extraordinary example (which I don't sense as very exceptional).
It can be difficult to evaluate a sword from pictures alone and there is more in understanding about a given genre that might make it worth much more. It seems to me more an example of a sword that didn't cost the current asking price to begin with.
As mentioned, cleaning and further work can be a very subjective matter. Some prefer to make each part as clan and shiny as they can. I especially would advise against papers on hilts them selves because of detail that will be lost. I could have approached my current example with power tools and a jackhammer (almost literally) but I went layer by layer to get down to the brass without changing a single nick or bump. Another recently added piece will see virtually no real cleaning and scrubbing because someone had already been thre before me and left their own tales of woe. I was specifically interested in the particular item more than the condition itself, resulting in buying what is really just a relic.
Some do and I endorse shopping for usable antiques but that is never my modus operandi (although I have cut with several). It all depends on specific items and what folk expect from them.
Cheers
Hotspur; I always just start with a good wipe of crud and rust if that's their nature
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Post by sicheah on Aug 10, 2009 4:48:45 GMT
According to the owner the tulwar weights around 3lb which is pretty heavy for a single handed saber. Nevertheless it does looks like decent, sturdy piece. I did PM him, currently waiting for a response.
I did look through the market for antique tulwars and they are pretty cheap compare to other antique weapons such as Persian shamshir (would like to own one someday). I do hope that his polish work did not damage the sword too much. Nevertheless a $100 for an antique is a bargain even in this dreaded economy. In fact, another forum member is trying to sell his tulwar at around $200 and so far no buyers at this moment. I am hoping to get a response from him too.
Thanks for your input Glen, I sure learn a lot from you.
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