|
Post by ilvalto on Jan 4, 2024 22:23:11 GMT
Hi folks Was hoping I could get some advice/suggestion I recently got my hands on a British 1796 light cavalry sword and I'm pretty happy. At first I thought that someone, at some stage during the sword's life, had decided it'd be a sweet idea to cover all the exposed steel on the hilt and scabbard with a nice thick coat of black paint (see pictures), and was planning to scrap all the stuff off to try and get back to the steel finish. However, looking at pictures onlne, I have found at least other 2 wexamples of 1796 Lc sabres from Wolley & Deakin with the same black coating, which thus makes me wonder whether that's something that was used originillay, and so I should leave it as is. it does look like old paint to me, but I am no expert. does anyone know /have any opinion on whether that might be indeed original painting, and thus should be lefft as is? any advice/suggestion greatly appreciated thanks ![blcs1796.1.jpg](//storage.forums.net/1694914/thumbnailer/VDKNBtsZGpIRsABfwauN.png) ![blcs1796.2.jpg](//storage.forums.net/1694914/thumbnailer/HYYFkyvcMur0kkLwhKbR.png)
|
|
|
Post by sabre on Jan 9, 2024 9:31:55 GMT
I have two painted examples myself and have found no evidence that they were originally painted I think they were painted possibly at a early date after service use just to protect from rust. I would say looking at your sabre it was painted not to long ago trying to cover up the heavy pitting. ![P1070109.JPG](//storage.forums.net/1694914/thumbnailer/dDXooLjafyd0UXkwCvfX.png)
|
|
|
Post by mrstabby on Jan 9, 2024 9:59:15 GMT
To me it looks like anti-rust paint, not unlike the ones used on fence posts or cars. It looks pretty recent to me too, either that or it is very well preserved.
If you want to get it off, I would suggest trying a non solvent based paint remover first. I don't know what they are called, you put them on the paint and let it sit for a while. The paint slowly becomes the consistency of wet gelatine and bubble off. If there is rust left underneath, it's very likely not going to come off cleanly though.
I would still await others chiming in, it could be something they began doing at some point, I don't know.
|
|
|
Post by pellius on Jan 9, 2024 17:09:29 GMT
To me, that looks like it may be a chemical treatment rather than paint. Maybe something akin to Loctite Extend (rust neutralizer)? I’ve seen historical examples of chemical treatments done to scabbards, but I haven’t seen any that treated the hilt, too. Of course, I’m not an expert, and there’s much I haven’t seen. Regardless, if it is a chemical treatment, it may be really hard to get off, and leave a scarred surface needing a substantial refinish.
|
|
|
Post by ilvalto on Jan 9, 2024 20:35:28 GMT
Thanks all
Actually you do have great point, i was not familiar with rust converter, but looking around it does look it leaves a very similar finish to what i see on my swoed, so what i took for lumpy old paint could very well be the effect of rust converter applied on a very messy rusty scabbard...i might justvtry abd peel off some small bits from a ring of the scabbard or something like that and see if that comes off and how hard that looks to remove..thanks all for your opinions.
|
|
|
Post by mrstabby on Jan 9, 2024 21:08:19 GMT
If it is real rust converter, and not just rust prevention paint, it will have converted the rust to some black oxide, basically cold blueing it, so you won't get it off unless you use a blue remover or a grindingwheel/wire brush.
|
|
|
Post by larason2 on Jan 21, 2024 23:01:49 GMT
Magnolia charcoal will do it, with a bit of water and a lot of patience. If you can find some mesquite charcoal, sometimes they have fairly fine pieces in there you can use. I also have some of the charcoal sticks they use for art, but haven't tried them. Should work the same though. I've used it to get chasing pitch off metal without scratching it, can't imagine paint would be any harder! Just keep gently rubbing with the charcoal and a bit of water. It's quite messy! it will slowly wear away any paint or patina though. You have your work cut out for you! Looks like the whole scabbard is coated in the stuff! Update: Here's the kozuka I did, before and after. I could have got it more clean with a bit more elbow grease, but that was good enough for me! ![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53478916131_6989dcd6dd_b.jpg) ![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53479328020_a38f169e74_b.jpg)
|
|