Hello everyone,

I guess this may be a controversial type question but I certainly don't intend it to be. I have found myself thiking about it recently. The question is:

Do the hilt components of reproduction european swords made in mild steel appear quite different
from original hilt components composed of "iron" as it is described in the literature? I am speaking of the weapon when it is new. When did higher carbon content hilt components become more common.

I know that mild steel works in a somewhat consistent maner to iron but is the finish different from historical pieces?

Thanks,
Jeremy

I think it depends on how carefully you look - through a microscope or EMP, painfully obvious. By naked eye, less so and if covered in gold or engraving, much less so. Pre-Bessemer iron is ever so slightly a darker and warmer color than mild steel, with a more or less evident grain to it depending on how refined the iron is.

Thank you Jeff,

I feel better. Yesterday I brought down the polish from gray scotch brite to that blue sand paper on the pommel of my Reeve and I like the look. I don't know if this improves the appearance as far as authenticity goes but now the pommel is certainly a little darker than it was.

Jeremy

Jeremy,

I've just finished a longsword with pommel and cross of antique iron. Apart from some faintly visible laminations, it polished up slightly brighter than spring steel when taken to 320 grit and buffed with a sisal mop and grey fastcut compound.

It also forged like butter. Everything flowed from the hammer with surprising ease. Beautiful stuff.

Tim
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Nonnumquam proctalgia

Hello everyone,

I posted earlier that I thought that I may have seen an improvement in the finish of my Reeve merely by taking the pommel to a rougher finish. Well, a day or so later I realize that the appearance hasn't really been altered at all so forget what I wrote ealier. :)

Thanks,
Jeremy

I would say that the only noticable diference between wrought iron and mild steel with regards to fittings comes with being handled (touched) wrought iron is an astheticaly warmer material and will show its grain when well handled .
in a new polished or satin state there is almost no diference between the two materials .

I want iron in my collection whenever I can get it.

Jeremy

what I'm planning on doind-and i have heard of this working, is to simply antique the hilt. I'm still looking at recipies to do so, but you can rust it a bit, put some dings in it-that rust would build up and make a differnt patination, and either brown it or blue it. do a combination of those, then take some steel wool, or fine emry paper and rub the rust/finish off. with slight pitting you will get the differnece in patination, so it will look darker, more aged and possibly-more like iron.

hope this helps-let us know how it turns out, whatever you decide to do.

Aaron