Hey folks, hoping someone can help me.

Inspired by Sean's excellent Instant Antique Guide, I've decided I want to try some of the techniques on a low-risk/low-cost Windlass European Spear and buttcap I've just bought. My goal is to sharpen it, pit & rust it and/or blue (or brown) it, but I'm not sure in which order I should do this, plus I particularly need advice/recommendations on cold bluing. I've searched the forums of course, but haven't found any detailed conversations about cold bluing, other then the offhand mention of a few products like Perma Blue and Super Blue. Ideally, I'd like to achieve a moderately darkened patina. Can anyone recommend a good bluing paste or liquid and clue me in as to best approach? Also, a sharpening question: Should I sharpen the entire length of the "leaf" or just the leading edge?

Regarding spears in general. I've been searching for images of intact, historic spears to see what, if any embellishments to the shaft may have been added. Although, understanding the nature of wood, I doubt there are many still in existence.

Were leather grips or studs ever added? (I'd assume not.)
Leather fringe around base of the spearhead?
Carving of any sort?
Any historic precedent for "Bedazzling?" (kidding.)

From what I can tell so far, Vikings were the only European people who really liked to add "flair."

Also, if anyone cares to post pics of their own spear projects, I'd love to see them. After a long time contemplating what new weapon type I'd like to have an example of, I've concluded that: Spears are made of Awesome and Win!

Thanks!

I recently tried a product called Blue Wonder and it went on easily. It's not exactly a cold blue as you have to bring the metel up to about 120 degrees F. This can be done with a hair dryer on high hot or a torch if you're careful. You layer it to achieve the desired color. I did an Atrim blade and furniture, all in less than an hour. The product has a web site where you can watch a demo and order if you like. They offer it in blue or black.

Thank you very much gentlemen!

Although the Blue Wonder sounds like a great alternative to the full-bore boiling and dipping method, (as I understand it) and likely would produce more durable results, Jean's recommendation sounds more ...forgiving for a first-time dabbler like myself. As I discovered recently with leather dye, I have serious sloppiness issues I need to work on. :)

Cheers!

Sharpen. Engine degreaser. Vinegar spray. Vinegar spray. Vinegar spray. Then some vinegar spray. :D Steel wool to remove all active rust. Engine degreaser. PermaBlue (sometimes you really have to rub it in and leave it on for a bit). Steel wool to get a uniform color and desired degree of bluing (anything from deep black to light gray). Sewing machine oil.

Polearm hafts, especially those of the 16th c., often had elaborate decoration. This could include domed tacks, velvet, tassels, leather strips in a spiral or lattice pattern, narrow iron strips in a spiral pattern, decorative rivet heads, filed langets, etc. (see the faux-antique example below). Decoration wasn't limited only to the finest weapons, but you'd certainly see decorated hafts among bodyguards or other elite soldiers. In general, as polearms became less useful in combat and more associated with rank (esp. the halberd and boar spear,) they became more decorative, with these kinds of haft treatments and etched blades.

Tacks and a tassel look nice on a spear. I used a very simple method on one of my first projects way back when (a terrible Windlass spear head--see below). With a blued head, a crimson tassel and brass domed tacks would be fetching, especially if you antique the brass.

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Heh heh, thanks most kindly Sean!

I was responding to your first draft post, then I looked again and saw you'd added all that excellent background info and the reference pics.

Those are certainly the steps I've been wondering about. Engine degreaser and sewing machine oil never even occurred to me, so that's a bonus right there.

The tassled spear at the bottom was very much along the lines of what I was thinking, but with the more rustic overall look of the leather on the spear at top. I'm also pleased to know you had your own "terrible windlass spear project" at one time. (I'm assuming you mean "terrible" in a "fearsome, foes tremble at the sight of it" sense.) More specifically I'd thought to perhaps add a tacked on "skirt" of leather fringe, then maybe even "rot" it, let it go a bit curly and tear the majority of the fringe off. Alternately, I was thinking of just three or four rings of offset tacks just below the spearhead. (Really gotta find the right tacks 'tho.)

I can certainly understand some forumites might think my embellishment approach a bit silly, I'm sure I'll feel the same in retrospect now that I'm on such a fast track to learning more. I just want to add a little bit of extra interest and hopefully character. Even if it turns out cringe-worthy, I'll post the results. If I end up serving as a warning to others, I'll still feel like I'm contributing. :)

I now see the path before me that so many here have set out on. "Sell and upgrade, sell and upgrade!"