I am trying to find ways to blacken armor medievally.

I have heard that you eche armor with vinegar, then sit it in a pile of burning horse dung.

I have tried this, and I am very happy with the way it turned out, but I have no idea were this comes from or when or even if it was used.

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Looks really great, but as for using horse manure, that just seems like a crappy way to do it...

*Sorry, I could not resist!* :lol:

I prefer just using heat blue or sometimes, even chemical cold blue, then even out the finish with a fine steel wool. I repeat until I am satisfied with the results. However, my method gives a more even finish, where as the varied heat temps in your method leave some interesting hues of purple, bronze, and red in areas. It gives it good character, that Windlass helmet looks pretty good like that, better than the original at any rate.

Anyway, I like the way it turned out! :)