To the good folks at Albion:

I apologize if this question's already been answered, but I didn't see it in the other threads. Are all the hilt fittings for the Next Generation line going to be steel? I'm particularly interested in the Langraf, and if it's got steel parts, you'll be getting a call from me first thing once you guys reopen for the holidays!

That sounds great! The Langraf it is for me!

I'm glad you guys are talking about bronze pommels for some. That's a feature on so many originals that is very underrepresented in the current sword market (as are so many of the things you guys are doing).

Sorry for resurrecting such an old thread, but I couldn't find another more apt one, or one that answers my question.

My question is, what are Albion 'steel' hilt fittings made of exactly? I have noted that chemical blueing, whilst it turns the peened tang end and blade blue, does not turn the pommels or guards blue - does anyone know why? Are they a funky alloy?

Cheers,
Matt

If trying to chemical blue these yourself, make sure you use a powerful engine degreaser. In my experience, it takes very little oil to prevent bluing, and the guard and pommel are probably protected in a different way/degree compared to the peen, which might not be protected at all after filing and final finishing since that's one of the last metal assembly steps.

Hi Sean,
This is a sword I have owned for a few years, so it's highly unlikely that any surface oil is different on the pommel compared to the peened tang end. It seems to me that whatever type of steel that Albion use for their hilt fittings just doesn't react to chemical blueing like carbon steel does. The peened tang went a lovely blue colour. :)

Hi Robin, I know it is supposedly mild steel, but I'm wondering if they've mixed a little of another metal in there, to aid the casting process?

It's odd. I tried the gun blue gel on various bits of mild steel I have, including manufactured things like a buckler, and they all went blue. But not the Albion hilt fittings. :confused:

It's a shame the fittings aren't dismount able (in this instance). I have had very good luck blueing hilt furniture by putting on a layer of boiled linseed oil and baking at 500F. A couple of cycles will get a nice tortus shell effect, and five or so coats gives you a very deep black. I got the idea after seasoning some cast iron. Since its the oil that darkens, it shouldn't rely on a type of metal.

You don't mention which model you are working with. The Maestro, Skirmish, and earlier Squire Line swords use stainless parts, which would explain your issues.

Two swords, both Next Gen...