I was just wondering what people on the forum do to keep pommels, guards, baskets and other hilt fittings as good as new??

I myself just 'let them go', basicly. I whipe them off after handling with a clean cotton cloth, but no oil. Really heavy rust is removed, but stains are just left alone. I like the look of a hilt that's slowly but steadily getting an aged look.

In any case, as I said, merely curious as to the methods used by forum-members to keep hilt furnitire clean.

A couple of my hilts are coated with a clear polyurethane varnish, so they just require a periodic wipe-down with a dry cloth. I also have a couple with bronze hilts that I let tarnish until I decide to polish them up.

For my non-coated, steel-hilted swords, I use an old cloth and Break-Free CLP. I wipe them down after handling and also every few weeks or so of sitting around in my display cabinet. If they ever develop patination, grey scotchbrite and oil work well most of the time. You could also use the grey scotchbrite and a metal polish like Metal-Glo. For more severe staining/pitting, green scotchbrite and metal polish work. I tend to prefer the more pristine look for steel, but I like bronze patinated a bit.

Patrick wrote a great article on maintenance.

Thomas,

On armour and weapons , both antique and modern , I use 'Solvol Autosol', car chrome polish. This not only polishes but it protects the metal as well, even in the rain ! Great stuff, available in most car spares shops and is very cheap too ! :)
Oh and Connolly's 'Hide food' for the leather where necessary !


Regards as ever,

Russ

Like Chad, I have a few pieces that have a lacquer finish, and just wipe off with a rag - I have never had to refinish any of these, to date. On the other pieces, I have been using a metal polish (Flitz), following with Renaissance Wax, when I am trying to keep a sword and fittings pristine. Sometimes, my mood will change, and I will let the finish of the fittings go for awhile, just to let the look age a bit.

I use a super, or extra, fine steel wool & oil on my stuff ....

http://www.briwaxwoodcare.com/stelwool.htm

I'm not into shiney-mirror finishes, either ! Mac

I wipe everything down with an oily rag after handling, and the whole collection on occasion. When any rust does occur it's removed with grey scotchbrite and oil.

Rust isn't "patina", it's "negligence". I suppose that attitude comes from years of dealing with weapons on a daily basis.

I wipe them powerfully with dry cotton before handling (I'm dangerous enough without a slippery blade in my hands), and with oiled cotton afterwards.
I noticed that the furniture is (very) slowly darkening.
Rust doesn't stand a chance and I've never even seen it on my blades.

I do like the shiney look so I try to preserve that rather than let it go.

Historically, how did the average warrior treat his weapon. Well I expect for sure but did they oil the furniture as well like we do or let it patinate? How common was blueing and browning? That would certainly be easier to care for. Did they use mineral oil or something else?