Have any manufacturer's offered (would Albion do it at a modest price) silver guilding or nicklel plating as options with pommels and guards?

I have experiemented for about 6 months with cold blueing and found that this slows down corrosion from hand imparted oils. I would like something better so that the sword does not need to be oiled and wiped down every few days after just minor handling of the hilt area.

I'd go with a satin chrome finish personally. It looks very much like steel and can be done for very reasonable prices. Good example here: http://www.guildplaters.com/finishes/satin_chrome.html . Nickel typically ends up looking really gaudy, and it can eventually develop an ugly yellowish patina (if you've ever seen an old nickel plated gun, you know what I mean). :)

Thankyou much for the input.

I am still looking for the "best option" to direct Albion to execute on my Munich sword.

I have a "nickle silverode" pocket watch that was actually made during the Civil War, 1870's vintage. This is proveable, and has been assessed by at least 2 jewelers based on material composition, model inscription, and style. It has held up very well and looks pretty much like an average nickel of just a few years circulation that you would take out of your pocket in terms of patina. Based on that, I had thought a combination nickel silver plating could be a reasonable look (like fairly new condition steel), but still durable.

As alternatives, I am considering the "fire blueing" which I have seen on other Albion swords. Twenty years from now I don't want a "plumb brown" hilt section. I will oil if that is the only way....