The Armour Archive

I have a line on one of those cheap-ass $30 Viking swords from Pakistan locally, but I kinda want to customize it a little. I'm planning on removing the pommel, and replacing the wood & plastic hilt with a piece of antler. I'm going to strip the faux-leather off the scabbard and cover it in heavy linen. I also was thinking it would look good with the brass fittings blued, but I don't know if this is possible. Anyone have any ideas?

~Brodir

Find a copy of "The Colouring, Bronzing and Patination of Metals" (Interlibrary loan would be good), it give lots of recipes, and pictures of the authors results. $85, $59.50 on Amazon (hence the ill sug.).

Black magic worked pretty good on the brass I'm using right now. It does come off pretty easily with brass cleaner though.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

Here is recipe 5.97 from the book:
"Blue-Black/black Gloss

Water 750cc
Ammonia (.880 solution) 250cc
Copper carbonate 125gm

The ammonia is added to water, followed by the carbonate, which will partially sissolve. Some excess carbonate should remain in suspension. The solution is heated to about 50degrees C, and the object is immersed. The colour develops slowly during he period of immersion. After about one hour, when the color has fully developed, the object is removed and washed thoroughly in warm water It should be carefully dried in sawdust, and wax finished when dry."

It also gives a warning about adequate ventilation due to ammonia fumes not being friendly to eyes, lungs and skin.

From Popular Mechanics "do it yourself encyclopedia" Vol 6, circa 1955:

..."articles of brass may be given a blue or black color by immersion in a solution made by dissolving sodium thiosulphate, 1/2 lb, and lead acetate, 2 oz., in one gallon of water. More lead acetate may be added to increase the depth of color and speed of the action. To use the soulution, heat it to almost the boiling point and immerse the work...it is important the work be well cleaned before treating...the colored work should be protected with clear lacquer."

God I love those old books, such a wealth of information. This one has such interesting subjects as how to make kites, your own riding lawnmower, build a log cabin from the ground up, how to repousse metal...

I need glasses. I thought the title to the thread said "Can you blue grass".

I was gonna say: I just know a few hammer on's on the 6 string.

Good info about the color.

Hal.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Mad Matt:
<B>Black magic... does come off pretty easily with brass cleaner though.
</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Alcyoneus:
<B>Water 750cc
Ammonia (.880 solution) 250cc
Copper carbonate 125gm

...the object should be carefully dried in sawdust, and wax finished when dry."
</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Rainald:
<B>sodium thiosulphate, 1/2 lb, and lead acetate, 2 oz., in one gallon of water...the colored work should be protected with clear lacquer."
</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks guys. The common theme I see in all the above methods is that the effects on the brass will rub off. Interesting nonetheless.

Henley's Formulas is a great old book as well.