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Re: Curious original saber- need ID help
Johnny, don’t be so quick to sell the blade short. You have a fine example and whoever bought it new did too. I may have missed this in an earlier post but it’s an officer’s sword, or at least one that someone had to pay extra for. This wasn’t a hastily done job that was pushed out the armory door to someone in a hurry.
The process that was used to etch the blade is similar to a printmaking technique called aquatint. The blade is forged, finished and polished. Tar is painted on the parts of the blade the engraver wanted to remain bright or shiny. The exposed parts were then etched with acid. The tar could have been removed at that point or more added to other sections and the process repeated to increase the illusion of depth. When all the tar was finally cleaned away the blade was polished again. Certain elements of the design could have then been enhanced with a scratch awl. The bright sections may have been blued at that point but you may never know now.
Don’t be surprised to find someday that the blade is imported. The practice of using fine European blades on American swords wasn’t new then…or unheard of now.
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I’ll start to take advantage of the Myrtle Beach area again in about a month, when many of the Willies off the Pickle Boats begin clear out. I'll gladly say hi for you the next time I'm there.
Johnny, don’t be so quick to sell the blade short. You have a fine example and whoever bought it new did too. I may have missed this in an earlier post but it’s an officer’s sword, or at least one that someone had to pay extra for. This wasn’t a hastily done job that was pushed out the armory door to someone in a hurry.
The process that was used to etch the blade is similar to a printmaking technique called aquatint. The blade is forged, finished and polished. Tar is painted on the parts of the blade the engraver wanted to remain bright or shiny. The exposed parts were then etched with acid. The tar could have been removed at that point or more added to other sections and the process repeated to increase the illusion of depth. When all the tar was finally cleaned away the blade was polished again. Certain elements of the design could have then been enhanced with a scratch awl. The bright sections may have been blued at that point but you may never know now.
Don’t be surprised to find someday that the blade is imported. The practice of using fine European blades on American swords wasn’t new then…or unheard of now.
* * * * *
I’ll start to take advantage of the Myrtle Beach area again in about a month, when many of the Willies off the Pickle Boats begin clear out. I'll gladly say hi for you the next time I'm there.
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