Quote:
Originally Posted by David R
Not brass at all, it's all a dull silver in colour, the yellow colour is due to the light. From wikipedia, "A naturally occurring ore composition in China was smelted into the alloy known as paktong or báitóng (白銅) ('white copper' or cupro nickel)."
It's a fairly common silver substitute in the East, and was imported into Europe The earliest European mention of paktong occurs in the year 1597. From then until the end of the eighteenth century there are references to it as having been exported from Canton to Europe.
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David, this is a GREAT bit of information, and really important to note in the dilemmas we face in identifying these swords which often have these odd metallic characteristics. Thank you so much!!! Going in my notes in block letters
