Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Condition- What is acceptable???

Bill M · 27th February 2007, 09:55 PM

One more thing. I NEVER use power tools like buffers on a blade. Several reasons.

1. It is very dangerous. You can catch the blade and hurt yourself.

2. I think it is bad for the metal. I don't know if this is true, but it seems to close up the pores in the metal. Hand sanding does not do this.

3. This is a very subjective thing, but I like the feeling of the metal when I clean it. I can sometimes feel things when I am hand cleaning or sanding a blade. It seems to respond; to communicate; to tell stories.

Many of our blades were battle weapons and were held by men (sometimes women) that were intensly involved. Life or death struggles. Maybe powerful ceremonies.

I feel that their intensity of emotion left an imprint on the weapon. Some pieces are said to have a "Jen" in them, put there by its maker. Another imprint.

Maybe I get a little metapyhsical, but I feel things when I hand polish a blade. I feel closer to the blade.

So here is my process. I take a blade and stop the active red rust. Then I get in a quiet place with it and begin with the very fine steel wool and WD-40 -- and I'll admit something here -- I like to do this by candle light and a little incense.

Then I slowly clean the blade from the hilt to the tip. I let the blade tell me what he wants. Super clean? A touch-up? Leave it alone?

That is how I decide --- now. Each blade is different and if you listen carefully enough each blade has a voice. The more I listen, the less they cut me.

Imagine that.

27th February 2007, 09:55 PM	#8
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	One more thing. I NEVER use power tools like buffers on a blade. Several reasons. 1. It is very dangerous. You can catch the blade and hurt yourself. 2. I think it is bad for the metal. I don't know if this is true, but it seems to close up the pores in the metal. Hand sanding does not do this. 3. This is a very subjective thing, but I like the feeling of the metal when I clean it. I can sometimes feel things when I am hand cleaning or sanding a blade. It seems to respond; to communicate; to tell stories. Many of our blades were battle weapons and were held by men (sometimes women) that were intensly involved. Life or death struggles. Maybe powerful ceremonies. I feel that their intensity of emotion left an imprint on the weapon. Some pieces are said to have a "Jen" in them, put there by its maker. Another imprint. Maybe I get a little metapyhsical, but I feel things when I hand polish a blade. I feel closer to the blade. So here is my process. I take a blade and stop the active red rust. Then I get in a quiet place with it and begin with the very fine steel wool and WD-40 -- and I'll admit something here -- I like to do this by candle light and a little incense. Then I slowly clean the blade from the hilt to the tip. I let the blade tell me what he wants. Super clean? A touch-up? Leave it alone? That is how I decide --- now. Each blade is different and if you listen carefully enough each blade has a voice. The more I listen, the less they cut me. Imagine that.