IRON/STEEL OXIDIZATION OR FINISHING?

Flavio · 10th September 2005, 06:03 PM

Hello guys, i would discuss a question with you, if you are interested.
Often when we buy a white weapon, especially on Ebay, we receive at home a sword or a dagger that is rusty and so we clean the blade from rust, but after this we can find that the blade is black. Now, and i speak especially about african weapons because is the field that i know, in many good books the authors write that african blacksmiths embellish the blade giving a burnishing by burning palm oil, and the blackened finish will never loose its color. My question is: the black on the blades is always a burnishing, or the iron/steel oxidization can provokes this result? In other words, could the black color be a fase of iron/steel oxidization (and so the rust a second fase)? And if that is true how we can distinguish the two cases?
Thank you to everyone who wants to participate.

Tim Simmons · 10th September 2005, 07:50 PM

Hello Flavio, A good question. I have old 19th cent pictures of weapons shining in the sun, so some were obviously shown off clean and bright but that is not how collectors want them, strangely if it were a cavalry sabre parade clean is disired. The black from cleaning a white weapon is I think, oxidization and a small amount of etching action by rust. I personelly have not seen blackening by application only from the use of the natural iron scale produced in the forging of the metal this like decorative blueing on military fancy swords offers protection from rust. You will see on your pieces that where the iron scale is left on or used to decorate the piece there will be very little if any rust. The iron scale may be made to shine with the application of some substance but that is not what makes it black. I hope I have not taught your grandmother how to suck eggs

You might not understand that

Tim

Battara · 11th September 2005, 07:17 AM

Flavio, blackening can be two things:

1. when steel is etched with acid, it can turn black, especially if it has been tempered. Tempered portions tend to turn black in the presence of acid.

2. when steel is older, the oxidation can create a patina on a blade. This surface patina can turn a brown-black, which means it is stablized oxidation.

3. when rust is present and it becomes stabilized, it can turn black, again a sign of stabilization.

Hope this helps.

Flavio · 11th September 2005, 11:43 AM

Thank you Battara, this is of great help, but as i said on african weapons the blackening is also made by burning oil palm. One can distinguish this case only as Tim says: the piece there will be very little if any rust? or the the oil burnt give a more shining finishing?
Thank you

10th September 2005, 06:03 PM	#1
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	IRON/STEEL OXIDIZATION OR FINISHING? Hello guys, i would discuss a question with you, if you are interested. Often when we buy a white weapon, especially on Ebay, we receive at home a sword or a dagger that is rusty and so we clean the blade from rust, but after this we can find that the blade is black. Now, and i speak especially about african weapons because is the field that i know, in many good books the authors write that african blacksmiths embellish the blade giving a burnishing by burning palm oil, and the blackened finish will never loose its color. My question is: the black on the blades is always a burnishing, or the iron/steel oxidization can provokes this result? In other words, could the black color be a fase of iron/steel oxidization (and so the rust a second fase)? And if that is true how we can distinguish the two cases? Thank you to everyone who wants to participate.

10th September 2005, 07:50 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Hello Flavio, A good question. I have old 19th cent pictures of weapons shining in the sun, so some were obviously shown off clean and bright but that is not how collectors want them, strangely if it were a cavalry sabre parade clean is disired. The black from cleaning a white weapon is I think, oxidization and a small amount of etching action by rust. I personelly have not seen blackening by application only from the use of the natural iron scale produced in the forging of the metal this like decorative blueing on military fancy swords offers protection from rust. You will see on your pieces that where the iron scale is left on or used to decorate the piece there will be very little if any rust. The iron scale may be made to shine with the application of some substance but that is not what makes it black. I hope I have not taught your grandmother how to suck eggs You might not understand that Tim

11th September 2005, 07:17 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Flavio, blackening can be two things: 1. when steel is etched with acid, it can turn black, especially if it has been tempered. Tempered portions tend to turn black in the presence of acid. 2. when steel is older, the oxidation can create a patina on a blade. This surface patina can turn a brown-black, which means it is stablized oxidation. 3. when rust is present and it becomes stabilized, it can turn black, again a sign of stabilization. Hope this helps.

11th September 2005, 11:43 AM	#4
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Thank you Battara, this is of great help, but as i said on african weapons the blackening is also made by burning oil palm. One can distinguish this case only as Tim says: the piece there will be very little if any rust? or the the oil burnt give a more shining finishing? Thank you