How well can ancient swords be restored?

Steven C. · 12th May 2007, 10:13 PM

I found this topic on the China History Forum, some guy was able to do this to a 2,000 year old Han Dynasty jian.

Click here

Amazing isn't it? Well what I'm left wondering, is how does one know how far you can restore an ancient or medieval sword? I remember seeing an antique Han sword being sold for about 150 bucks on SFI awhile ago, it had turned completely green but the sword itself was in pretty intact condition. I kinda wish I bought it now that I've seen the results of this restoration.

And of course all those really cheap khopeshes rusted completely green out there, and then all those Viking swords and stuff. Also how is this kinda restoration done?

Jens Nordlunde · 12th May 2007, 10:37 PM

Hi Steven C,

” Well what I'm left wondering, is how does one know how far you can restore an ancient or medieval sword?” good question! Be very careful with Chinese weapons, as they look real enough, but they may not be as real as they look.

When it come to restoring weapons, there are specialists on this subject, on the forum, which will be able to guide you – but to my opinion, it is up to each collector how far he will go.

Bill M · 13th May 2007, 04:16 AM

Great Site! Thanks for letting us know about it.

Here is a "Warring States" jian. I would not even think about disturbing it.

I also have some bronze handles that were cast on the first iron jian, but the blades have long ago rusted away.

Joe · 13th May 2007, 04:41 AM

I happen to have a Han Dynasty dao. Mine is iron and fairly rusted, but with the magic worked on that jian, there's no telling how it could end up....

Its for sale btw, private message me if anyone's interested.

David · 13th May 2007, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe

Its for sale btw, private message me if anyone's interested.

Joe, we have a swap forum for selling and trading stuff. This is not the place to post this info.

Joe · 13th May 2007, 10:00 PM

Sorry David, won't happen again. I've started a thread in the Swap Board for my sword, so I'll keep all the info about it over there.

Please continue gentlemen.

Megat_Alam_Syah · 4th July 2007, 05:26 AM

the one jian that took my eyes away is a bronze sword Gao Jian. after like 2 millenia under earth and water, it still remarkably untainted.

ariel · 4th July 2007, 05:51 AM

Well, to get an extreme example, look at Artzi's ancient saber he posted here for discussion

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4816

I doubt very much any respectable museum would have enough guts and hubris to attempt "restoration" of this artefact.
As to the Jian you showed, I would be very hesitant to ascribe to it much authenticity after heavy restoration. Likely, after 2,000 years it was covered in heavy layer of stable corrosion and removing it to the level of bright and shiny metal likely changed the geometry of the blade .
No wonder, somebody marveled at how thin and rapier-like it was! It likely became a totally different sword.

HorseNomad · 5th July 2007, 07:58 AM

Hi Steven C.,

Lot of good points brought up here, my 2c worth-- what condition was that blade in when the guy got it?

In this case, a before picture is worth a thousand words.
I have seen some ancient swords that for a lot of different reasons cleaned up real well. Mostly it has to do with whether they were dug and if they were what kind of earth they were in. Or if not, how badly did the air and moisture around them corrode them? Bottom line, you pretty well have to think about cleaning or polishing the oldies one case at a time.

Tim

12th May 2007, 10:13 PM	#1
Steven C. Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Port Richey, Florida Posts: 20	How well can ancient swords be restored? I found this topic on the China History Forum, some guy was able to do this to a 2,000 year old Han Dynasty jian. Click here Amazing isn't it? Well what I'm left wondering, is how does one know how far you can restore an ancient or medieval sword? I remember seeing an antique Han sword being sold for about 150 bucks on SFI awhile ago, it had turned completely green but the sword itself was in pretty intact condition. I kinda wish I bought it now that I've seen the results of this restoration. And of course all those really cheap khopeshes rusted completely green out there, and then all those Viking swords and stuff. Also how is this kinda restoration done?

13th May 2007, 04:16 AM	#3
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Great Site! Thanks for letting us know about it. Here is a "Warring States" jian. I would not even think about disturbing it. I also have some bronze handles that were cast on the first iron jian, but the blades have long ago rusted away. Attached Images

12th May 2007, 10:37 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Steven C, ” Well what I'm left wondering, is how does one know how far you can restore an ancient or medieval sword?” good question! Be very careful with Chinese weapons, as they look real enough, but they may not be as real as they look. When it come to restoring weapons, there are specialists on this subject, on the forum, which will be able to guide you – but to my opinion, it is up to each collector how far he will go.

13th May 2007, 04:41 AM	#4
Joe Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: McDonough, GA Posts: 48	I happen to have a Han Dynasty dao. Mine is iron and fairly rusted, but with the magic worked on that jian, there's no telling how it could end up.... Its for sale btw, private message me if anyone's interested.

13th May 2007, 10:00 PM	#6
Joe Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: McDonough, GA Posts: 48	Sorry David, won't happen again. I've started a thread in the Swap Board for my sword, so I'll keep all the info about it over there. Please continue gentlemen.

4th July 2007, 05:26 AM	#7
Megat_Alam_Syah Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Currently in Malay Peninsular Posts: 4	the one jian that took my eyes away is a bronze sword Gao Jian. after like 2 millenia under earth and water, it still remarkably untainted.

4th July 2007, 05:51 AM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Well, to get an extreme example, look at Artzi's ancient saber he posted here for discussion http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4816 I doubt very much any respectable museum would have enough guts and hubris to attempt "restoration" of this artefact. As to the Jian you showed, I would be very hesitant to ascribe to it much authenticity after heavy restoration. Likely, after 2,000 years it was covered in heavy layer of stable corrosion and removing it to the level of bright and shiny metal likely changed the geometry of the blade . No wonder, somebody marveled at how thin and rapier-like it was! It likely became a totally different sword.

5th July 2007, 07:58 AM	#9
HorseNomad Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: D.C. area Posts: 8	Hi Steven C., Lot of good points brought up here, my 2c worth-- what condition was that blade in when the guy got it? In this case, a before picture is worth a thousand words. I have seen some ancient swords that for a lot of different reasons cleaned up real well. Mostly it has to do with whether they were dug and if they were what kind of earth they were in. Or if not, how badly did the air and moisture around them corrode them? Bottom line, you pretty well have to think about cleaning or polishing the oldies one case at a time. Tim