Pitch

estcrh · 7th October 2015, 03:20 AM

I have read that a substance called "lac" was used in securing sword hilts, the lac insect secretes a sticky, resinous material called lac which is collected and used for many types of art work etc.

A quote from Arms and Armour: Traditional Weapons of India By E. Jaiwant. Paul

Shakethetrees · 7th October 2015, 03:42 AM

Any grip that does not have a peened tang showing through the pommel, or a cover that obscures the peened button, OR has transverse pins or rivets has pitch or a similar substance.

Pitch has been used probably for millennia. There is evidence of it found in weapons going back a thousand years. In the European forum I remember Matchlock mentioning this in ref. to some of his weapons going back to c. 1200 AD.

As far as devaluing a weapon, does the pitch look old and distressed or was it amateurishly added? If it is still a weapon with known pitch use and falls within the aesthetically acceptable look, I wouldn't worry.

harrywagner · 7th October 2015, 01:41 PM

Thanks for the comments. It sounds like I am worrying about nothing, and have likely passed on some good knives I could have bid on.

Harry

Gavin Nugent · 7th October 2015, 02:42 PM

Hi Harry,

Here is on of dozens of threads about resins and securing blades.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=tangs

Gavin

harrywagner · 7th October 2015, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

Hi Harry,

Here is on of dozens of threads about resins and securing blades.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=tangs

Gavin

Thanks Gavin,
This helps a lot. I wish I had asked about this earlier. I have passed up some fine looking pieces because I was unconvinced they were authentic, and more importantly, original.

Cheers!
Harry

Rick · 7th October 2015, 04:34 PM

Harry, if you have a question we probably have the answer in the archives somewhere .

trenchwarfare · 8th October 2015, 02:35 AM

This poses a question: As so many edged weapons have their blades secured by some sort of organic "adhesive", I wonder how often the blades simply flew off during hard use? It was probably a common occurrence, and documented somewhere in original text. Same as the breaking of stone axes, and clubs.

I have read of iron age combatants, stopping in mid fight, to straighten their sword blades with their foot. Probably common with bronze weapons as well.

7th October 2015, 03:20 AM	#1
estcrh Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: USA Posts: 1,492	I have read that a substance called "lac" was used in securing sword hilts, the lac insect secretes a sticky, resinous material called lac which is collected and used for many types of art work etc. A quote from Arms and Armour: Traditional Weapons of India By E. Jaiwant. Paul Attached Images

7th October 2015, 01:41 PM	#3
harrywagner Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 373	Thanks Thanks for the comments. It sounds like I am worrying about nothing, and have likely passed on some good knives I could have bid on. Harry

7th October 2015, 03:42 AM	#2
Shakethetrees Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 363	Any grip that does not have a peened tang showing through the pommel, or a cover that obscures the peened button, OR has transverse pins or rivets has pitch or a similar substance. Pitch has been used probably for millennia. There is evidence of it found in weapons going back a thousand years. In the European forum I remember Matchlock mentioning this in ref. to some of his weapons going back to c. 1200 AD. As far as devaluing a weapon, does the pitch look old and distressed or was it amateurishly added? If it is still a weapon with known pitch use and falls within the aesthetically acceptable look, I wouldn't worry.

7th October 2015, 02:42 PM	#4
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Hi Harry, Here is on of dozens of threads about resins and securing blades. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=tangs Gavin

7th October 2015, 04:34 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Harry, if you have a question we probably have the answer in the archives somewhere .

8th October 2015, 02:35 AM	#7
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	This poses a question: As so many edged weapons have their blades secured by some sort of organic "adhesive", I wonder how often the blades simply flew off during hard use? It was probably a common occurrence, and documented somewhere in original text. Same as the breaking of stone axes, and clubs. I have read of iron age combatants, stopping in mid fight, to straighten their sword blades with their foot. Probably common with bronze weapons as well.