Swiss Sword

Will M · 20th April 2019, 01:03 PM

I have 3 mandrels, previous Wilkinson's I picked up without knowing what they fit. I found that if not the exact one that they will not work very well.
You will need a specific mandrel. The cost of reproducing one would be prohibitive, best to enjoy the sword as is unless you have deep pockets.
I have attempted using pieces of steel but inevitably the dents that remain are a tell tale that someone stuck something down them.

drac2k · 20th April 2019, 02:17 PM

Very nice sword; I am also a fan of Quill Back swords and bayonets.
In regards to the dents on the scabbards, I have been told by more than a few collectors that this was done on purpose to keep the sword from rattling or even from falling out on a loose fit. I have also been told that one can remove the dents by filling the scabbard with water and freezing it, however, I have never tried this myself.

kronckew · 21st April 2019, 09:49 AM

Someone has recommended using brown unpolished organic rice, poured down the scabbard, then soaked in water. the rice swells and pushes out dents in hard to reach objects like this. You wash out the rice with a hose or pressure washer when it is where you want it (and before it pops the seams*

).

The rice husks keep the rice from sticking together and becoming a sticky compressed block of rice epoxy. (the great wall was made with over-boiled rice paste as mortar & it's is still there, rice glue is quite common I hear in the orient, so using sticky rice is not a good idea). I am a bit reluctant to use these methods.

The deliberate anti-rattle device sounds good to me.

*- I recall reading about a wood hulled sailing cargo ship with a cargo of rice where they sprung a leak & did not realise it, they faithfully used a sounding rod to measure any water in the bilges each watch, and it didn't show any. The rice absorbed all the water, then suddenly burst he hull and it sank in a few minutes.

corrado26 · 21st April 2019, 10:23 AM

The main reason for this dents is that the sabre when worn very often got into contact with shutting doors! Filling with water and freeze it might be the best solution to even the dents because it is easily to be removed
corrado26

kronckew · 21st April 2019, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corrado26

The main reason for this dents is that the sabre when worn very often got into contact with shutting doors! Filling with water and freeze it might be the best solution to even the dents because it is easily to be removed
corrado26

Might try that next winter when I'll have a large freezer to put it in. (called Outside

)

Dogs have a similar problem with their tails and those hydraulic door mechanisms at the top that closes slowly till the last few inches when it slams. I have to be careful to let my dog go thru first

kronckew · 25th April 2019, 09:13 PM

Sword arrived, needs a bit of a clean. the scabbard "dents" do look deliberate, evenly spaced roughly 45 degrees on either side, done so they would form an X, crossing each other instead of being // which i'd expect if it was run over. Sword fits nicely with very little effort, doesn't rattle. Sword has been sharpened, mostly dull now tho.

Victrix · 25th April 2019, 09:23 PM

You would imagine that the Swiss of all people would have invented an anti-rattle device so they wouldn’t have to disfigure the scabbard

21st April 2019, 09:49 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	Someone has recommended using brown unpolished organic rice, poured down the scabbard, then soaked in water. the rice swells and pushes out dents in hard to reach objects like this. You wash out the rice with a hose or pressure washer when it is where you want it (and before it pops the seams* ). The rice husks keep the rice from sticking together and becoming a sticky compressed block of rice epoxy. (the great wall was made with over-boiled rice paste as mortar & it's is still there, rice glue is quite common I hear in the orient, so using sticky rice is not a good idea). I am a bit reluctant to use these methods. The deliberate anti-rattle device sounds good to me. - I recall reading about a wood hulled sailing cargo ship with a cargo of rice where they sprung a leak & did not realise it, they faithfully used a sounding rod to measure any water in the bilges each watch, and it didn't show any. The rice absorbed all the water, then suddenly burst he hull and it sank in a few minutes. Last edited by kronckew; 21st April 2019 at 10:47 AM.*

20th April 2019, 01:03 PM	#1
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 395	I have 3 mandrels, previous Wilkinson's I picked up without knowing what they fit. I found that if not the exact one that they will not work very well. You will need a specific mandrel. The cost of reproducing one would be prohibitive, best to enjoy the sword as is unless you have deep pockets. I have attempted using pieces of steel but inevitably the dents that remain are a tell tale that someone stuck something down them.

20th April 2019, 02:17 PM	#2
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,270	Very nice sword; I am also a fan of Quill Back swords and bayonets. In regards to the dents on the scabbards, I have been told by more than a few collectors that this was done on purpose to keep the sword from rattling or even from falling out on a loose fit. I have also been told that one can remove the dents by filling the scabbard with water and freezing it, however, I have never tried this myself.

21st April 2019, 10:23 AM	#4
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,237	The main reason for this dents is that the sabre when worn very often got into contact with shutting doors! Filling with water and freeze it might be the best solution to even the dents because it is easily to be removed corrado26

25th April 2019, 09:13 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	Sword arrived, needs a bit of a clean. the scabbard "dents" do look deliberate, evenly spaced roughly 45 degrees on either side, done so they would form an X, crossing each other instead of being // which i'd expect if it was run over. Sword fits nicely with very little effort, doesn't rattle. Sword has been sharpened, mostly dull now tho.

25th April 2019, 09:23 PM	#7
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 755	You would imagine that the Swiss of all people would have invented an anti-rattle device so they wouldn’t have to disfigure the scabbard