[Tim Simmons]

The reason the metal has 'bubbles' is because the brass parts on the scabbard have been cast as one piece and then finnished ,pierced and ingraved. The original pattern was made in unrefined bees wax which can be get skumy as you work it, from ambient heat or from your hands. The bubbles are where very ,very small balls of wax are stuck to the surface of the pattern and thus appear in the final casting which odviously went well as it looks like the maker just polished it straight from the cast. Tim . I could also be very wrong. If they are gold plated? fire gilding has gone on for centuries. Judging by the guality of this piece it was made at the center!!!not in the back woods.