All else aside; wouldn't the presence of verdigris indicate a sword of recent manufacture. Were this to be an old sword, the accumulated patina would protect against that sort of decomposition.
"Until the 19th century, verdigris was the most vibrant green pigment available and frequently used in painting. However, its lightfastness and air resistance is very low: in presence of light and air green verdigris becomes stable brown copper oxide."(Wikipedia)
n2s
|