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Originally Posted by tom hyle
I'm still really puzzled by the hostility toward the very likely sincere religious inscription. I'm not nuts about electric engraving, but it's interesting to see from a bunch that usually isn't that hot on re-doing/undoing.....This may not be my favourite engraving, but let me be very clear: it is NOT damage.
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I wasn't being hostile, but at the time I made that comment about defacing the sword, I was assuming that it was part of some fantasy role-player's costume. I have no problem with fantasy role-players in costume, either; I just don't think modifying a genuine antique in a non-genuine way is appropriate in that context.
I can see the argument that it is a genuine ritual object, in which case it might be better to leave as-is. Wiccan in the U.S. has a very pop-culture aspect to it, though, so sometimes I wonder how often someone is following a fad when they take up Wiccan, and thus is really justified (or even qualified) to create such a ritual object. The UK I think has a very well established and sincere Wiccan community, however, so seeing as its most likely from there, it also is most likely a genuine ritual object.
Sort of a quandry -- should one preserve the original state/use of an article, or maintain it as it might have been modified for a later or different use?