Bhutan sword with chromed blade: advice needed

Tatyana Dianova · 3rd May 2011, 09:22 PM

I have bought recently a beautiful Bhutan sword. The fittings are made from massive silver (tested) and nicely decorated.
The problem is that the blade is chromed, although it is thick, has a nice geometry and is razor sharp. The scabbard wood and the leather look pretty new (I mean second half of 20th century). The silver scabbard fittings have a milky white appearance inside and no brown patina (I have removed them for cleaning). They are also in a very good condition; there are no scratches, damage, etc… The red fabrics on the hilt look also recent.
So, the whole sword is of really good quality and looks like it was brought with the time machine :-) Is it possible that the complete sword was made recently? Maybe it explains the chromed blade? Then the chrome finish is original and shouldn’t be removed... What do you think?

Tatyana Dianova · 3rd May 2011, 09:23 PM

More pictures:

Tim Simmons · 3rd May 2011, 09:33 PM

Tatyana, you clearly have doubts. I wonder if that is silver plated and masked off so you have silver and brass showing on the decorative metal work? It seems clean on the handle in a way that causes doubts and the leather. Dare you sratch the silvery scabbard. That chrome is very clean like a new motor cycle exhaust back in the day when they were chromed?

Tatyana Dianova · 3rd May 2011, 09:49 PM

No Tim, it is a solid silver everywhere, although not sterling - I'd say pretty low grade. I have tested it with a jeweller's file

and silver acid. I am collecting oriental silver jewelry and silver plating is not news for me

The yellow accents may be gold, but I do not have a gold testing acid...

Tim Simmons · 3rd May 2011, 10:06 PM

So could it be fire gilding on the silver? It has a haphazard look and there is a lot of oxidiziation there, that also seems to be on the gold? I am just curious. It is still a nice sword.

Sajen · 3rd May 2011, 10:13 PM

Hello Tatyana,

the comlete sword have a good quality but I have no clue if it is recent or old. Maybe someone have done a "over-restauration" by the leather, red fabric and the chrome?
How to remove chrome from a blade Jose have described here:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13662

Regards,

Detlef

Battara · 3rd May 2011, 11:55 PM

A lot of new stuff on it, chrome, and clean silver. The silver doesn't bother me but the rest does.

3rd May 2011, 09:22 PM	#1
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 695	Bhutan sword with chromed blade: advice needed I have bought recently a beautiful Bhutan sword. The fittings are made from massive silver (tested) and nicely decorated. The problem is that the blade is chromed, although it is thick, has a nice geometry and is razor sharp. The scabbard wood and the leather look pretty new (I mean second half of 20th century). The silver scabbard fittings have a milky white appearance inside and no brown patina (I have removed them for cleaning). They are also in a very good condition; there are no scratches, damage, etc… The red fabrics on the hilt look also recent. So, the whole sword is of really good quality and looks like it was brought with the time machine :-) Is it possible that the complete sword was made recently? Maybe it explains the chromed blade? Then the chrome finish is original and shouldn’t be removed... What do you think? Attached Images

3rd May 2011, 09:23 PM	#2
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 695	More pictures: Attached Images

3rd May 2011, 10:06 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	So could it be fire gilding on the silver? It has a haphazard look and there is a lot of oxidiziation there, that also seems to be on the gold? I am just curious. It is still a nice sword. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 3rd May 2011 at 10:31 PM.

3rd May 2011, 09:33 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Tatyana, you clearly have doubts. I wonder if that is silver plated and masked off so you have silver and brass showing on the decorative metal work? It seems clean on the handle in a way that causes doubts and the leather. Dare you sratch the silvery scabbard. That chrome is very clean like a new motor cycle exhaust back in the day when they were chromed?

3rd May 2011, 09:49 PM	#4
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 695	No Tim, it is a solid silver everywhere, although not sterling - I'd say pretty low grade. I have tested it with a jeweller's file and silver acid. I am collecting oriental silver jewelry and silver plating is not news for me The yellow accents may be gold, but I do not have a gold testing acid...

3rd May 2011, 10:13 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hello Tatyana, the comlete sword have a good quality but I have no clue if it is recent or old. Maybe someone have done a "over-restauration" by the leather, red fabric and the chrome? How to remove chrome from a blade Jose have described here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13662 Regards, Detlef

3rd May 2011, 11:55 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,225	A lot of new stuff on it, chrome, and clean silver. The silver doesn't bother me but the rest does.