Blood and hilts

[celtan]

I was wondering if there's any relationship between exposure to blood and rapid deterioration of hilts.

I own a sword which was removed from the hand of a dead spanish soldier on Philippines, its wood hilt being almost completely gone. I also understand that swords removed from graves usually show severe corrosion in the areas where their masters hands held them.

There's a japanese blade that I recently acquired which has the nasty "habit" of cutting me, this if I'm not _exceptionally_ careful while handling same. Mind you, nothing serious, just very shallow cuts, just as if it was "reminding" me of its true nature.

I'm not superstitious, but the blade has definitely something strange about it, not really a bad feeling, just ...strange. I'm not exactly at ease with it out of the scabbard.

...and its missing its hilt and grips!