Chinese Jian

Gavin Nugent · 14th March 2008, 12:23 AM

Here it is guys and I very much welcome further advise and comments.

The Blade.

I finally cleaned all the grease and muck off the blade and thought to myself Blah, just a very boring bright shine blade and I could see no forging marks to the naked eye. I then looked at past forums on etching and cleaning and ran a few question by fellow collectors who provided good sound advise.

I followed instruction from Rick,(Thanks Rick) and proceeded to clean further and remove this shine to see if any pattern laid beneath.
I have only etched the blade once and quickly, the photos reveal what lay beneath the bright shine finish.
I do not wish to take this any further until I hear some more sound advise from readers and collectors.

From this discovery I have pondered a few questions.

Why is it that when I now apply polish, these lamenations disapear to the naked eye again?

Should I continue with etching, or polish, oil and preserve it as it is?

Should I return the blade to it's former high shine, grease it as it has been all these years and leave it?

What date would one assume this sword was produced?

I am guessing that this is one of those rare lucky finds as stated by others, being a long blade in full profile, inlay complete and well preserved since it's departure from it's original owner.

All the Best

Gav

14th March 2008, 12:23 AM	#19
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	The Question you were all wondering about. Here it is guys and I very much welcome further advise and comments. The Blade. I finally cleaned all the grease and muck off the blade and thought to myself Blah, just a very boring bright shine blade and I could see no forging marks to the naked eye. I then looked at past forums on etching and cleaning and ran a few question by fellow collectors who provided good sound advise. I followed instruction from Rick,(Thanks Rick) and proceeded to clean further and remove this shine to see if any pattern laid beneath. I have only etched the blade once and quickly, the photos reveal what lay beneath the bright shine finish. I do not wish to take this any further until I hear some more sound advise from readers and collectors. From this discovery I have pondered a few questions. Why is it that when I now apply polish, these lamenations disapear to the naked eye again? Should I continue with etching, or polish, oil and preserve it as it is? Should I return the blade to it's former high shine, grease it as it has been all these years and leave it? What date would one assume this sword was produced? I am guessing that this is one of those rare lucky finds as stated by others, being a long blade in full profile, inlay complete and well preserved since it's departure from it's original owner. All the Best Gav Attached Images