Very shiny Kard

[drdavid]

Hi Ham
you may have mistaken what I meant, I have no intention of doing anything at all to the original. I am just curious if I can make an entirely new sheath as a copy of the original, a fine craft project if you like.

As for the piece itself it has been in same collecting family since the 1920's I believe and I dont think any significant 'cleaning' has occured during that time so perhaps earlier. I can't see any evidence of previous pattern or gilding but of course that does not mean it was not there.

If not nickel silver handgrips what do you suggest they may be, hard I know with just photos. It is a handsome piece though isn't it.
thanks
DrD

[Jens Nordlunde]

Photographing weapon is not easy, but there are a few things, which can help removing reflexes and shadows.

Photograph outside when it is clouded. The clouds will give a light, which will minimise the shadows and the reflections – other than the one of the photograph that is.
If you prefer not to wait until it is clouded, you can buy a few white nylon umbrellas, open them and fasten them around the item you what to photograph. Buy also a few photo lamps (be careful they develop a lot of heat) and let the lamp point into the open umbrella. In this way you will get indirect light on the item you want to photograph, and by adjusting the umbrellas you can remove shadows and most reflections, if not all. Photo lamps are important, as the light is much whiter than the light normally used in lamps, so using normal light your weapon may turn out reddish or willowish.
In both cases, use a tripod, although you may have steady hands.
Come to think of it, you can also take a few of your wife’s umbrellas and spray them white inside.


Congratulations with the kard. Maybe the hilt has always been like it is, or maybe it has been gilded.
I don't know anything about scabbard making so I will not comment to this.