Nco Saya Paint

[Shamsy]

From the discussion regarding the odd gunto I picked up with the 'Roman numerals' (Parade/lightweight gunto thread), it was mentioned that lead based paint was used during wartime and that nail varnish remover (acetone) doesn't react. This seemed to be the case, as I was not able to remove a speck of paint.

 

However, I recently purchased a sword with an unusual green (or brown, colour blind) colored saya and I wanted to see if it was a repaint. I'll stop here and state: I was 99% sure it wasn't, as the rust patterns and patina were perfect, but I had niggling doubt.

 

I thought I'd try this acetone trick. A tiny bit of acetone on a paper towel rubbed a tiny bit of green off. But I was still 99% certain the paint was original. The details were too correct. So I tentatively tried the same trick on a further 5 saya, all different shades, all in various states of completeness. All made a light green smear on the paper towel.

 

So that leaves me to think that either they didn't use lead based paint or lead based paint is susceptible to acetone. Just thought I'd share this small finding. I have no idea about paint and acetone, so if you do, please enlighten me.

 

NOTE - No NCOs were hurt in the making of this finding. A very tiny area was wiped, a tiny little stain was removed, not at all noticeable and there was paint underneath. Literally only the smallest top of a thick layer. Believe me, handling one without gloves will do more harm.

[EdWolf]

I have experienced that removing paint with acetone works best with paint which is not to old. If the paint is applied more than say 20 - 30 years ago the results will be disappointing and the effect will be limited.

Regards,

Ed

[Bruce Pennington]

I don't know anything of the science of it. I used acetone to remove a really bad post-war gold/black paintjob on a latewar 95 saya and it worked pretty good. Still had the original paint underneath.

[Shamsy]

Stegel and I were told a story about a returning veteran in Aus (can't remember nationality but could have been croatian?) who decided to paint the sword he brought home bright sky blue. That would be a sight! A bit of an exception though in my opinion, as I'd leave a sword as is where I knew the history of how it became so unique. To me that's just a further bit of the history of the sword. Hard to drawa line between valid sword hhistory and post war vandalism.

[Kai-Gunto]

I use a product based on citrus oil and that strips of new paint.

Got this lid cheap and vola, a nice complete NLF helmet.