cfm15 Posted May 6, 2012 Report Posted May 6, 2012 Hi BrianI once went to a blacksmiths. He made horseshoes. When he heated and quenched, there formed a black, tough as nails "gunk" / layer / carbon coloured residue on the horseshoe that flew off when hammered, as he then did. It is that to which I refer. It is not resin. Resin is plastic. This is or rather was (as I banged it off), tough metal carbon residue. ] I have been forging blades of all types as well as pot racks and such for 20 odd years and I assure you nothing is formed when you quench forged steel.The scale comes from heating the blade to the proper temp for forging then oxidising.If it comes in contact with water at this point it tends to blow off and you will see Japanese smiths dip their hammer in water often while forging a blade,scale is bad because if not removed it gets pounded into the blade and causes pits that are hard to remove.
Tom Darling Posted May 6, 2012 Report Posted May 6, 2012 My opinion is that these blades were made in the field from railroad tracks by the Japanese military. Ron Davis
Cuirassier Posted May 7, 2012 Author Report Posted May 7, 2012 JB weld ,a popular two part epoxy glue has a sort of metalic look to it.I'm thinking the gunk was something like that. No idea what 70's style fittings could possibly mean unless they were made of plastic. HI JB, no, 100% this was not glue.
cfm15 Posted May 7, 2012 Report Posted May 7, 2012 Surely it was some form of adhesive since it could not be product of the forging process unless of course they mixed some scale into the glue like substance. Nothing mysterious or magical here.
Lee Bray Posted May 8, 2012 Report Posted May 8, 2012 Mark - if it is forge scale on your tang then the tang will have been heated to such a degree that the hamon in the blade will be adversely affected. I'd be hoping it is pine resin or some other glue residue if I were you.
Cuirassier Posted May 8, 2012 Author Report Posted May 8, 2012 Surely it was some form of adhesive since it could not be product of the forging process unless of course they mixed some scale into the glue like substance. Nothing mysterious or magical here. Nope, again, it was slag.
Cuirassier Posted May 8, 2012 Author Report Posted May 8, 2012 Mark - if it is forge scale on your tang then the tang will have been heated to such a degree that the hamon in the blade will be adversely affected.I'd be hoping it is pine resin or some other glue residue if I were you. As already stated, there was glue and there was slag. I have removed them both. The hamon is just fine.
Ian B3HR2UH Posted May 8, 2012 Report Posted May 8, 2012 I just shake my head each time I read further comments about this sword with its mystery residue . The hamon and blade are not exceptional as stated . This is not a fine piece . It is a very very ordinary blade ( I am tempted to say rubbish ) which is not worth the attention given to it .The mystery residue seems pointless to speculate on unless there are photos of it . Perhaps I am being too harsh ? Ian B
cabowen Posted May 8, 2012 Report Posted May 8, 2012 Be careful with the truth Ian, or Mark, the owner of this showa-to, will send you an anonymous email full of obscenities and insults.
cfm15 Posted May 8, 2012 Report Posted May 8, 2012 Nope, again, it was slag. Slag is a glass like material that is a by product of the smelting of metallic ores.
IanB Posted May 8, 2012 Report Posted May 8, 2012 Please note the comment above was not made by me but by a member with the same Christian name and same initial of the family name. Ian Bottomley
Brian Posted May 8, 2012 Report Posted May 8, 2012 Ian Brooks not to be confused with Ian Bottomley I think we have had enough of this one. Brian
Recommended Posts