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+--- Thread: Iron Age Swords (/showthread.php?tid=31263)
Iron Age Swords - Harrisonfletch - 04-02-2020
Good evening,
Forgive my ignorance. Would an Iron-Age Xiphos/Kopis have a dark to black complexion to it's iron? I acknowledge that some smiths of the time had discovered the "hardening" of iron through adding carbon but I am concerned about historical accuracy for re-enacting. I know that most replica swords on the market have a pure steel sheen to them.
Thank you all!
RE: Iron Age Swords - Crispianus - 04-02-2020
(04-02-2020, 01:33 AM)Harrisonfletch Wrote: Good evening,
Forgive my ignorance. Would an Iron-Age Xiphos/Kopis have a dark to black complexion to it's iron? I acknowledge that some smiths of the time had discovered the "hardening" of iron through adding carbon but I am concerned about historical accuracy for re-enacting. I know that most replica swords on the market have a pure steel sheen to them.
Thank you all!
Iron doesn't have a dark or black complexion and can be mirror polished too, in my opinion mostly its down to polishing on a machine, there are other ways to harden iron other then carburisation, substantial amounts of phosphorus, manganese and even nickel can be present in quantities large enough to effect the strength, toughness and hardness of the iron, the process of making bloomery iron can also result in a high carbon content...
RE: Iron Age Swords - Harrisonfletch - 04-02-2020
Thank you very much,
Again forgive my ignorance on the subject. This really helps me out.
RE: Iron Age Swords - Dan Howard - 04-03-2020
You cant tell the difference between low carbon and high carbon steel by looking at it. Some can do it by breaking it into pieces and looking at the crystalline structure. The easiest way is a simple spark test.
RE: Iron Age Swords - Harrisonfletch - 04-03-2020
(04-03-2020, 07:15 AM)Dan Howard Wrote: You cant tell the difference between low carbon and high carbon steel by looking at it. Some can do it by breaking it into pieces and looking at the crystalline structure. The easiest way is a simple spark test.Thank you !