Need help with a pair of extremely old battle swords

[Leeham991]

I quite recently came into possession of 2 very old British-Indian battle sabers which, according to who I got them from, were confiscated from Russian soldiers during the first world war.
Although in themselves they hold very little historical value as they are extremely simple swords, look production line, and are extremely beat up, so I got them very cheap. Despite the age and condition they seem to have held their temper well, and are solid enough; I have been wanting to use them to teach my sister how to use a sword, but I'm unsure of how to properly get them up to working order.

They are honestly in the worse state I've seen a sword and it's a wonder that they've passed all strength tests I've thrown at them.

They are covered in very old patches of rust. Rust that has now turned black, the edges have obviously been removed with very very little care on the part of the police, looking now like the edge of a wood file where they've been ground flat, and there is a little problem with the hilts not being fully stable as it looks like at some point someone has tried to remove the end of the tang to get inside the handle, although it appears as though they failed.

Anyway, I've been going over them for a couple of weeks now and am still unsure on what to do. I'm afraid of going about the normal rust removing methods due to the age of the rust that it's turned black, and I am unsure of what to use to stabilize the hilt as hammering the tang back into place only half-fixed the problem.


Any help?

Cheers
- CLB

[Ferdiad]

Bring it to a smith?

[Leeham991]

Bring it to a smith?

Unfortunately there is only 5 smiths within 100 miles of me, and 4 of them won't fix swords for legal reasons, the other won't reply to my emails.

Apparently unless the sword meets British medieval fencing standards then no smith in the country will touch it, and I've been to a few antique places and they don't know anything more than getting a sword ready to sit in a glass box until the end of time, so I'm just left with having to do it myself, and I'm stuck with that right now.

[Jagdpanzer]

Perhaps try this: http://www.sussexswords.com/refurbishment.htm

[Leeham991]

Perhaps try this: http://www.sussexswords.com/refurbishment.htm

Thank you!

It's not quite right for the two mentioned swords as I'm reluctant to spend more on repairs than the base cost for such simple and mass produced swords, but I can definitely use this service for another sword I've been having some problems with.

+rep

[Taiji]

Brillo pads are good for getting rust off swords, and a little oil can prevent the rust coming back for a while.

If you want them to be nice to use then I'd suggest speaking to anyone who repairs tennis rackets, because they make really comfortable bindings.

But if the handle is loose on the tang then it probably needs a new handle. I've had a few indian-british sabers (which have been destroyed by now), the end of the tangs had screw threads, and the pommels would simply unscrew. But heh, this kind of thing can get damaged so good luck with that...

[Leeham991]

Brillo pads are good for getting rust off swords, and a little oil can prevent the rust coming back for a while.

If you want them to be nice to use then I'd suggest speaking to anyone who repairs tennis rackets, because they make really comfortable bindings.

But if the handle is loose on the tang then it probably needs a new handle. I've had a few indian-british sabers (which have been destroyed by now), the end of the tangs had screw threads, and the pommels would simply unscrew. But heh, this kind of thing can get damaged so good luck with that...

Aye that is true, although on my sabres the washers have rusted and become put of the tang so it's impossible to tighten them without damaging the sword, at least on that one sword. The other sword's nut is in better condition, but I've not tested its removal as there is no need as of now.

And I will go about finding a brillo pad. Hadn't occurred to me to use one before xD

I gave one sabre a good going over last night with the old medieval method of vinegar, sandpaper (although in medieval times it would have been sand mixed with vinegar and applied with a flannel) and olive oil with a soft cloth. It's worked at removing half of the rust, but it took a good 3 hours. I didn't imagine it being easy though, but if a brillo pad made it a little easier that would be great help.

+rep

[Voodo chile]

I found an old axe in our garage from the early-mid 20th century (Ancient relic i know )

It was all rusted up and brown. The cuting edge..I could measure how wide it was..2-3mm thick

I refurbished it with sandpaper, oil spray stuff, file.

I made a thread with a few pictures and of it in this social group.
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/group...cussionid=6004

But basically heres a few photos






But i'll have to recommend a file for doing really quick sharpening. Got that blade sharp as in about 10 minutes. Finished off with stone puck and sharpening rod.

[Leeham991]

I wish I'd done some photos of my swords now, but I don't have a camera xD

That's cool what you did to that axe though. Took a few days? I've been going at these two swords with sandpaper, oil, vinegar and brillo pads for a couple of days, about 2 hours a day, and they are turning out extremely well.

[Voodo chile]

Around 30-40 mins of sanding.
Sharpening was quick with the file - i think the best alternative to a grinding wheel, which pretty much nobody has these days.
I brought a cheap file for $4. Did the job perfectly. Though it depends on the temper of your blade- could take several hours.

I didn't use WD-40 but i used something very similar. The oily spray gave it a very good shine.

Around the same time i did a bit of maintenance on a 'bolo'. Same deal, Sand the rust away. Do a bit of sharpening and rust proof it.

[Leeham991]

I happen to have a good file that I use in arrow making, but unfortunately sharpened swords and illegal where I'm from xD

[Voodo chile]

Arrow making + Sharpened swords illegal? Doesnt sound right.
Illegal sharpened swords is a ridiculous law and is no different than a meat cleaver or axe. No one aint gona know though.

[Leeham991]

Arrow making + Sharpened swords illegal? Doesnt sound right.
Illegal sharpened swords is a ridiculous law and is no different than a meat cleaver or axe. No one aint gona know though.

No arrow making it legal, so are longbows up to 200lbs (although I don't know anyone who can pull more than 150, and he's a blacksmith xD ), although not sure about those American style bows, or crossbows.

Sharpened swords are illegal though. And also meat cleavers are illegal too to an extent, or at least traditionally sized ones, can still get smaller versions most places though. No idea about the legality of axes, but I know that you need a license for a traditional chain saw.

[Voodo chile]

Christ almighty i aint going near the UK any time soon! And i thought New Zealand was restrictive!
What about air rifles?

[Leeham991]

Christ almighty i aint going near the UK any time soon! And i thought New Zealand was restrictive!
What about air rifles?

As far as I know you're only allowed to use air rifles in private rural land, or if it's a fairground game and they're attached to something so they can only point at the targets. As for toy air guns and such, as far as I know they're not allowed to exceed 100fps, even at airsoft clubs.

[Voodo chile]

Catapults i guess.- Mangonel
Those surely arn't included in any laws. Something about the size of a washing machine with wheels so you can bring it over to a park or on the street if its quiet.

When you do think you can take any photos?

[Leeham991]

I've been thinking about making a trebuchet actually

And unfortunately probably never, because the only camera I own takes awful photos xD

For example: My swords, presented in 150p

[MathiasOfAthens]

I cant actually see any rust on those swords.

[Ciabhán]

Christ almighty i aint going near the UK any time soon! And i thought New Zealand was restrictive!
What about air rifles?

Don't go thinking the entire UK has the super-nanny laws. NI is still relatively free of a lot of this but we're just a bunch Irish barbarians anyway.

As to the swords instead of the harsher brillo pads get a bucket of rough sand(not play sand or sugar sand) and scour the blades with sand and vinegar. It's effective, traditional, and less harsh on the metal. If you only want them usable place the handles on the tang and then spray around the loose edges with a hardening foam insulation.

[Leeham991]

Update:
Although I don't seem to be able to get rid of the larger dust spots I have gotten rid of all of the surface rust on both swords as well as mostly secure the handles. I'm trying to get my hands on some spray foam for the sword with the troubled handle, but it seems to be well enough to use at it is, at least for now.