The Question you were all wondering about.
			 
			 
			
		
		
		
			
			Here it is guys and I very much welcome further advise and comments. 
 
The Blade. 
 
I finally cleaned all the grease and muck off the blade and thought to myself Blah, just a very boring bright shine blade and I could see no forging marks to the naked eye.  I then looked at past forums on etching and cleaning and ran a few question by fellow collectors who provided good sound advise. 
 
I followed instruction from Rick,(Thanks Rick) and proceeded to clean further and remove this shine to see if any pattern laid beneath. 
I have only etched the blade once and quickly, the photos reveal what lay beneath the bright shine finish. 
I do not wish to take this any further until I hear some more sound advise from readers and collectors. 
 
From this discovery I have pondered a few questions.   
 
Why is it that when I now apply polish, these lamenations disapear to the naked eye again? 
 
Should I continue with etching, or polish, oil and preserve it as it is? 
 
Should I return the blade to it's former high shine, grease it as it has been all these years and leave it? 
 
What date would one assume this sword was produced? 
 
 
I am guessing that this is one of those rare lucky finds as stated by others, being a long blade in full profile, inlay complete and well preserved since it's departure from it's original owner. 
 
All the Best 
 
Gav
		 
		
		
		
			
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
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