[Tim Simmons]

Freddy, Luc, Danny et al. What do you make of this? I have had my eye on it for well over a year but today the price was finally low enough for me to snap it up. It appears to be polished copper but looking with care you can see that it is gilded with a gold alloy even the copper nails are gilded. I have tied as best I can to show pictures where the gild has worn and the copper can be seen, not easy with just point and snap ability. When I got home I did tests with 18ct and 9ct test acids. There was no reaction to the 18ct test but there was to the 9ct test. I think it is probably less than 9ct, more a copper wash with just enough gold to resist tarnish and to give colour. The blade is 18cm long, the handle 47cm long. I know gilding is ancient but in the Congo/Central Africa? It has seen use, mid 20th century?