Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

fernando · 27th April 2010, 01:12 PM

Hi Mark,
During Portuguese discoveries, colonial swords,the so called crab style, were painted black, firstly to prevent rust and aledgely also to avoid denouncing their presence in action, due to steel shining ... or vice versa!
There are inventories of the period (XVI century), listing them as "board black swords". The term "board" showing evidence of their naval use.
Fernando

27th April 2010, 01:12 PM	#5
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Hi Mark, During Portuguese discoveries, colonial swords,the so called crab style, were painted black, firstly to prevent rust and aledgely also to avoid denouncing their presence in action, due to steel shining ... or vice versa! There are inventories of the period (XVI century), listing them as "board black swords". The term "board" showing evidence of their naval use. Fernando