Chrome On Philippine Blades Question

Robert · 16th April 2011, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Although chrome was used on the tips of bronze Chinese crossbows and tips found in tombs, chrome plating was not in production until the 19th century, and that being in use by the West, especially after large deposits of chrome were found in the US and then later in Turkey. Chrome by itself is not indigenous to Southeast Asia as far as I know.

As I mentioned earlier, the common practice by both Victorian and American collectors of ethnographic weaponry (and US Civil War) was to plate the blade to prevent rusting. I even know of a collector that 2 years ago took a US Civil War foot officer's sword and chromed it to get a shiny blade!

This is more in answer to my original question about chrome plating. What I wanted to know was if it was a common practice in the Philippines to chrome plate blades. I know it was in the U.S. at one point but, if it was a practice in the Philippines to do this I thought it would be better to leave it as is. If it was done in this country after the piece was brought here then removing the plating would be an acceptable thing to do.

Robert

DAHenkel · 16th April 2011, 03:17 PM

Leave it - its part of the sword's history...

Spunjer · 16th April 2011, 03:23 PM

Btw, congrats on getting that for cheap! I was watching it as well...

Sajen · 16th April 2011, 03:59 PM

Hi Robert,

I was bidding on this as well but don't went higher because the blade was chromed. I am with Dave, keep it like this, it is still a nice sword and the chromed blade is part of the history of this sword.

Regards,

Detlef

Battara · 16th April 2011, 05:34 PM

To answer your question more specifically, to my knowledge it was not common practice for Filipinos or Moros to chrome plate their blades.

Robert · 16th April 2011, 05:55 PM

Thank you all for your opinions on what should or should not be done about the chrome plating on this piece. Now that I have read the rest of the comments and found that it was not a common practice in the Philippines to do this type of plating I think that I will be removing the chrome sometime in the future.

Robert

Battara · 16th April 2011, 07:34 PM

I do this carefully with varying grades of sandpaper and stones. I resist using a machine sander because there are little swirls it creates.

Also difficult to tell if it is chrome or nickel plate (which adheres closer to the steel and also not used in the Philippines in general nor Indonesia).

Hopefully yours is chromed which should come off easier.

Nathaniel · 17th April 2011, 03:21 AM

Likewise I have not seen Chromed examples on Thai or Burmese swords...but I do have one example:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6349

16th April 2011, 05:55 PM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Thank you all for your opinions on what should or should not be done about the chrome plating on this piece. Now that I have read the rest of the comments and found that it was not a common practice in the Philippines to do this type of plating I think that I will be removing the chrome sometime in the future. Robert Last edited by Robert Coleman; 16th April 2011 at 06:07 PM.

16th April 2011, 03:17 PM	#2
DAHenkel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 125	Leave it - its part of the sword's history...

16th April 2011, 03:23 PM	#3
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Btw, congrats on getting that for cheap! I was watching it as well...

16th April 2011, 03:59 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Hi Robert, I was bidding on this as well but don't went higher because the blade was chromed. I am with Dave, keep it like this, it is still a nice sword and the chromed blade is part of the history of this sword. Regards, Detlef

16th April 2011, 05:34 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	To answer your question more specifically, to my knowledge it was not common practice for Filipinos or Moros to chrome plate their blades.

16th April 2011, 07:34 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	I do this carefully with varying grades of sandpaper and stones. I resist using a machine sander because there are little swirls it creates. Also difficult to tell if it is chrome or nickel plate (which adheres closer to the steel and also not used in the Philippines in general nor Indonesia). Hopefully yours is chromed which should come off easier.

17th April 2011, 03:21 AM	#8
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Likewise I have not seen Chromed examples on Thai or Burmese swords...but I do have one example: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6349