Share your favorite laminated weapon!

Lee · 14th June 2021, 06:17 PM

Very nice! Those narrow light colored curving lines in the twist core (pattern-welded) panel of the left spear head will contain nickel.

pindang · 14th June 2021, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

Very nice! Those narrow light colored curving lines in the twist core (pattern-welded) panel of the left spear head will contain nickel.

Good eye Lee. The narrow light colored lines almost look chrome in person.

Lee · 14th June 2021, 10:25 PM

Just before the pandemic struck, I had performed a survey of my collection with an XRF analyzer. When we think of medieval Europe and twist-core patterns, iron with phosphorus was most often used to get the lighter colored areas. Modern bladesmiths will use nickel or nickel alloys (even meteorite). Interestingly, many of the Moro pieces show use of both materials. I hope to finish analyzing the data before too much longer, but your spear showed the feature ever so well. It could be chrome, but I doubt it as it looks like an item of respectable age. Thank you again for showing these.

Ian · 15th June 2021, 07:37 AM

Lee raises a very good point about the usefulness of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) in assessing the elemental composition of blades. While there are some technical issues with detecting certain elements, the technique is non-destructive and well suited to analyzing the surface of weapons. It offers important insight, for example, into the metals used in old blades. Look forward to seeing what the results turn up, Lee.

DaveA · 22nd June 2021, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Lee raises a very good point about the usefulness of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) in assessing the elemental composition of blades. While there are some technical issues with detecting certain elements, the technique is non-destructive and well suited to analyzing the surface of weapons. It offers important insight, for example, into the metals used in old blades. Look forward to seeing what the results turn up, Lee.

I assume that I cannot just order an XRF from Amazon. How does one obtain access to such a scientific instrument? Is there a home-built hack for this tech? Could be handy!

David · 22nd June 2021, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveA

I assume that I cannot just order an XRF from Amazon. How does one obtain access to such a scientific instrument? Is there a home-built hack for this tech? Could be handy!

Just google them Dave. They are many companies making these and they are very easy to obtain...if you have a spare $15-20,000 laying around. LOL!

Lee · 22nd June 2021, 02:23 PM

Dave, there are a number of companies that offer short term rentals of these instruments as they may be used for environmental toxin detection and also for minerals prospecting. Very often junkyards and brokers in precious metals will have units and they may be an economical source for a few scans of a particular object. The hard part, ultimately, may be interpreting the data.

15th June 2021, 07:37 AM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,362	Interesting technique ... Lee raises a very good point about the usefulness of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) in assessing the elemental composition of blades. While there are some technical issues with detecting certain elements, the technique is non-destructive and well suited to analyzing the surface of weapons. It offers important insight, for example, into the metals used in old blades. Look forward to seeing what the results turn up, Lee.

22nd June 2021, 02:23 PM	#7
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	XRF Dave, there are a number of companies that offer short term rentals of these instruments as they may be used for environmental toxin detection and also for minerals prospecting. Very often junkyards and brokers in precious metals will have units and they may be an economical source for a few scans of a particular object. The hard part, ultimately, may be interpreting the data.

14th June 2021, 06:17 PM	#1
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Very nice! Those narrow light colored curving lines in the twist core (pattern-welded) panel of the left spear head will contain nickel.

14th June 2021, 10:25 PM	#3
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Just before the pandemic struck, I had performed a survey of my collection with an XRF analyzer. When we think of medieval Europe and twist-core patterns, iron with phosphorus was most often used to get the lighter colored areas. Modern bladesmiths will use nickel or nickel alloys (even meteorite). Interestingly, many of the Moro pieces show use of both materials. I hope to finish analyzing the data before too much longer, but your spear showed the feature ever so well. It could be chrome, but I doubt it as it looks like an item of respectable age. Thank you again for showing these.