SUASA Copper/Gold or Gold/Copper alloy

David · 5th September 2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

low quality really. http://www.jewelryexpert.com/articles/Pinchbeck.htm

From what i can gather from this article "Pinchbeck" doesn't contain any real gold. This is not the case with suassa.

asomotif · 6th September 2007, 09:34 AM

thanks Michael for these acurate numbers !

I am not sure if Suassa should be considered cheap.
Surely gold is more expensive, but with the present copper (56%) prices...

I believe the japanese also use some similar alloys in decorating their tsuba's etc. any info on that?

Battara · 7th September 2007, 09:26 PM

Acutally it depends on the color wanted. VVV is correct for some swassa, others are different depending on if you want orange, red, white'ish, etc. When a friend and I made swassa several years ago, it was roughly 1/3 gold and 2/3 copper with some silver. Some even use zinc for a greenish color, though rare.

Here is an example of what I mean. The orange bands on the hilt are swassa and the orange bands on the scabbard are the ones we made. I did the rest of the scabbard work (the second one I ever made).

t_c · 8th September 2007, 04:54 AM

Here's a good list of Japanese alloys:
Japanese Alloys

asomotif · 10th September 2007, 09:51 AM

Hello Battara,

Nice Moro keris.
Do you have some close ups of the mountings ?

-----

TC,
thanks for the link to the alloys !

Battara · 10th September 2007, 11:09 PM

Thank you.

This is the only other close up I have. It is of the top wranga that I made of burled wood and silver. I made it Maguindanao to match the same type piece and the silver work was inspired by what was already on the swassa hilt bands (to match them in motif).

Enjoy

7th September 2007, 09:26 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Acutally it depends on the color wanted. VVV is correct for some swassa, others are different depending on if you want orange, red, white'ish, etc. When a friend and I made swassa several years ago, it was roughly 1/3 gold and 2/3 copper with some silver. Some even use zinc for a greenish color, though rare. Here is an example of what I mean. The orange bands on the hilt are swassa and the orange bands on the scabbard are the ones we made. I did the rest of the scabbard work (the second one I ever made). Attached Images Last edited by Battara; 7th September 2007 at 09:40 PM.

10th September 2007, 11:09 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Thank you. This is the only other close up I have. It is of the top wranga that I made of burled wood and silver. I made it Maguindanao to match the same type piece and the silver work was inspired by what was already on the swassa hilt bands (to match them in motif). Enjoy Attached Images

6th September 2007, 09:34 AM	#2
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,237	thanks Michael for these acurate numbers ! I am not sure if Suassa should be considered cheap. Surely gold is more expensive, but with the present copper (56%) prices... I believe the japanese also use some similar alloys in decorating their tsuba's etc. any info on that?

8th September 2007, 04:54 AM	#4
t_c Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: ca, usa Posts: 92	Here's a good list of Japanese alloys: Japanese Alloys

10th September 2007, 09:51 AM	#5
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,237	Hello Battara, Nice Moro keris. Do you have some close ups of the mountings ? ----- TC, thanks for the link to the alloys !