quote:
Posted here as a reference for newer collectors:
A “browned” or a “blued” (sometimes called blue/black or black oxide) finish will probably do the job for most everyday uses in the (American) English language. With the Germans at some point dropping rust bluing as too costly and an impediment to more rapid production, going instead to a hot chemical dip blue (black oxide).
When I first became a forum member the misuse of “anodized” used to drive me crazy, with the German word “eloxieren” actually referring to anodizing. I don’t react as much as I used to. Because at least some individuals now recognize that the term has no relation to the world outside - and is a language spoken only among dagger collectors.
It was simply individuals that did not understand what they were looking at who first coined the phrase. Probably (my personal opinion only) inspired by the one time popular series of anodized aluminum household beverage containers which had a similar appearing finish.
Likewise the use of “burnishing” by some I believe is a mistranslation of Brünierung. Which refers to browning, which in (UK) English and European use, refered to both the blued and browned finishes. Being simply a dark chemical finish. Instead of the more common English usage of burnishing as polishing. FP
Below: Some of the different blued finishes.
