UBB.threads Forums General Interest Restoration, Conservation, and Maintenance Forum crossguard re-plating

As anyone had this done and if so was it successful ?

Because of the different alloys used in crossguards, this is a hit or miss proposition. The germans used just about anything to cast the crossguards because some metals were in short supply due to the war effort. Some of them just will not plate using modern methods.

Thanks for that Vern,,,,,,,,,,,

I can show my experiences in re-plating crossguards and scabbard.Most problems are with deep corosion in zink and steel. Under nickel or chrome plating there a few micro holes which can be visible.I show crossguard made of zink to compare before and after plating.Dagger on the pics was in horrible condition and please dont say to me that I was destroy something. zet

sorry connection problem

2

3

4

5

Boy, I'd like to see those in person. Doesn't look half bad from the pictures based on the starting condition being horrible. I have a Puma SA I bought for the scabbard that someone chrome plated the blade....looks hideous!

John

Zet,,,, You seem to have been successful with your crossguards from the original pics,they seem not too obvious.Did you have the scabbard fittings plated as well?

Of course the scabbard fittings were plated.One thing in this case is trouble this plating looks like a new one Im thinking about oldering this fittings but it is idea only I dont know how to do it.Looks of the plating depends on state of the material more holes and deeper of rust grows problems. And preciseness of polishing before plating.regards zet

You can remove plating of the blade it is interesting how it will look.

Could a Matte Spray which can be purchased in artist supply stores help to solve the problem of the plating looking too new ?

ZET,
Just a thought, If you plan on keeping the dagger for a few years natural aging will take it's course and you will start to get a uniform look throughout. Why mess with something that looks good and that you put hard work into. leave well enough alone. Just my 2 cents worth.
Eric

P.S. If you are a smoker put the dagger in a room you smoke in that will give it an aged look pretty fast. Cigar smoke will do this even faster.

Zet, I have to agree with Eric. I understand you not wanting the scabbaed to look new but that scabbard is gorgeous, I'd let it age naturally over time. Wish I had the skill and know how to do that to some of my daggers. JohnJ

Zet, how did you find someone to replate the "RZM" crossguards? Wherever I go, they say they can't do it, these metals require some extra ground plating and that technique is not used nowadays etc.
Do you let some particular electroplating company in Poland to do that?

It is true but there was small "factory" in Cracow with two old owners who did it for a car,bike restorers.When I was there first time he did not want to do that because of material crossguard but after my ask and story about the dagger He said :I would try to do it. Unfortunatelly they moved to another place . I have to go to this guy ,I have luft crossguard 2 model to remove plating.Im thinking about silver plating WH dagger. Here we have another small "factory" which makes plating for all to the churches for example galls,chandeliers etc. It is interesting is it possible or not.If You want adress to this guy mail me on my mail.Regards Zet