did this happen to your dread pirate roberts sword?

rfridaythe13th

New Member
question to anyone who has the dread pirate roberts replica sword. did yall keep it in the scabbard, and then the leather( or what ever it is) on the top inside of the scabbard leave some stains on your sword? if it did happen. do you know how to get those stains off? and did you find a solution to keep displaying in the scabbard without getting stained?
here are pics of the stains on each side. i know they're kinda hard to see. sorry
IMG_20121124_120413.jpg

IMG_20121124_120356.jpg
 
I'm no sword expert, but if this has only been caused by the leather, then surely it should just polish up with metal polish?
and how come you've been registered here for over a year, yet this is only your first post?
 
*sword expert here. ;)

As Nobby mentioned, any metal polish like Flitz or Metal Glo should remove the stain if it doesn't come off with normal cleaning and oiling. Polish applied with a rag or steel wool in lengthwise strokes so as not to alter the finish.

I've owned that Dread Pirate Roberts sword, kept it in its scabbard, and never encountered this issue before I sold it--- but it looks like simple oxidation which I've dealt with before. It can happen if any moisture gets trapped in the leather and the sword is stored in such scabbard and not regularly maintained. Did you never oil your sword?

Windlass Steelcrafts (the manufacturer of that blade) uses 1065--1095 carbon steel to make their sword blades, which means they are susceptible to oxidation and rust unlike the stainless steel used in many "wall hanger" replica swords. The good news is that the high carbon steel is a sturdier material for sword length blades and can be easily heat-treated to a tough and resilient spring temper, which is what Windlass does pretty well for its low pricepoint (as compared to other battle-ready swords). The trade-off for having a material that is accurate in performance to real swords (gives a hard edge and a springy spine) is that it rusts more easily than cheaper decorative fare. You simply have to oil the sword to prevent this, giving it a layer of protection from moisture. Windlass sometimes adds a thin clear lacquer on their swords under the pretense of adding a bit of protection from oxidation, but it doesn't do much and it looks tacky.

Anyway, any thin mineral oil will work to prevent rust, like sewing machine oil, gun oil, 3-in-one oil, as long as it is applied to a clean, dry blade using a soft cloth or paper towel so that it forms a very thin layer over the entire steel surface. If the sword is used simply for display, this only needs to be done about once a month if you keep fingerprints and dust away from it. Obviously if the sword is used or handled it should be wiped clean and re-oiled before being put back on display.

A good recommendation for low-maintenance protection is to get some Break-Free CLP and a soft old t-shirt cut into a rag, saturate part of the rag with the oil, and use that to apply the oil to your blade. Store the t-shirt rag in a plastic bag when not in use and after a while of repeating the process the rag will stay good and oily on its own for quick wipedowns. Break-Free has good long-lasting protection because of the thin teflon bond it creates on the steel surface. I've known people who oiled with Break-Free and then unintentionally left their swords unmaintained for several months that still saw no oxidation when they returned.

It's generally accepted that storing a sword in a leather scabbard is not ideal for the blade (stored in a wood core scabbard is better, stored without a scabbard is best), but it's still unlikely to stain if the sword is cleaned and oiled regularly. The same is true for any knife made from a high carbon steel.

Spending one minute a month maintaining a sword will keep it looking new for years. Here's a good Care and Maintenence Article for other details.
 
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***** Lunaman.... you just gave me a heads up for half of my damn collection haha. Thanks for the info!
 
***** Lunaman.... you just gave me a heads up for half of my damn collection haha. Thanks for the info!
Gonna use that advice for some of my vintage stuff. Thanks Lunaman! :thumbsup
Wow, you're welcome! :)

Another option I forgot to mention is renaissance wax.

This is long-term storage stuff that's normally used by museums on antique weapons. It's rubbed on and then buffed until it's clear, basically creating a hardened waxy layer that 'seals' in the steel in suspended animation to halt any further oxidation. You have to be careful when applying it though, because you might seal in debris or dust right up against the blade that would then corrode underneath unimpeded. Its silica content also makes it difficult to remove entirely if the blade ever needs to be refinished or re-polished or sharpened and you'd never be able to remove enough to make the blade foodsafe if you want to use it to cut a cake at a wedding or chop up a melon.

Since I cut with my swords and refinish, polish, and sharpen them actively, ren wax isn't something I bother with when oil's easily removed and reapplied, but for long-term preservation for swords that aren't used often I've heard the wax is very good. It's more expensive than a good oil and a bit more specific in its application.
 
Good advice!

Break free also works great on ASP Batons.

I would never EVER store any sword in a leather scabbard though
 
how come you've been registered here for over a year, yet this is only your first post?

well i remember joining a year ago so i can message the guy that was making the lord helmet costume parts. i wanted to buy some. but i didn't keep coming back, because i don't really collect prop replicas. the dread pirate roberts sword was my first one. but yesterday i just got another one the neca gremlin puppet.




I've owned that Dread Pirate Roberts sword, kept it in its scabbard, and never encountered this issue before I sold it--- but it looks like simple oxidation which I've dealt with before. It can happen if any moisture gets trapped in the leather and the sword is stored in such scabbard and not regularly maintained. Did you never oil your sword?

thanks lunaman and everyone else for all the advice. very helpful. well its not that i didnt oil the sword. it actually hapenned about 3 days after i received it. i left it in the scabbard for a whole day, and that happened. so im guessing it had been in a sealed box without being oiled. but i have been oiling it now and i got another question for you lunaman. since you said you've owned it. i've been oiling the handle also. do you think that's necessary?
Thanks again
 
thanks lunaman and everyone else for all the advice. very helpful.
You're welcome.
well its not that i didnt oil the sword. it actually hapenned about 3 days after i received it. i left it in the scabbard for a whole day, and that happened. so im guessing it had been in a sealed box without being oiled.
Did the stains come off with a simple cleaning? If so, I'm glad.
Had anyone handled the blade with bare hands before you put it into the scabbard? Finger residue can easily stain a blade within a day. Or had you not opened the box until 3 days after you recieved it?
It's unlikely that simple air or scabbard moisture would do that in one day if the sword was clean and free of residue, even if you live in a humid environment. As apollo mentioned, if conditions in an area are conducive to oxidation (high humidity, high heat) it's good to avoid storing a blade in a leather scabbard entirely.

Normally Windlass scabbards only leave some leather dust on the blade for the first few days, not dye staining or anything like that.

but i have been oiling it now and i got another question for you lunaman. since you said you've owned it. i've been oiling the handle also. do you think that's necessary?
Thanks again
It can't exactly hurt to oil the grip, but it's not really necessary. There's just a simple chrome-tanned leather wrapped on the Roberts grip, it doesn't need any particular care. Anything steel on the sword should be oiled, though the hilt on the Roberts sword has some kind of plating on it. Better to keep it clean and protected than not.
 
You're welcome.

Did the stains come off with a simple cleaning? If so, I'm glad.
Had anyone handled the blade with bare hands before you put it into the scabbard? Finger residue can easily stain a blade within a day. Or had you not opened the box until 3 days after you recieved it?
It's unlikely that simple air or scabbard moisture would do that in one day if the sword was clean and free of residue, even if you live in a humid environment. As apollo mentioned, if conditions in an area are conducive to oxidation (high humidity, high heat) it's good to avoid storing a blade in a leather scabbard entirely.

Normally Windlass scabbards only leave some leather dust on the blade for the first few days, not dye staining or anything like that.


It can't exactly hurt to oil the grip, but it's not really necessary. There's just a simple chrome-tanned leather wrapped on the Roberts grip, it doesn't need any particular care. Anything steel on the sword should be oiled, though the hilt on the Roberts sword has some kind of plating on it. Better to keep it clean and protected than not.

the stains aren't off yet. because i haven't been able to do a cleaning yet with the stuff you recomended. or if you mean if it got clean with the regular oil i use so it wont rust. no. it never does anything to those stains..... thats what i meant. the hilt. not the lether handle. sorry. im no sword expert, and didn't know what it was called lol. so it is good to oil it then. thanks :)..... and the incident of the stains actually happened a few month's ago already. during the summer. and i don't remember how many people were touching it. a few people were impressed and holding it, but i don't think anyone was touching the blade part. just grabbing it from the handle.
here's one person that was impressed and looking at it
101_0537.jpg

and im posting this pic so you can see what the stains actually look like. you can see it better here with a flash.
101_0561.jpg
 
the stains aren't off yet. because i haven't been able to do a cleaning yet with the stuff you recomended. or if you mean if it got clean with the regular oil i use so it wont rust. no. it never does anything to those stains..... thats what i meant. the hilt. not the lether handle. sorry. im no sword expert, and didn't know what it was called lol. so it is good to oil it then. thanks :)..... and the incident of the stains actually happened a few month's ago already. during the summer. and i don't remember how many people were touching it. a few people were impressed and holding it, but i don't think anyone was touching the blade part. just grabbing it from the handle.
here's one person that was impressed and looking at it

and im posting this pic so you can see what the stains actually look like. you can see it better here with a flash.

Sorry I missed this. It's all good--- and major envy for getting to meet Carey. :sick I was supposed to get a chance to meet him earlier this year at the 25th anniversary screening of the Princess Bride in Hollywood, but his manager scheduled his flight out to New York an extra day early and he had to cancel. :cry I dressed up and everything.

That's definitely simple oxidation, just apply some metal polish and elbow grease and it'll lift off. :) You've got a hell of a treasure there with those signatures; it'll be good to get it looking nice an sleek again. Just keep prying fingers away and keep it protected.
 
Sorry I missed this. It's all good--- and major envy for getting to meet Carey. :sick I was supposed to get a chance to meet him earlier this year at the 25th anniversary screening of the Princess Bride in Hollywood, but his manager scheduled his flight out to New York an extra day early and he had to cancel. :cry I dressed up and everything
sorry to hear that man. that sucks. i hope you get anther chance to meet him one day. he was a very nice guy, but his manager was kind of a jerk. very rude. and he did something awesome that i didn't even ask or think of next to his signature in the scabbard. he wrote "wesley" which makes it more awesome.....another cool thing was that he said i was the first person to ever take him a sword. he was very impressed by it, and even asked my advice about where to get one.

That's definitely simple oxidation, just apply some metal polish and elbow grease and it'll lift off. :) You've got a hell of a treasure there with those signatures; it'll be good to get it looking nice an sleek again. Just keep prying fingers away and keep it protected
Thanks man. you've been some great help :)
 
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