[TheForge] weapons found with the terracotta army

[blakkpawss at yahoo.com]

Here's some thoughts I had.  1) you describe the chromium layer as though it was a coating.  Like a plate job.  Is it possible that something like a plate job was used to coat them?  

2) this was an honor guard for an emperor if I'm not mistaken, right?  If so, they would have been outfitted with the best or most beautiful weapons available.  No cost would have been spared. If a sword smith had said we can make them really shiny and pretty by coating them with (X), then (X) would have been gathered from all over the Chinese empire to fill that goal.  So, it might have been for looks more than durability.  

3) if it was for durability then they were smart smiths.  This could be possible.  They might have known how to do it, but reserved it for royalty, due to the time, labor, and cost.  After all, as I understand it, most people view Japanese swords as the high mark for the craft, most archeologists and historians think that most of that knowledge was stolen/borrowed from the Chinese.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone powered by Alltel

-----Original Message-----
From: "terry l. ridder" <terrylr at blauedonau.com>
Sender: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2012 22:25:10 
To: theforge e-mail list<theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Reply-To: "terry l. ridder" <terrylr at blauedonau.com>,
	Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [TheForge] weapons found with the terracotta army

hello;

i have been reading about the terracotta army in china and the
excavation work that has and is still going on. in reading about the
weapons found with the terracotta army many questions come to mind. many
of the swords found are still 2,000 yrs later still sharp and corrosion
free. they have a 10 to 12 micrometer layer of chromium oxide on the
blades. i find it hard to believe that the swordsmiths in china 2,000
yrs ago had any knowledge of chromium or chromium oxide. was it just
chance that the metals they were using to fashion the swords was
contaminated with just the right amount of chromium to provide corrosion
resistance that has lasted 2,000 yrs?



-- 
terry l. ridder ><>
______________________________________________________________
TheForge mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net

TheForge mail list group photo site is
http://www.photoworks.com
Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
Password: anvil

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html