Degree of gloss on metal

[scythius]

I'm thinking of taking some wood ashes, putting them in a wool bag, and trying to polish up some brass and steel, first wetting the bag.

I'll let you know how it works.

Be careful - remember how lye is made...

[PhilusEstilius]

I was in Rome in 2004 watching a grand display of groups there was a group there that was Europian wearing Lorica and Coolus that were realy dull, and to me this group looked the most authentic as far as soldiers would have looked on the march not all polish and shine.

[M. Demetrius]

Be careful - remember how lye is made...

That's a good caution, Adam. Lye can do some pretty serious things to a body.
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Lye
I think a dampened cloth bag won't be a serious threat, as it will dry out pretty quickly. I'll get a tarnished piece of brass and see what I can come up with as far as a test plate, and put up the results, if the photos will show anything.

[Matthew Amt]

Mirrors were made of polished bronze all the time. Heck, I've made one myself! What is so difficult? Once you have that mirror polish, it only takes some rubbing to keep it that way. There is a Greek reference to rubbing armor with oil to polish it, though I don't have the citation at my fingertips. Now, using ashes or dust on a regular basis might give you a finish just below an actual mirror shine, but it's still too easy.

For those who haven't heard this several times already: My Revolutionary War was forming up for a parade, and my corporal pointed out that my cartridge box plate was tarnished. Completely greenish brown. I pulled a rag out of my haversack, dampened it with my canteen, patted it in the dust of the street gutter, and rubbed. In literally 2 minutes, my brass plate was shining like a bar of gold.

ARMOR EXISTS TO MAKE THE SOLDIER LOOK GOOD. Its whole purpose was to shine, and to be cleaned. Oh, and to be heavy on the march! Any protection it might afford was purely a side effect.

Shine your brass. Satin finish is fine for steel, but shine your brass.

Matthew

[Proximus]

About Vegetius,
I read from him (translation in French, so sorry I do not have the text) in his book about "ancient Rome", where he describe the roman armies at the "good old times", the shining of the armor, weapon and helmet is verry important.
According to his words (aproximatly, from memory and with my bad Englich), "an army shining in the sun is imposing and wonderfull and it must be that way. A soldier with a bad-maintained sword show he is not dissiplined to the ennemy. No one is impressed with a rusted sword".
It is roman and late roman (Vegetius did what he could in his book and had some sources but some holes in thoses too and Ideals to express) but I thought it could be interesting.
We have that kind of discuss in the medieval reconstitutions too, and the concensus seems that mirror shine is quite possible and some sources have shown methods and meens. (especially XV century)
The reasons and motivations is all but the same : the army must show order, discipline and shine.
Even now, in our modern armies, that thing remain. Boots must be perfecto, weapons must be clean and well maintained...
And if, as Matthew says, there is evidence for Ancient Greece, I think the question is ansered !

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Good point about the ol' mirror Matt!

[Tim Edwards]

Some iron Weisenau (/Imperial-gallic) type helmets have been shown to have had a thin silver foil applied over the bowl, which was clamped in place by the cupric edging.

An excellent example was found in the River Kupa near Sisak:

http://www.frisius-f.de/images/Centurionenhelm2.jpg

This had fragmentary silver foil still adhering, which was itself decorated by intricate punchwork.

I rather suspect this was the case with a high proportion of such helmets.

Therefore such helmets may have looked very shiny indeed!!

There is also a possibilty that helmets may have had fitted leather covers. A probable example was excavated complete with iron helmet at Vindonissa.

A greased and fitted helmet cover would therefore protect the helmet from much environmental wear and tear.

[jkaler48]

Some iron Weisenau (/Imperial-gallic) type helmets have been shown to have had a thin silver foil applied over the bowl, which was clamped in place by the cupric edging.

An excellent example was found in the River Kupa near Sisak:

http://www.frisius-f.de/images/Centurionenhelm2.jpg

This had fragmentary silver foil still adhering, which was itself decorated by intricate punchwork.

I rather suspect this was the case with a high proportion of such helmets.

Therefore such helmets may have looked very shiny indeed!!

There is also a possibilty that helmets may have had fitted leather covers. A probable example was excavated complete with iron helmet at Vindonissa.

A greased and fitted helmet cover would therefore protect the helmet from much environmental wear and tear.

So has anyone done a silver foil or leather cover reconstruction?

[jvrjenivs]

So has anyone done a silver foil or leather cover reconstruction?

Unfortunately no silver foil cover, as that would become to expensive (and the smith in question didn't want to try it, too, but my new helmet will be silver covered.

Most of the cavalry helmets from Nijmegen also show this apply of a silver foil the helmet and/or mask. Also not that on some occasions these seems to be glued together instead of riveted.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Which helmet and who is the armourer Jurjenivs?

[Tarbicus]

Who cares.

You can get silver sheet fairly cheap. Shop around.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I asked so obviously....

[Tiberius]

This is my tinned Gallic A for Augustan/Tiberian impression. It is not very shiny.

This is my Gallic H. I will use it for my Claudian/Nero impression. It is very shiny.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Is that not an H?

[Tim Edwards]

Here's my submission for attendence at the inaugral meeting of the Shiny Helmet Club!!*

*Please excuse the inaccurate Arch in the background, I know it's late Roman!!