Thread: Irish point restoration project. Ideas welcomed.

This is my personal best find,, I hope. Still enroute but its what I was looking for.
An 1840s era Bell Irish point from Belfast.
Im worried about that rust along the edge, but will see if its more surface than cancerous..
Regardless, I'm going to have some fun designing some Irish scales for her and seeing how she cleans up.
Any tips on what you'd do if you were me, always a good read from the wise metal smiths on here..
thanks gents.
In hind site, should have put this post in the workshop, my bad.

I think green scales would be a bit too obvious...

Get some nice hardwood on it.

Overall it looks to be in good shape, and will probably look great after a bit of sanding and polishing. Hopefully that bit of rust will scrub right off without leaving any unsightly pitting behind. I love the Irish point and to my eyes the shape of the scales is more important than the material. Remember to post some after photos!

Black horn.

I'm glad that you've found your companion!

From what I can see the rust on the edge is reddish so it shouldn't give you too much of a problem. Even if there is some pitting, so be it! The black on the tang will leave some tell tale Battle Scars! But what good is a War Horse with those??

For Scales, I'm thinking off white with Clover Green liners and a brass wedge. Or perhaps the off white and make some green shamrocks and embed them in the scales! If Masecraft has some green with other colors mixed in some of their scale material that would also be an option!

What ever you do I'm sure that King Brian will be pleased!

When I think of Ireland I think of sweaters. Sweaters remind me of sheep. Rams horn scales. That would be awesome.

Clear acrylic with a four leaf clover inside it.
Adam

Nice find! I really like cudarunner's idea with the green liners, puts a little green but not over bearing, and I REALLY like the brass wedge idea. Actually I may have to do a brass wedge on my next one, consider that idea stolen.

I also agree with ne0nblakk, the shape is really going to set it off, I personally see some nice sharp crisp corners, I think it would compliment the blade profiling very well.

I would really love to get my hands on an old Irish blade, I have a family member born there that has been interested in getting into straight shaving... that would be an awesome gift...jealous...

Great suggestions all.
I too want some subtle green tones to her finish.
I have a very old blackthorn sheleighly (pre 1900) that I am considering converting to scale stock, or at least trying my hand at. No idea if it will work yet, but I have a few feet of material to learn on.
A brass wedge, possibly brass end caps, (not sure what those are actually called) as you see on dbl ducks or the like could be very nice, but never made those before. Would be a great place to incorporate either the clover or the Claddagh.

I was even thinking of trying to shave down a couple of pieces of Blarney stone I have to use as accents. Either set into the scales, or as layers within.
Can't wait to get her home. Will be a fun resto regardless.
Thanks for the ideas thus far. Going to google some Cdn ram horn stock now as I really like that idea too. If only I could find some petrified bog Oak or solid peat from the emerald isle. Potato Skin scales maybe?? hehe
Cheers..

Green wedge on white scales. Blade polished nice. I like that point. Could make scales compliment the iris point and a nice sweeping style. I'm no pro but that's what my eye sees.