[Regia-NA] Testing a Theory about whetstones!

[Peter James]

Greetings again.

I'm glad the idea has proved to have some merit. My conclusion was based
on discussion and theorisation only.

It was proposed to explain the number of Viking age whetstones that have
been found with
a) No sign of use
b) Carefully made silver fitments.

(The prime example of this being the one from Sutton Hoo (pre-Viking of
course, but still a bloody great piece of schist with no visible
shapening marks and very fancy ends)  :)

It seemed a lot of trouble to go to for an item kept in a box and only
used to sharpen a knife. Of course many would heve been used for this
primary purpose, but I am now secure that when I wear my silver-topped
one looped over my belt, the theory has some basis in science.

Guthrothr

Sudden Service #5 wrote:
> 
> Hej!
>     Well I have to eat my words.  The whetstone test for impure silver
> worked far better than I expected it to.  I first took a piece of fine
> silver (.9999) & made an initial rub test spot it looked kind of dark, not
> shinny at all.  Next to the fine silver I rubbed a piece of Sterling (.925)
> & the mark was noticeably a little darker.  I then debased a small piece of
> fine silver with about an equal weight of brass wire (I don't know the exact
> composition of the wire I used) by melting them together, I pickled &
> polished the resulting silver compound (.5~).  It was about the same color
> as the Sterling when viewed as a piece of silver, but notably less malleable
> than the fine silver.  When I rubbed it on the other side of my test mark it
> came out much darker than either the fine silver or the Sterling.  While I
> am not ready to concede that this was the only purpose of the whetstones, I
> will believe it is one possible use for a commonly carried item.  Ain't
> experimental archaeology great!
> Pax,
> Olaf