[Regia-NA] Re-post - 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
> 
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