Antique aluminum Luftwaffe sword restoration

A. Are you sure it's aluminum? It's hard for me to tell from the picture on my (dying) laptop screen, but that looks like red rust, something aluminum doesn't do. It could be a cheap stainless or perhaps a polished steel sword. I've never heard of an aluminum sword (steel would be much harder and better, I imagine), but then again, I'm not a sword expert.

If it is steel, a careful application of 00 steel wool [on eBay or Amazon] on the rust spots might do the trick w/o damaging unrusted spots too much. Otherwise, you might have to take it to a metal finishing shop that can polish steel.

I'd also suggest a google search for sword dealers, restorers, etc. You might also want to google some newsgroups. I'm sure there's at least one usenet group dedicated to swords that has people who've done this before. an antique store or dealer might also be able to point you in the right direction.

A. Mr Dossey,

I don't know if you are a collector or not. I do collect relics from WW II and the sword you are showing does have aluminum fittings but the blade is made of polished steel. Be very careful what you do to this piece. To a collector the value of a piece is often in the original finish whether rusted or mint. To have it repolished my partially remove or damage important maker's marks that would seriously reduce the value of the sword. Granted a mint blade is always more valuable than a rusted blade but a damaged or altered blade from an attempt at refinishing is of little value. Many very nice pieces have been ruined by improper dis assembly and bad attempts at repolishing blades. What ever you do be careful and if restoration is attempted make sure that the person doing it is familiar with these pieces and can do it in such a way as to not destroy its value. If you find someone like that let me know because, outside of Solingen, Germany, I don't know of any.

A. I can help you with advice on the restoration of this sword, I have done many myself. But we will need a few better pictures though.

A. Dear Friend

Incidentally I found your site and request.

1/ The idea of removing superficial rust with extra fine #0000 steel wool [on eBay or Amazon] + balistol oil is firstly recommended.

2/ Then use polishing hard wooden stick perfectly flat in chisel format + diamond compound . 15 or 8 micron, depending on depth of pitting.. without going too deep' or you will ruin flatness. You must avoid rounding off the edges of the blade.

For wooden lap sticks and compound contact ENGIS in the US.

Best regards Dennis

A. Mr. Dossey,
This looks like a polished steel blade. My advice is to leave it as is. Maybe a thin coat of oil on the blade. I would leave the leather handle alone. Aluminum will not rust. I have seen only one aluminum Luftwaffe sword. They are out there, but not like the steel ones. The aluminum sword I seen is extremely light with the scabbard. This will be another tell tale sign.

A. I have restored many 3rd Reich blades. In fact I just bought a sword like yours. Aluminum was paid extra for as a new material in 1936 and original Luftwaffe swords are even more rare that a nickel silver one. I'd be interested in better pictures of your sword. Let us know what you decided to do.