Would it be exceptable to have a WKC 2nd Luft with a gold swaz on a generic pommel?

Whilst the best option is to have text book fittings, as I mentioned on another thread, 2nd pattern Lufts are the most prolific of all TR daggers to sport a variety of fittings to their blades. If the condition of the pommel with respect to wear, patina and finish is consistent with the rest of the dagger then I would say no problem.

I agree. Lufts are often "mix and match" examples. Beware of swastikas that are painted gold or have gold applied with hobby store concoctions. Sometimes, traces of gold can be seen on the inside of the pommel, but some real ones have no gold on the inside.

The WKC 2nds I have seen with gold on the pommel often the gold has a black appearance.

Like This

Or this, well what is left anyway. In hand the gilding was black but with the flash of the camera you can see a little gold color.

The best way to tell what a plating layer actually is (at least IMO) is with sunlight. With an actual layer of gold never being used directly, but over a thin base layer of copper or a based copper alloy. With that sometimes having a black or blackish (and sometimes hints of dark green) appearance. That said, zinc is fairly easy to plate. Whereas aluminum is noticeably harder, requiring that the metal be zincated first. FP

"Grumpy"...please forgive me if this is a silly question...but why would there be "traces of gold" on the inside of the pommel? I've seen pictures of this on this site but don't understand, if it was applied to the swaz on the outside. Please educate me on this...thanks, Mike.

quote:

Originally posted by lakedog:
"Grumpy"...please forgive me if this is a silly question...but why would there be "traces of gold" on the inside of the pommel? I've seen pictures of this on this site but don't understand, if it was applied to the swaz on the outside. Please educate me on this...thanks, Mike.

During the gilding process the parts of the pommel that are not required to be gilded are 'masked' off just leaving the Swaz exposed, many times the the pommel rebate would be left exposed as well, hence you cqan often see traces of the original gilt.