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Posted By: OldmanoftheSea White metal - 03/27/21
So I have been repairing a few knives.
The current one is a flower that has sectioned scales.
Between the sections are bright bands (approx 1.5mm thick)
The material seems to be some sort of "white metal"
It seems to match the scale pins, but two borders are missing.
Any recommendations as to material and source?

It is not lead, I used a piece of that to get the shape right for another repair. But this white metal retains its luster.

Thx..
Posted By: BillyGoatGruff Re: White metal - 03/28/21
Solder maybe?

Or nickel silver?
Posted By: elkchsr Re: White metal - 03/29/21
Pics of the knife. I think BillyGoat is right on.


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Posted By: OldmanoftheSea Re: White metal - 03/30/21
Originally Posted by BillyGoatGruff
Solder maybe?

Or nickel silver?

Too light for silver (seems that way) one of the remaining pieces is loose..

Solder is tin based these days right?
But it is too rigid to be solder

The edge of a nickel is about the right thickness, but has a slightly more yellow luster

It will leave a faint silver streak on a penny which you can rub off with your thumb.
(Also a grey line on paper)
By contrast, a paper clip will scratch a penny..
I tried a sterling boson's whistle and that also will not leave a streak on a penny,
So it must be a soft metal/alloy...

What about alkame'?
That falls between pewter and sterling silver on a hardness graphic..
Aluminum is one step harder than sterling silver.
Posted By: BillyGoatGruff Re: White metal - 03/30/21
If I had to guess I'd say nickel silver after seeing the pics.

It's an alloy used in a lot of pins and guards, not sure how much silver is actually in the alloy. It's lighter than solder.
Posted By: OldmanoftheSea Re: White metal - 03/30/21
Originally Posted by BillyGoatGruff
If I had to guess I'd say nickel silver after seeing the pics.

It's an alloy used in a lot of pins and guards, not sure how much silver is actually in the alloy. It's lighter than solder.


Thing is nickel silver hardness falls between copper and steel (4-5 steps above sterling silver), so I imagine it wouldn't leave a streak on copper.(steel doesn't)
It also tarnishes so it probably wouldn't stay bright
Posted By: huntsman22 Re: White metal - 03/30/21
maybe pewter?
Posted By: OldmanoftheSea Re: White metal - 03/30/21
Originally Posted by huntsman22
maybe pewter?

Does pewter hold a polish?
All the pieces I have seen have been a dull lead Gray

This is one of the sources I am using to try and figure out what it is:
https://www.impressart.com/media/wysiwyg/resources/stamping-blank-hardness-chart.png

It looks like silver may leave a streak on paper
But known sterling feels cooler to the touch than the mystery metal.

An aluminum can tab doesn't seem to leave a mark on copper or paper

I would think it was plastic, but it clicks like metal when dropped on a countertop.
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