----- Original Message -----
From: "Haukur Thorgeirsson" <haukurth@...>

> Haraldr konungr kvað:
>
> Fram göngum vér
> í fylkingu
> brynjulausir
> und blár eggjar.
> Hjálmar skína
> hef-k-at mína
> nú liggr skrúð várt
> at skipum niðri.
>
> Forward we walk
> in formation
> without byrnies
> under "blue" edges.
> Helmets shine
> I haven't got mine (byrnie)
> now our equipment lies
> down by the ships.

> So what colours does a blade reflect? :-)

That's easy. Ask any blacksmith, he'll not only tell you, but in less than
30 seconds at a forge, he'll show you.

Blued steel is the easiest thing to do in the world. It's just iron
overheated and tempered. Of course, the effect only goes into the crystaline
structure a few thousands of an inch, so it's easily corroded or worn off
over a few years, let alone centuries.

-Laz