Nickel silver is a copper alloy and in some ways isn't that far from brass, my guess is one of two things happened, 1st the heat caused the guard to oxide and yellow as is was just polished and clean it did so very evenly. 2 the heat caused some element of the alloy to separate and diffuse out to the surface changing the surface color.

I would guess the first as it sounds like the effect only happened on the surface exposed to air.

MP

Philip,

Any significant heat applied to nickel silver will cause a tiny amount of the copper to come out of solution with the other alloys and create copper oxide on the surface. The oxides can be removed by light sanding/polishing, or by placing the item in a pickling solution. I understand that the pickling process does not go well with the press fit assembly that you are working towards. About your only option with hot fitting is to re-polish the guard after it is in place. Or, go with a cold press fit.

thanks for your help, i went out to the buffer and it buffed back to silver color

Phillip, I find with nickel silver that it works well for a cold press fit. It is softer than the steel and can be driven to fit pretty easily. However you will probably have to re-polish again as it can deform slightly. Have you noticed that it almost seems as if nickel silver can scratch if you just look at it the wrong way?

Brion

Yes both nickle silver and brass scratch very easy even one time in and out of a sheath. I might try SS guards in the future. Thanks for paying attention to the forum it is most helpful for a beginner like me.

Philip,

Mastersmith Bruce Bump turned me on to 416 stainless steel a couple of months ago. It's forgable & machinable. Polished up real nice too. I now use it for guards and pins.

You are welcome Phillip. I also have to second 416 stainless. Machines well and forges well. I believe Aldo Bruno of

NewJersey Steel Baron has it in stock. I use 416 on probably 90% of my knives.

Brion