Recommendation? Odd marks on blade

[RobbTheMagg]

Hello, I recently bought a new folded steel sword, and when it arrived it had some kind of stain at the end of the groove and marks on the edge of one side. I am fairly new when it comes to buying and maintaining swords. When I scrubbed it down with soap and water a few times, nothing happened. Does anybody know what these are and what I can do without fading the pattern?

https://imgur.com/a/lmWw4sq
https://imgur.com/a/W2vrwio
https://imgur.com/a/i5gygCp
https://imgur.com/a/Y3M7qfi

 

[bucketstove]

Hello, I recently bought a new folded steel sword, and when it arrived it had some kind of stain at the end of the groove and marks on the edge of one side. I am fairly new when it comes to buying and maintaining swords. When I scrubbed it down with soap and water a few times, nothing happened. Does anybody know what these are and what I can do without fading the pattern?

Hi,
That just the steel pattern that you got?

 

[RobbTheMagg]

Damascus folded steel

 

[bucketstove]

Damascus folded steel

Hi,
What i'm trying to say, what you're seeing, is just how the steel got folded and pattern welded together -- you're seeing the actual pattern, not a "stain".

 

[RobbTheMagg]

Thanks haha, but i understand the folds are the pattern. I'm referring to the marks on the blade that are annoying to the eyes, it might be hard to see from the pictures. The first two pictures have the blot stain right at the bottom of the groove, little darker than the pattern, hard to see. The last two you could see the pattern stop at the bottom edge of the blade. Sorry

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I think I might see what you're referring to. Correct me if I'm not seeing it; but, the spot in the bottom of the fuller (1st, 2nd pics) looks to me like an elongated wet/oily spot overlaying both dark & bright areas of the pattern itself, slightly darker overall. Reminds me of what an oily stain might look like on a bead-blasted finish; makes it a somewhat darker shade of grey. Might try wiping with some acetone (try this first) or mineral spirits, and see if it lightens up. If it's some kind of oil stain, either should help pick it up. Neither should affect the damascus pattern itself. Avoid abrasive polishes (Flitz, Simichrome, etc), which will lighten/brighten the finish of the pattern, or anything acidic or caustic, which will further oxidize (darken) it.

 

[RobbTheMagg]

Ohh, yeah, I figured it was the crappy oil residue from the factory or something. They must've added too much to the blade before shipping. Thank you so much though, use acetone/mineral spirits, not abrasives like barkeepers friend/flitz/metal goo. I will try it out and see what happens, thanks again! I'm pretty new with knives and sword maintenance, so i appreciate it.