The sword had become disfigured due to numerous historic wax treatments caked with powdery corrosion (sitting high in the pitted blade). These opaque deposits of wax were removed in combination with any loose or active corrosion found on the blade. Once clean the blade was lacquered with Paraloid B72 and an addition of a fumed silica matting agent, to limit the tacky appearance of the protective coating. The penetration of the lacquer ensured there was no unsightly refraction in the pitted areas