There are two basic ways the original bail hardware were made. Some were hand forged and some were cast in sand. Some of the real cheap ones were machined out of wire. Of the hand forged type the texture is the result of the hammer blows. The sand cast process leaves it's own sand paper like texture if left unmachined. Then there is machine hammering processes ranging from light to heavy torture. these textures combined with certain patinas and then high lighted ( some of the patina machined off ) show the handle has had a long and well worn life. On the other end of the texture spectrum there is high micro burnishing for a smooth shinny finish . All my products are cast in very fine to retain the exact look and feel of the original antique handle. With all the tell tail seams removed a piece cast in sand from a hand forged piece now looks exactly like it was hand forged many years ago. Another interesting texture only on certain pieces that were heavily rusted and uniformly pitted produces a beautiful handle with the patina laying in the recesses of the pits with the high parts worn to the metal. Then there is speckled bronze a foundry phenomenon only occurs on certain handles under certain conditions where there are many evenly spaced raised aeries when patinated and high lighted looks unbelievable. There is also hand hammering textures flat, ball peen and cross peen not generally recommended for the tansu bails unless someone is bent on a certain look . Certainly not on the hand forged type they ,they already look hammered. Maybe on the ones that were originally cast that show no hammering.

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