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Hey guys, i was about to show my bro the pics of my latest sword via facebook, he complained that i should make a Tl blog instead. clearly a good idea, so here we go!
This tale, like many tales, starts a long time ago, in a workshop not-so-far away....
After a few hours of cutting and grinding a piece of soft steel, i had this. the edge was grinded amaturely and a large portion(about 14 inches) didn't have an edge at all. the cross-guard wasn't welded on, and it sat like this for quite some time.....
+ Show Spoiler +
anyways it was my first attempt at a real sword, and i wanted to finish it once my skills had improved a bit... there were other swords of course, in the mean-time...+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196587_10150200795271151_525256150_8795902_6367452_n.jpg) i call this one the chopper
anyways, as id said it just sat in my house rusting for quite some time, until a few days ago i was feeling industrious. here's the (more)finished product.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/419650_10150716600556151_525256150_11698205_1295596017_n.jpg) swords are srs bsns... ![[image loading]](http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/425790_10150716599051151_525256150_11698203_1313502246_n.jpg) ...mostly.... ![[image loading]](http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/428231_10150716603006151_525256150_11698212_756019973_n.jpg) bragging about the scabbard!(sorry about the low resolution) ![[image loading]](http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/430581_10150716603426151_525256150_11698214_920667949_n.jpg) talking about the blade. ![[image loading]](http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/429365_10150716603846151_525256150_11698218_413066002_n.jpg) you can take it anywhere :D!
Specs.
The blade is about 3 feet long and the sword weighs about 8 pounds total, making it light and easy to wield and carry. the pommel is a big steel sphere (actually a ball hitch  ) and balances it out ( along with two 6 inch rectangular pieces welded into the handle.) its almost unnoticeably blade heavy, this is a preference thing, as i prefer slashing to stabbing. you may also notice that the crossguard isnt the same length, one side is slightly longer and is grinded down to even out the weight distribution and has a circular hole about a centimeter in diameter used to secure the sword into the scabbard.speaking of the scabbard, its two pieces of 1 by 6 pine, with a groove chiseled out of the inside of each piece and secured together with 12 wood screws. i used a plane to get the general shape and then sanded for a long time with two different grades of sandpaper.the handle is temporary, its simply red electrical tape over grinded down/welded steel, but electrical tape provides pretty good comfort and grip, so i'm happy with it for the time being. not sure what else to say about it. let me know what you think and ill try to answer any questions as best as i can.
 
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wow, you weren't kidding. so much finer than before. Awesome work.
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On March 14 2012 11:57 caradoc wrote:
wow, you weren't kidding. so much finer than before. Awesome work.
thanks. i havnt chopped anything up with it yet aside from a box. but chopping up the box was pretty awesome.
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Pick up some watermelons and slice n' dice them.
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This is pretty fucking cool. How did you get into making swords?
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Cool, feedback.
@Dubzex : yeah now that that idea has been planted in my brain i pretty much have to ...echem...execute it....
@RoTaNiMoD : thanks! and its something ive just kinda always done. started out with wooden spears and bows, moved on to hammering aluminum/iron piping until it became serrated, i did javelins for a while, and ive made a couple potato cannons. the pieces im making now are cut/welded/grinded steel, and require the most work.
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Hahaha, I like how you took the beanie off halfway through the photo-shoot.
On another note, awesome job!
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Wow. Just wow. Looks like a dangerous hobby. But pretty cool.
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well, i think Im glad its not a real sword. it'd be far more dangerous. grinding metal is a lot different than forging it.
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On March 14 2012 15:58 Spieltor wrote:
well, i think Im glad its not a real sword. it'd be far more dangerous. grinding metal is a lot different than forging it.
while i agree that my method of production is a far cry from the 'standard' means of producing a sword, ie, the smelting and forging process, id argue that the thing i've created is still a sword. it looks like a sword. it feels like a sword. it weighs about as much as a sword and is balanced like a sword. its a weapon made of the same materials as a sword for the same purpose (arguably) as a sword.
think of it this way. you can create a baby human the traditional (and awesome :3) way, or you can clone a human(equally awesome :O?) and end up with the same product in the end. id argue that my means of production is more efficient and modern (not to mention expedient)than forging, though i don't deny the traditional method ultimately produces a superior weapon in the end, provided you have the necessary skill. (id actually prefer to be forging swords, but i actually don't have a forge, and as of yet i have been unable to find a way to replicate the kind of heat a forge provides.)
also, neither method is all that dangerous as long as you take the necessary precautions and don't rush.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/205809_10150200800196151_525256150_8795934_113572_n.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200555_10150200800006151_525256150_8795933_2085703_n.jpg)
