Making a Sword - Leather Edge?

Magnus Ulfgarsson · Post by **Magnus Ulfgarsson** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:19 pm

I couldn't see anywhere that specifically said a leather strip could or could not be used on a stick of rattan to beef it up a bit.

Note: This is not to bring the rattan up to the required diameter, this is in ADDITION to the required diameter.

I want to start at the basket hilt on one edge, go up and over the top and down the other edge.

Anything wrong with this?

Oswyn_de_Wulferton · Post by **Oswyn_de_Wulferton** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:28 pm

Except wasting perfectly good leather? Nothing, as long as the leather does not "affect the rigidity of the rattan". Realistically, I doubt you will find much of a difference in practical usage, except adding weight. Someone posted a while back about leather "sleeves" for swords.

spearweasel · Post by **spearweasel** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:02 pm

My primary weapon is a "yari", a Japanese spear. These could be used as a slashing weapon in some cases, so I model it with a 7' glaive. Rather than pad it out with foam, I used a strip of saddle leather on each striking edge to build out the cross-section just a little, as well as to reinforce the shield-hooky bits just a little. This makes it look more like the original weapon than a simple unpadded glaive would, without significantly adding weight to it.

Kilkenny · Post by **Kilkenny** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:35 pm

The only way you would run into a problem with putting leather down the edge is if you used a narrow strip of sole leather, something that would reduce the striking area of the edge significantly and not readily collapse.

It's why we're also not supposed to run rope along the edges.

But a layer of leather just to add a bit more mass to the stick and provide a little more protection to the rattan than the tape does is not a problem.

Magnus Ulfgarsson · Post by **Magnus Ulfgarsson** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:26 pm

Great, thanks everyone.

brother_fredrik · Post by **brother_fredrik** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:49 am

Kilkenny wrote:The only way you would run into a problem with putting leather down the edge is if you used a narrow strip of sole leather, something that would reduce the striking area of the edge significantly and not readily collapse.

It's why we're also not supposed to run rope along the edges.

But a layer of leather just to add a bit more mass to the stick and provide a little more protection to the rattan than the tape does is not a problem.

One comment. Tape is cheap, leather is far from it... Seems like a poor use of resources to me, but what ever floats your boat.

Agnarr · Post by **Agnarr** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:19 am

brother_fredrik wrote:
Kilkenny wrote:The only way you would run into a problem with putting leather down the edge is if you used a narrow strip of sole leather, something that would reduce the striking area of the edge significantly and not readily collapse.

It's why we're also not supposed to run rope along the edges.

But a layer of leather just to add a bit more mass to the stick and provide a little more protection to the rattan than the tape does is not a problem.

One comment. Tape is cheap, leather is far from it... Seems like a poor use of resources to me, but what ever floats your boat.

I have probably 70#s or so of scrap leather i refuse to toss because it would be usueful for some tiny project.
Im sure killkenny and magnus are the same way. :lol:

Saint-Sever · Post by **Saint-Sever** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:43 am

I've seen folks go to the surplus store and buy 1.5" wide cotton webbing for the same purpose. You used to able to buy it off a spool for a lot less than leather would cost, it was lighter, and it did the same job as leather in squeezing an extra couple of weeks of fighting out of a rattan stave before you absolutely had to replace the stick.

Michael

Konstantin the Red · Post by **Konstantin the Red** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:15 pm

It's not even much of a "waste of good leather;" second-quality stuff does the job and it lasts through multiple swords, much better than the rattan staves behind it do. Putting it on the primary edge suffices, and you can leave it off the forte of the rattan blade even, if you have to bring the balance a bit forward towards the point.

Agnarr · Post by **Agnarr** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:23 pm

What i do is pretty basic. I noticed where i hit on my rattan the most. I cover that part only. (top 8 inches only.) i also use it to make aan awesome thrusting tip.

Steven H · Post by **Steven H** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:39 pm

Agnarr wrote:I also use it to make aan awesome thrusting tip.

Could you elaborate?

Thanks,
Steven

Konstantin the Red · Post by **Konstantin the Red** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:51 pm

Probably three or four discs of 1/2"-3/4" closed-cell and two strips of leather crossing in their middles over the stack of discs and fastened to the rattan, using four to six inches of strip down the rattan stave. Thoroughly nylon-taped, the tip is sturdy, stable, and sufficiently resilient. Not inclined to rip off from a tip-shot.

Sigurd · Post by **Sigurd** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:27 pm

hey Mag

Leather is cool, just make sure that it's not just a narrow strip down the edge, cover the whole striking surface (1.25")

I'd start with 4oz and see if that's enough weight, anything more than 6 really adds the weight... especially on both front and back edges

I use nylon webbing (from MEC/REI) and find it adds a bit of life to the rattan, and makes tips WAY more durable

YMMV, but you know what my swords feel like;)

SS