Rene's blog

[Rene K.]

Do you have some documentation for the use of sand in weapons bluing?

Sorry, but i have no grabbable documents in the moment, but i got this information many times over the years in combination with antiques weapons. Last time in the Bladesmith-museum at Klingental.

[Mac]

Sorry, but i have no grabbable documents in the moment, but i got this information many times over the years in combination with antiques weapons. Last time in the Bladesmith-museum at Klingental.

Has anyone actually revealed any specifics about the sand bluing process? Is it the sort of thing where you have a large quantity of uniformly heated sand, and then stab a sword into it?.... or is it that the sand and weapon are heated together?

Frankly, I'm a bit suspicious of vague but often repeated reports of secrete processes. It sounds a bit like the "temper by stabbing the belly of a fat slave" thing.

Mac

[Rene K.]

Sorry, but i have no grabbable documents in the moment, but i got this information many times over the years in combination with antiques weapons. Last time in the Bladesmith-museum at Klingental.

Has anyone actually revealed any specifics about the sand bluing process? Is it the sort of thing where you have a large quantity of uniformly heated sand, and then stab a sword into it?.... or is it that the sand and weapon are heated together?

Frankly, I'm a bit suspicious of vague but often repeated reports of secrete processes. It sounds a bit like the "temper by stabbing the belly of a fat slave" thing.

Mac

I agree with you Mac, about the Fat slave thesis

As a technique for massproduktion of saber- and swordblades the sand must have been a big pan where the blades were layed on, like modern watschmakers do it with theyr screws.

For tempering, liquid lead was also used, which has a melting point of ca. 330°C.

[Scott Martin]

For tempering, liquid lead was also used, which has a melting point of ca. 330°C.

This was favored by the English, who apparently had pretty horrible blades until well into the hundred years war. Based on some discussions with friends who do blades this makes an "OK" temper, but is really easy and consistent. They are currently looking at trying molten salt quenches (slack quench) and avoiding the temper completely. I'm interested to see if that works...

For the heat treating pottery style kilns can be built that have *very* even heat and they might be reducing enough (atmosphere wise) to avoid oxidation. Not sure who has done reconstructive archeology on this sort of methodology

Scott

[Rene K.]

Back from the "timetravel".event at Veste Coburg last weekend. It was a very nice event with many of the best artisans for historic stuff, fencing and blackpowder fortress warfare, 15.th and 17.th.
It is the only event i go with my "workshop", but the guys of the Kunstsammlung Veste Coburg are worth all the costs.
But it was really hard talking all the two days when ca. 5000 visitors came to watch the crafts that were shown.

[Johann ColdIron]

Very nice display. Cool to be able to set up in a historic setting. That is one thing in the US that we... lack.

The A frame armour stand is a great idea. I've always been fond of that style of day shade too.

[Scott Martin]

I am remain envious of your setup as well - hopefully I will get a chance to meet up with "armour" folks sometime in the near future to talk shop, Patrick Thadden's hammer-in (almost a decade ago now) was a lot of fun!

[Rene K.]

Something new from the Stechzeug-project:
















The top plate of the helmet is roughly formed and a bit to high for now, but my acethylen went off.

[Rene K.]

some little treasures...













hope you enjoy

[Christian Wiedner]

Niiiice, those are the true gems!
I wouldnt even think about the time you spent on them...

[Rene K.]

I wouldnt even think about the time you spent on them...

Unexpected long....

[Mac]

Splendid work!

Mac

[Armadillo]

That is remarkable work. What an amazing project.

[Rene K.]

[Rene K.]

over time it becomes its face:

[Rene K.]

Finally it's done !
Yesterday i deliverd the suit and mannequin to the customers, after working the whole last day and night i had to finish. Now all is in the museums depot and waits for the move to the exhibition, where i will mount all in its propper way and add the last details like the feathers on the crest.
in my opinion this is a nearly unique project for a museums exhibition till now.
Hope you enjoy !

[Rene K.]

Better and high resolution photos will be taken when the suit has been moved to the exhibition.

[Mac]

Splendid work!

Mac

[Rene K.]

Splendid work!

Mac

Thank you, o grandmaster !

[Keegan Ingrassia]

Breathtaking; some kid is going to see this in the exhibit, and you're going to inspire a whole new generation of armourers.

[Otto von Teich]

Its magnificent! Thanks for sharing. Your attention to detail is amazing. I've seldom seen these reproduced, and never so well done.

[Rene K.]

Thank you guys!