Here's a piece I'm putting together for myself. This is the shortsword forged from the rusted/pitted leafspring I posted a while back. It has deliberately been left slightly rough. I want it to have an "antiqued look". That, and the pitting was so deep in the leaf spring, I would have had to thin the blade out over 1/8" everywhere to get rid of them...and I wanted it thick. I blued the blade and it turned a deep turquoise!? Looks really *sharp* (pun intended) next to the pattern welded gaurds. I blued and rubbed the gaurds as well to make the etching/layers stand out more. Here's a pic of the whole gaurd assembly loosely pinned together and in place on the blade. I hope to have the whole handle done next week. The blade is a hair over 1/4" thick at the spine and tapers distally. It's already been used to hack apart some stuff with realy nice results ! This is the blade that I accidentally stabbed myself with yesterday (pics on off topic board).
I acquired some knife blade lots being dug up in Germany as well. I'm also making some reproductions of these (sorry, no pics yet). It should be cool to have the originals (or what's left of them!) displayed along side my versions.
LOL! Ya know, I had to go back and watch 13th Warrior after you made that comment! I've been known to redo blades/handles if they end up looking like someone elses work!
Well, the handle is almost finished. I used ebony and white maple in a hex pattern for the handle. I was going to use mastadon ivory, but I didn't have hunks big enough (ebony and ivory.... ). I'm trying to get it done for a big A&S event this weekend along with several other things... I'm kinda toasted on laquer thinner fumes right now . I wasn't sure if a brass spacer would look good with stainless spacers in the gaurd, but it blends pretty well. What do ya think?
Beautiful, Sir! I am amazed that there aren't more replies to this post. The sword is looking great so far. I am partial to silver metal myself, but the gold works well with the maple. Very attractive. 2" diameter bearing, flattened to an acorn style nut, or like a big flattened bearing? I have seen some eastern pommels as large rudimentary discs. Always looked uncomfortable in the hand.
Thanks. It'll get a wooden scabbard with metal caps, either nickel silver or brass and etched. i finished it last week and added the pics today (or will in the next hour) to the above link.
Not too many people here are into late period saracen type stuff. I guess everyone's just looking for "seax".
The tang was drawn out from the blade to run the full length of the handle. I welded on 1.5" of 1/4-20 threaded rod, to which the round pommel is threaded. The rod sticking out is a 1/2" long 3/8" square cross sectioned spike. It's purpose is to leave 3/8" square holes in people's heads .
! This is the blade that I accidentally stabbed myself with yesterday (pics on off topic board).
