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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Jul 20, 2009 16:20:29 GMT
I was watching Ric Willy's gladius cutting vid. And there was a shot at the start which I paused it on to check out the sword. Then a wave came over me. I want to do a gladius style sword with a wooden handle. But I cant turn out balls. But I can craft some pretty wild designs in wood. If you've seen my wands I think you'll agree. In my minds eye an image developed. It's always kind of a montage of parts and overall images that doesn't quite develop until I start drawing. This is Gorsimi, Treasure. My homage to the timber handled Celtic Leafblades and the Roman Gladius. I don't want to get steriotypic with the Leaf Blades but it just makes more sense to me to add curvature to the cutting surface to help peel apart targets, and the girth isn't needed toward the hilt, so why not waiste it. The blade flares out again at the forte, cos a. it adds weight to balance the belly of the blade, which is needed due to the lightweight timber handle, and b. cos it's pretty. This is alot like the overall shape of my Orcrist, and indeed the blade will be similar, minus the ricasso. I don't know if there would be a market for it, since Orcrist hasn't sold. And it's a short sword. But man it will be pretty, I love wood so much. And it will be light and deadly. Sorry about the mobile phone photos. But I am excited. I'll get a better scan up later. Since finishing Rhindon (2 days ago )I had no idea what my next piece will be besides my commissions. I had no inspiration. Now I am inspired. It will be made, and I just hope people want to buy them. I'm really looking forward to doing heaps of wooden hilts. I love wood.
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Jul 20, 2009 16:28:36 GMT
Exciting project, and great design. I'm definitely seeing more celtic than gladius in this one.
Can't beat a wooden handle really. Can't stand cord or wire wraps. Hide wraps are nice. I don't mind synthetic handles if they're tasteful. Timber is always a winner for me.
I've got myself some ebony, lime wood and curly birch carving blocks coming wednesday. Ever played with any of these Bren?
I am no carpenter, and since you have a lot of the experience in this field, I would value any advice you could give.
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Jul 20, 2009 16:51:07 GMT
I've done several Wooden grips left bare now. I love to show off the Australian timbers that are unique to us. Wood has as much beauty as a precious stone. And I like the feel of it of course. And ofcourse I do my wands.
But alas I am no carpenter. I use machines for all my work. I have been able to stop chiseling out my wood core halves, and now use the milling machine to channel them out. I use a belt sander for 90% of my wood shaping. I just finish off sanding it back by hand. I also have had as much luck carving knotwork and stuff with a dremel, as using chisels. In fact as the woods I use are hard I find the dremel better. I'm just comfortable with power tools.
But of course if you're doing anything I'm doing then feel free to ask questions about my techniques. Ive never come across those woods in Aus, exc. ebony. Which ebony is it? I've handcarved into the macassar as used by G2 on my Scot 15C, and I did dragons bane in African Blackwood (which is a type of rosewood I believe). The Afr. BW is uber hard /dense, and blunted my micro chisel repeatedly. I just couldn't chisel out the channel and ended up using my angle grinder as I didn't have the milling machine back then. The macassar was nowhere near as hard, but still hard, and splintery, almost crumbly.
I've got a couple of blocks of Briar burl coming soon for pipes. So that should be interesting.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2009 19:28:22 GMT
Hmm...of all of your swords, I think I just might like this one the best. Think you could carve a zoomorphic hilt? Something in a lion motif, perhaps?
Either way, it has a very sexy look to it; I LIKE it.
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Jul 20, 2009 21:40:51 GMT
Thanks for the feedback Bren.
I havnt got my hands on it yet. The site I bought the ebony from doesnt specify what exact variety it is. I'll have to tell you how it behaves once I start playing with it. I'm going to use the ebony for the skinner I am working on, and either the limewood or the curly birch for the clip point knife.
Oh yeah, whatever you do don't type "ebony" into google images. You might get some worrying results. I'm too innocent to have forseen what turned up!
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Jul 21, 2009 1:51:09 GMT
The most worrying image was Michael Jackson looking back at me. He's not 'ebony' at all is he? I though he was white? lol No offence Ebon Paladin, lol Keep us posted.
EP, I was thinking of freeform sculpture of the guard and pommel. The philipinos and indonesians have the whole woodcarved hilt thing accomodated. I couldn't compete with their work. They've probably been wood carving all day since they were 6yo. I don't want it to look like a failed attampt at their type of stuff. Nah I'll just keep it brenno style...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2009 7:06:39 GMT
Bren: no you aren't a carpenter because they build cupboards and stuff but you are a woodworker, regardless of whether you use machines or not. In fact you will find that most carpenters and woodworkers use machines, especially those that do bowl making and wood turning, you can do just about anything with a router these days with the many attachments, not to mention the dremel. My dad does woodwork you wouldn't believe and he uses machines. Nothing wrong with machines mate, learning to use a chisel properly is always good idea though
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2009 16:28:32 GMT
Brenno style works for me; maybe BB could do it? That is a short, stout blade...it'd be perfect for the wife; but I want a 'Maeve of Connacht' look to it, you know? She's my Maeve!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2009 1:24:07 GMT
That is really nice, I love the look of that blade.
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Jul 22, 2009 17:13:32 GMT
I spent tonight scribing up a customers blade, and that of my new love. Gorsimi - Treasure.... precciousss.... I moved on to sketching up the hilt, figuring out how it's going to be made, and all the measurements etc. Anyway here's some pics: The blade shape- You can see where I had it 22.5", then after seeing the hilt is of larger more swordly proportions, I made it 26.25". You can see the old in blue, and the final blade in orange: The hilt: I will make the grip, guard, and pommel from timbers. There will be a brass plate which protects the timber from sword strike, to keep it battle ready. The guard and pommel will be sheoak which is the same timber that my new pipe is made of (shown). The grip will be a eucalypt burl of the same wood as the mouthpiece of my other pipe (see below). I will be shaping them with a series of hollows done on my belt sander, not unlike how I sculpt my wands. At the end of the pommel the sword will be held together with a brass nut lathed to produce a spike on the end, sitting over a brass washer so it doesn't rub the timber. BTW how do you like my new pipe? It's pretty funky, 16" long overall. I knew there was a slight crack in the side of it, but I really wanted to use that piece of wood and make the centre of the rings the tip of the bottom of the bowl. When it heated up the crack just opened right up. Spew, but it doesn't matter.It's still mine and it's beautiful. Lovely bit o' wood that.
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Jul 23, 2009 16:57:27 GMT
By the way EP, whats a 'Maeve of Connacht' look? You should do some sketches for something for her. Maybe one day we can make her one? You'd have to post photos of her in character with it too.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2009 18:09:43 GMT
Looking forward to the final product Brenno!
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Post by enkidu on Jul 23, 2009 18:13:32 GMT
Good looking handle Bren ! I like the celtic style, keep it up ! Have you though about working with damascus bar stock ?
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Jul 24, 2009 2:11:26 GMT
Hey Enkidu I'd be happy to use pattern welded bar stock for a commission is someone wanted to send me some. But at around $800 for a shortsword sized piece I cant afford to buy it myself. Wouldn't it be nice though.
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Post by enkidu on Jul 24, 2009 5:23:58 GMT
Lets talk then.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2009 5:31:05 GMT
It's rather annoying that no one here makes pattern-welded bars of steel and the available pattern-welded steel is like $10 a cm or something ridiculous like that, not to mention it is a stainless pattern welded so probably not good for swords and such.
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Jul 24, 2009 9:35:04 GMT
Yup, many pattern welded steels are stainless. I had a bunch in pakistan try to sell me some for $80 per metre, but the wrong types of steel went into it. The Stagmers do it right. They're the ones I will see for a quote if anyone wants to commission something in pattern weld. Still, they'd want to expect to pay handsomely for it.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2009 22:17:46 GMT
I have seen the Stagmers work and yours on the net, a collaboration between you 2 would be a forced to be reckoned with! Hope we see that one day!
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Aug 6, 2009 0:20:31 GMT
I look forward to a request to be made in Stagmer pattern, for sure. I have started Gorsimi, but held back by a bit o' a headcold. I dont want to wear a respirator with a runny nose hahaha I really look forward to seeing this finished.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2009 4:31:58 GMT
After that can you make a Xena sword? Then hold on to it til i have $$ lol (btw Starlust is here - I have to clean the house so I can do a review )
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