Sharpening a stage combat weapon?

Hi Greg, sure you can put an edge it, you can put an edge on a ball bearing. the question is really, "do you want to" because it is probably going to be a LOT of work.

as for nodes and all that, I wouldn't worry too much. you already know how it feels and while removing the extra weight will have an impact on all that I think it is pretty likey it already is a sword shaped crow bar as it is pretty tough to make a stage sword that isn't. I have a few sword shaped crowbars and some of them cut really well.

so, start off with a course file and work the edges into the shape you want. or you could get a really rough grit blue zirconia belt from lee valley for your belt sander, I'm thinking 110 grit or less and use that just be careful of heat with that one; and of your fingers. once you get an edge profile established with no flat spot and reasonably sharp (though it will be rough) then simple sharpen it the way you normally would but spend more time with the lw grit belts, in fact you should probably get some of the 40 micron belts which is the next grit below the 400/500 one. I forget what the grits are on the web site since the belts are all marked in microns I always think of them in microns.

it is likely you may even improve the handling slightly by removing weight but don't expect it to be an AT or anything of the sort.

as for the pommel hitting your wrist this is a common problem with that type of pommel I have a video floating around here of how I think a sword should be gripped and swung to avoid this. it works for me anyway. I can't link to it right now though since I'm at sea. gonna be in the panama canal soon, in fact. I think you have seen it and I know I posted it here on the new forum as well as on the old one so a quick search should come up with it. if nothing else you can browse my youtube channel for "how to grip a medieval sword" or something like that.

good luck, let us know how this goes.