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Post by Archimedes on Jul 21, 2011 23:42:50 GMT
First off hello SBG readers! I've spent a long time reading the awesome stuff you guys post and thought it was high time I posted my own project on here for some help. I also am fully aware of the laws regarding sword canes (my current project) and am really just interested in the challenge it presents. I'm a long time wood worker so constructing the wooden cane is in itself no challenge. My debate is on they type of metal to use and the release mechanism of the cane. Right now i'm thinking of using rare earth magnets for the catch to avoid the telltale button releases or twists that most canes have. I'm also looking at using O1 steel for the blade but since there seems to be soooo much debate over types of steels i'm unsure if this is the right choice. Suggestions anyone?
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Jul 22, 2011 0:19:41 GMT
Hello, welcome to the forum. That sounds like a pretty cool project you've got going on. What method are you planning on using to make the blade? If you are not going to use it, then I wouldn't worry too much about about steel type. O1 seems like to would be pretty good. I'm not well versed in steels, but as I understand it O1 is a good tool steel that is not as difficult to shape/sharpen or as temperamental as some others, like A2 or L6. 1045 and 1060 carbon steels are what's most commonly seen in lower cost functional blades, so you may want to consider those. I'm sure everybody will be psyched to see your work. Don't be shy about sharing your progress.
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Post by ineffableone on Jul 22, 2011 2:05:16 GMT
Hello and great project. I used to have a sword cane like this one at arin-aensland.blogspot.com/ How they say it is valued at such a high price I don't know. Mine was $40 I think. Looked exactly the same. Notice the locking mechanism above. This has been the best sword can locking I have ever seen. It is the most subtle and hide. It was so difficult that when my sword cane was take by police from a friend who I let hold it, they could not figure out how to open it. LOL :lol: The only reason they knew it was a sword cane was they could hear a slight rattle inside that I had not fixed yet. I would suggest you go for this style of locking mechanism. Good luck.
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Post by Archimedes on Jul 22, 2011 2:33:42 GMT
Thanks for the pictures! I had thought of that style but I was trying to avoid that exact rattle. Even after you line it with say felt or cork there will still be a sound. Hence RE magnets. My only concern with that is the blade dragging along them or the cane sticking to large metal objects (refrigerators, cars, metal doors, etc). Latch aside I'm going with blood wood for the lower section and rosewood for the upper grip. I've also been toying with wire wrapping part of the upper section and perhaps topping it with an unobtrusive sword pommel. I'll be sure to post pictures as I go!
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Post by ineffableone on Jul 22, 2011 4:31:58 GMT
The rattle on my sword cane like this came from inside the sheath with the sword tip rattling against the inside of the cane. The sheath section was not a snug fit. I think you would not have any rattle problem if you make the sheath section fit your blade. The lock mechanism it self was snug and had no rattle or movement except when turned properly to open.
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Post by Elheru Aran on Jul 22, 2011 12:15:54 GMT
If you decide to save time by using an already-made blade, Hanwei's side sword might fit your bill. Would have to take apart the sword, but you could recoup some of your costs by selling the fittings-- I'm certain someone here would buy them, they're fairly well made and attractive. Hanwei also makes a number of rapier blades, many of which you can find 'bare' for sale. Overall your project looks good, don't forget photos when you get around to the makin'
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Post by Cole Chang on Jul 22, 2011 13:15:55 GMT
I love sword canes, and have been looking around for a decent one for a long time. I had a Windlass Knob cane which was nice, and I had a Cold Steel cane that had a wicked point. The Windlass cane was later used (or a similar one to it) in the Batman Begins movies by Raz Alghul (sp?). After I saw that movie, I wished I had kept my cane!
Anyway, my point, if I had one, is that have you given any thought to the type of blade? The Windlass one had a "rapier" blade that was as sharp as a letter opener, and the Cold Steel one was basically a a spike with a cross section. Of the two, the Cold Steel one was infinitely more lethal, but the Windlass one was cooler! I've always thought that a sword cane should be just that....a sword!
Anyway, I now have the Cold Steel Heavy Duty sword cane. Cold Steel seems to have undergone a design philosophy shift. Their sword canes are now the twist/vacuum sealed types that in their words require a "quick twist and pull". In my reality, I have use a lot of strength to get my sword out! Anyway, the Heavy Duty sword cane has the best blade I've seen. It's thick, rigid sharp as hell, and it's double edged for about a third of the length. If only they used some sort of quicker release system - I wouldn't have minded the button release - then I would be happy. One advantage though is that the sword doesn't rattle much. The Hanwei Bird Dog cane also has a similar type of blade according to the pics, but since it's Hanwei, it's probably a glorified letter opener. The Burger sword canes are what I consider the creme de la creme...probably cause I can't afford one in this century! Their higher end canes have buttons that are blended in with the rest of the cane, and I think some even have the button towards the butt end or head knob of the cane, further disguising it as most people would look for the button near the "hilt".
Maybe you can do something like that. Or, and this just hit me... What if you were to combine the best of both worlds? I have no idea how you would do this though...but...
Have a handle that twists, like in the ineffableone post, but it doesn't have a latch that unlocks the blade. Instead, the twisting of the handle will activate a spring, like the button canes, and that's what unlocks the sword. Or, if you have a knob head cane, make the knob head of the cane the button. That would certainly confuse people! It should also be pretty secure too, as opening it entails pushing down on the knob and then pulling the blade out.
Just a couple of thoughts...I would love to see your project as it progresses...I really envy people like you, who have some practical skills that can be used to make stuff...
Cole
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Post by buliwyf on Jul 22, 2011 14:28:33 GMT
Well I dont have a sword cane but I have a sword walking staff/stick or what you could call a spear walking stick or what it was sold as an Escrema walking stick.I bought it from a vendor called "Sword-Staff" I worked for one year at Dragon con.It's 48 in long total and has a really nice crystal looking piece on top (sorry havent gotten a pic of that yet,Wish I had better pics. It can be taken apart and used as a 46in spear It can also be taken totally apart and used as 28 inch Escrema sticks with a 12 inch blade. As I said not a cane but a very well made walking stick,very solid.The 3 edged blades are made for sticking only and are very very pointy.I was told by Sean the maker that the blades are actually AK47 bayonets,I don't know what type of steel it is though.They are held together by just great woodworking and a bit of black duct tape around the bottom of the blade and they take some strong pulling to get the blades out and after having the around 6 or 8 years they have never accidently come apart as I walked with it. Definatly keep us posted with pic's or a post on how your cane is coming.I just started having to use one for a bad foot I've had for many years and I would love a sword cane. The walking stick works great for the renfest but during regular people hours it looks a bit out of place,plus all I would need is the police to say wow nice walking staff lets see it!
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Post by Archimedes on Feb 15, 2012 23:48:42 GMT
Alright I'm back! Life got in the way as it does so I had to table the sword cane project and make a few ER visits. I'm now almost completely finished with my proof of concept model and have learned a fair few things. Before I upload pictures I'm going to toss in a bit of an explanation of what you'll be seeing.
This particular cane has absolutely no locking mechanism in it yet but is so snug I can hold it upside down and shake it without the blade being exposed. I used O1 steel 3/4" by 1/8" inch for the blade (which has yet to be fully shaped), poplar for the cane, and copper for the pommel base and middle band. The next one I make will have a 1/2" x 1/8" inch blade so I can taper the cane more without exposing the inside chamber. Making an actual hollow cane for a sword proved more vexing than I had expected and went through several pieces of wood before I decided to simply rout a channel down the side and then cover it back up with some similarly grained wood. Because this now routed dowel has a nice warp 2/3rds of the way down I could not mount it back in a lathe to taper so I will have to finish it with a hand plane (could make an octagonal cane if I really wanted to). The inside of the channel has leather padding to keep the blade snugly held in place and to prevent any rattle and the handle will have post screws going through it and the blade to bolt them snugly together and then hidden under wooden plugs to hide any evidence thereof. And now for pictures! Any and all questions comments concerns and criticism would be greatly appreciated!
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Post by Archimedes on Feb 15, 2012 23:57:43 GMT
It's not quite finished yet so it remains unvarnished
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Post by Archimedes on Feb 16, 2012 0:09:11 GMT
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Post by Archimedes on Feb 16, 2012 0:13:17 GMT
Send the pictures around if ya like just please give credit where credit is due and all that jazz
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