Alternative Conan Atlantean design idea
Sept 15, 2011 20:52:02 GMT
Post by LeMal on Sept 15, 2011 20:52:02 GMT
Mentioned this on the old forum a couple years or more ago, but just wanted to revisit it. (Probably inspired by Windlass's tempting new Atlantean--yet I'll probably pass on it since I struggle w/ justifying the purchase of an 8-pound sword. :roll: )
Could the "Atlantean" still look almost identical to its movie design and still be of a functional? I think so.
Point A--the obvious one--is start with stock of the proper thickness and have full distal taper. No surprise there; there are makers on this forum who've done that, or a variation of that. Not quite to the weight-reduction I'd like to see, but close.
The big sticking point, though, is the presumption of the hilting components being of cast solid bronze. But just go with me on this: what if we say they aren't? What if the sword is done with a whole, one-piece, organic hilt. Carved wood, with a "bronze leaf" finish?
I really think an "Atleantean" could come in at under four pounds this way--and "Ah-nald's" Conan not so stretching in the credulity department.
(Oh, and to reiterate another idea: Conan's father's sword was cast rather than forged because it's NOT steel. It's a grey-looking bronze. That's why it's weaker and broken by the Atlantean; it's why they held steel in regard--because despite revering steel they didn't actually know how to forge it; and it's why Thulsa Doom was disappointed in it when searching for true steel. Yeah, a stretch, but it works. Just sayin'.
)
Could the "Atlantean" still look almost identical to its movie design and still be of a functional? I think so.
Point A--the obvious one--is start with stock of the proper thickness and have full distal taper. No surprise there; there are makers on this forum who've done that, or a variation of that. Not quite to the weight-reduction I'd like to see, but close.
The big sticking point, though, is the presumption of the hilting components being of cast solid bronze. But just go with me on this: what if we say they aren't? What if the sword is done with a whole, one-piece, organic hilt. Carved wood, with a "bronze leaf" finish?
I really think an "Atleantean" could come in at under four pounds this way--and "Ah-nald's" Conan not so stretching in the credulity department.
(Oh, and to reiterate another idea: Conan's father's sword was cast rather than forged because it's NOT steel. It's a grey-looking bronze. That's why it's weaker and broken by the Atlantean; it's why they held steel in regard--because despite revering steel they didn't actually know how to forge it; and it's why Thulsa Doom was disappointed in it when searching for true steel. Yeah, a stretch, but it works. Just sayin'.
)
