UPDATED: Made a sidesword out of a Windlass Munich sword!
Oct 28, 2015 5:48:18 GMT
Post by Aikidoka on Oct 28, 2015 5:48:18 GMT
I recently joined a HEMA group that studies Italian swordsmanship. This includes Fiore's longsword, but we also study Bolognese swordsmanship. Much of the Bolognese training has been with Darkwood Armory sideswords:
I've been looking around for a sharp sidesword to use for cutting practice, but haven't found many inexpensive options. I considered using my Windlass Munich, but found it to be a bit heavy and the point of balance too close to the guard (2.5 inches). Then it occurred to me this afternoon that I could turn the swept hilt into a sidesword hilt and potentially solve both the weight and balance issues.
The original Munich sword weighed 3 lbs 7.65 oz:
The parts that I cut away with my Dremel tool weighed 6.65 oz:
This left behind a sidesword weighing 3 lbs 1 oz, with the POB at 4 inches. Much better!
I have some filing/grinding to do to smooth over the parts of the hilt where the cuts were made, but at this point I'm very happy with the way it turned out. It handles very well now. I may try cutting a tatami mat tomorrow to see how it performs.
****** UPDATE 10/28/2015 ********
Here's the video of the tatami mat cuts that I performed tonight:
Apologies for the grainy, dark video. It was after dark before I had a chance to cut, so I did it under my porch light. The sword cut very well and felt great during the cuts. Plenty of blade presence. The fourth cut was not an indication of anything wrong with the blade... just a reflection of the fact that I haven't performed a single-hand upward right to left cut in a long time There was no excessive vibration in the hilt. The cuts felt very smooth.
To be fair, I didn't try cutting tatami with the Munich sword before making this modification. I only cut bottles. But the sword definitely handles better now that the excess weight has been removed from the hilt. It will probably be a couple weeks before I can do more tatami cutting with this sword, but, when I do, I'll post more videos.
I've been looking around for a sharp sidesword to use for cutting practice, but haven't found many inexpensive options. I considered using my Windlass Munich, but found it to be a bit heavy and the point of balance too close to the guard (2.5 inches). Then it occurred to me this afternoon that I could turn the swept hilt into a sidesword hilt and potentially solve both the weight and balance issues.
The original Munich sword weighed 3 lbs 7.65 oz:
The parts that I cut away with my Dremel tool weighed 6.65 oz:
This left behind a sidesword weighing 3 lbs 1 oz, with the POB at 4 inches. Much better!
I have some filing/grinding to do to smooth over the parts of the hilt where the cuts were made, but at this point I'm very happy with the way it turned out. It handles very well now. I may try cutting a tatami mat tomorrow to see how it performs.
****** UPDATE 10/28/2015 ********
Here's the video of the tatami mat cuts that I performed tonight:
Apologies for the grainy, dark video. It was after dark before I had a chance to cut, so I did it under my porch light. The sword cut very well and felt great during the cuts. Plenty of blade presence. The fourth cut was not an indication of anything wrong with the blade... just a reflection of the fact that I haven't performed a single-hand upward right to left cut in a long time There was no excessive vibration in the hilt. The cuts felt very smooth.
To be fair, I didn't try cutting tatami with the Munich sword before making this modification. I only cut bottles. But the sword definitely handles better now that the excess weight has been removed from the hilt. It will probably be a couple weeks before I can do more tatami cutting with this sword, but, when I do, I'll post more videos.