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Post by Draven on Dec 5, 2015 3:52:45 GMT
Howdy folks! I've made a few wooden weapons for my kid over the last few years. First was a Viking sword, then a Longsword (a design flaw led to that one breaking...) and then a tomahawk. Recently I decided to make him a Xiphos. I always make an effort to make them somewhat representative of historical examples so that he's a little closer to knowing what a 'real' one looked like than I was at his age. This one is made entirely from oak and has a lenticular sectioned leaf blade.  Just after gluing, prior to oiling.  After oiling, next to his HEAVILY used Viking sword - he's really beat the snot out of it but it's still going strong, knock on wood. I'm pretty pleased with how this one came out - I'll almost be sad to see him beat the hell out if! Should be plenty strong, though, hopefully strong enough to live past the abuse phase. Next one's going to be fantasy, I think! Comments/questions welcome! Pete |
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Post by nddave on Dec 5, 2015 4:32:43 GMT
Nice work! I unfortunately cant remember his name right now but there was a member a few years ago that got into making wasters and even began selling them. I used to make wooden swords all the time growing up too, I don't have any more of them as either I gave them away to little cousins or they eventually broke. My first was when I was like six or so and I pretty much took a wooden stake and hammered a cross guard on it, lol. When I got older and learned how to use power tools I would take poplar and pine planks and draw out blade blanks and jigsaw out the shape, then I'd cut out a guard and glue and screw at the blade shoulders. Made quite a few long swords and katana that way. Even made a couple kite shields out of plywood using the same method and bolting the grips. Even painted them, One was like the Hylian Shield for Legend of Zelda and the other was a copy of a coat of arms my Grandpa had from relatives. Looking back those were good times and almost more fun that owning real swords, lol!
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Post by Draven on Dec 5, 2015 4:46:20 GMT
sounds like we played together from afar nddave lol my first wooden sword was from a piece of driftwood when I was about 8 or 9 - it was curved, so it became a katana! Shortly after came a claymore lol
I've thought about selling these as kids toys (I'm not sure if a 30" long 1/2" thick oak blade would stand up to sparring?) but I just don't know if I could make them economical - I put quite a bit of time into each one to try and get them 'right' and wouldn't want to sacrifice that for the sake of a cheaper product. My wife's pushing me to make some for her to sell at ren fairs though, so I might give it a shot lol
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Post by WEWolf on Dec 6, 2015 14:20:57 GMT
That's really good looking work, and nice parenting, doing that for your son.
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pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on Dec 6, 2015 14:46:36 GMT
They are very nice looking. You do good work.
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Post by Draven on Dec 7, 2015 0:00:44 GMT
Thanks y'all :D
WEWolf, I gotta admit it makes me pretty happy doing it - action figures come and go, he's not really interested in playing with cars any more, but he hardly goes anywhere around the house without his sword or tomahawk!
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Scott
Member
Posts: 1,680
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Post by Scott on Dec 7, 2015 4:26:25 GMT
Very nice work.
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Post by Draven on Dec 7, 2015 18:32:49 GMT
Thanks Scott!
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Post by nddave on Dec 8, 2015 19:40:53 GMT
sounds like we played together from afar nddave lol my first wooden sword was from a piece of driftwood when I was about 8 or 9 - it was curved, so it became a katana! Shortly after came a claymore lol I've thought about selling these as kids toys (I'm not sure if a 30" long 1/2" thick oak blade would stand up to sparring?) but I just don't know if I could make them economical - I put quite a bit of time into each one to try and get them 'right' and wouldn't want to sacrifice that for the sake of a cheaper product. My wife's pushing me to make some for her to sell at ren fairs though, so I might give it a shot lol Absolutely, good times. Of all the toy swords I had regarding plastics and stuff the wood ones I made myself were always the coolest. Yea I'd avoid selling them as kids toys anyway as that market has been dominated by the nerf larp foam stuff. But your wife does have a good idea with the renfair idea. Selling them as waisters or props for reenactors and cosplayers would be a more successful venture and you'd have a good customer group that would appreciate and respect the them. Rather than having parents upset or hesitant since they're hardwood. Definitely do some durability tests and see how it goes. You could even get crafty with some models, for example the ones for cosplayers and paint them up or do a few movie anime and videogame adaptations. |
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Post by Draven on Dec 8, 2015 22:50:58 GMT
Yea I'd avoid selling them as kids toys anyway as that market has been dominated by the nerf larp foam stuff. But your wife does have a good idea with the renfair idea. Selling them as waisters or props for reenactors and cosplayers would be a more successful venture and you'd have a good customer group that would appreciate and respect the them. Rather than having parents upset or hesitant since they're hardwood. Definitely do some durability tests and see how it goes. You could even get crafty with some models, for example the ones for cosplayers and paint them up or do a few movie anime and videogame adaptations. I hate that foam stuff! Seems (to me, at least) designed without any attention to how destructive kids can be lol A nerf sword wouldn't last five minutes with my kiddo. I would, however, definitely have to do good destruction testing - the nice thing about Oak in my experience is that it's not terribly inclined to make big splinters. If you break it, it won't break AND split, forming a bunch of long, sharp pieces. That was a principle concern, of course, as if a kid leans on it and it breaks you don't want them getting skewered by a two foot long piece of sharp wood. The breakage I had with oak swords was one that I decided to dowel - poor dowel layout led to the wood grain being discontinuous, so when he smacked it too hard it just popped loose. I don't use dowels any more, it's all full tang now and oak for the furniture (or plywood for the grips under a wrap) to try and strengthen the whole thing. Problem with selling as kids toys, of course, is that you can't expect a kid to exercise sound judgment - I know my kid has responsible adult supervision, but I can't guarantee that for anyone else... |
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Ifrit
Member
More edgy than a double edge sword
Posts: 3,284
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Post by Ifrit on Oct 2, 2016 0:47:35 GMT
Wonderful work. I would have been stoked if my dad made these for me as a kid.
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Ava
Member
I have special inclination towards period clothing, jewelry, sculptures, battle weapons, and armors.
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Post by Ava on Sept 18, 2017 21:40:59 GMT
Howdy folks! I've made a few wooden weapons for my kid over the last few years. First was a Viking sword, then a Longsword (a design flaw led to that one breaking...) and then a tomahawk. Recently I decided to make him a Xiphos. I always make an effort to make them somewhat representative of historical examples so that he's a little closer to knowing what a 'real' one looked like than I was at his age. This one is made entirely from oak and has a lenticular sectioned leaf blade. Just after gluing, prior to oiling. After oiling, next to his HEAVILY used Viking sword - he's really beat the snot out of it but it's still going strong, knock on wood. I'm pretty pleased with how this one came out - I'll almost be sad to see him beat the hell out if! Should be plenty strong, though, hopefully strong enough to live past the abuse phase. Next one's going to be fantasy, I think! Comments/questions welcome! Great work! |
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Post by rhema1313 on Sept 19, 2017 0:15:30 GMT
Niiiiiiiiice!
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