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Post by stopped1 on Oct 3, 2017 11:47:51 GMT
Update: day 6 of having the blade. The handle is done, the sword tips the scales at 3.8 lbs. The modified M12 eye bolt and collar made from 30mm hole cutter (I didn't want to solder a ring so just got a cheap $1.75 hole cutting and cut a piece off, so that there is no joint. The 65mm walled disc guard made from a HSS hole saw and the collar made from a chinese katana fuchi (I filed off all the patterns). The hangers are two D rings off from local hardware store, filed off the chrome and blackened, split open and cramped onto some copper rings I had in my tool box. I intentionally left all the fittings on the rough side to give them a workhorse look, and the flow of the scabbard/blade/handle is not as seamless as a katana, I could have but feels a military chang dao should be a little rough. Now waiting for more snake skin to arrive..... at least the sword can be carried if need be now.
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Post by zabazagobo on Oct 3, 2017 22:58:25 GMT
Daaaaang. Nice work, this is looking even better than the first round. Looking forward to seeing it fully decked out with the snakeskin. The minimalist guard and the hoop-pommel (what's it actually called?) look great with the design.
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Post by stopped1 on Oct 4, 2017 2:58:07 GMT
Thanks! I have always liked tiny tsuba on katana too. I used to have a tiny naginata tsuba on my Iaido until sensei told me to remove it.
Will see how the snake skin come out like. If done well I shalt call my sword "sneak bite", otherwise it will be a rattan job to cover the mess up. By the way the Nodachi saya and chang dao scabbard are interchangeable, I actually shaped the mount of the chang dao scabbard to fit inside the nodachi guard so I could swap and change.
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Post by stopped1 on Oct 5, 2017 8:26:06 GMT
A preview of snake skin wrap. Decided to use a bit to rattan to help blending the skin in with the hanger. Now I have run out of skin, ordered more last week so should be here in two weeks, I hope it is not too different in color (same supplier, same item on ebay). Failing that I will just buy more rattan to do the bottom half of the scabbard. I hope to do a few pics on the blade once I have done a touch up polish/sharpen of the first 1/3 of the blade and will post the whole thing once snake skin wrapped. Until the skin arrives, I will have to find a gun project to do.... Edit: I have just cut with it! I touched up the first few inches (the bottom half was sharper out of the box). Got some coke bottle laying around..... did a horizontal cut (I was scared of hitting the ground), WOW, a half ass 1st attempt still generated uber tip speed due to length, sailed thru the bottle. I will need to find more mat to cut hehehehe. But the steel feels rather soft when I was stoning it..... Oh well, if I take it to battle, will it work? Yes, although it may not last many battles. I am pleased with the way it came out, I think I will need to build a Mk II version. 9260 TH and less curve. Think I may go with someone else instead tho, had too much "fun" with this seller. I have dealt with a Chinese forge direct many years ago, and that gig made (makes) very ugly swords but with awesome heat treat. The guy added me on linkedin (he must have added all email contacts) 2 years ago so I should just send him a message. Don't really care about surface finish, just must be hard, must not break, must not bend...
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Post by stopped1 on Oct 16, 2017 10:47:23 GMT
Finally finished. Looks like I can't call it a miaodao, too curved and too long, nor a Wodao. But I can call it a Chang dao, which is just Chinese for Long (single edged) Sword. Here are some pic of the blade finish The Snake skin with rattan at the joints, both to make it look smooth and to prevent the scabbard from splitting due to dry weather The finished product Here is my new Chang Dao called "Snakey" next to the Nodachi called "Small Penguin" The Scabbards are sort of interchangeable but I don't like the look So here it is, rough military type change dao. Next will be a proper Maidao or a two handed Jian, but think I will need to work on a gun or two first
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Post by stopped1 on Oct 16, 2017 10:55:22 GMT
BTW it was a pretty cheap project.
Blade $190, hand guard made from hole saw $16 ($8 each, I broke the first one), Rattan $10, Snake skin $24, D ring $3, Brass bits came off a reject sword free, Brass/Steel darkening chemical $10 worth, M12 eye as pommel $5, Steel fuchi $15, say $300 (plus 100 hours of time) all up.
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pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on Oct 16, 2017 14:58:22 GMT
That is a fine looking piece you made. Congratulations.
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Post by stopped1 on Oct 16, 2017 18:53:51 GMT
Thank you, you are so kind
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Post by johnc on Oct 18, 2017 21:07:59 GMT
Great sword. Nice project. The ring pommel is alsof nicely done. That makes it look very Chinese.
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Post by stopped1 on Oct 19, 2017 8:14:39 GMT
Thanks! The ring pommel was not that popular with chang dao but found on Dadao and some very early dao. But yeah I had to make it look less japanese, think it worked out ok.
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