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Post by Bryan Heff on Nov 14, 2017 15:18:47 GMT
Its ARTS and CRAFTS time again! It has been awhile since I have done any real work in my little basement shop. But the bug has hit me recently and I am in the midst of this project. Taking a rather whippy/floppy Windlass Knight's Tale sword...about a 36 inch blade I think it was and chopping off the tip by about 6 inches and going for this......a "dark ages" spatha type sword. Not based on anything specifically historical but I think perhaps plausible. I originally was going to go for something Celtic or Roman with an all or mostly all wood grip...but all that round and globes etc used in those types of grips was a bit out of my wood working league so I am sticking with steel. Iron Age by warspite15, on Flickr Some work in progress pics....the cool thing thus far is all the hilt components will be sourced (pommel and peen block included) from the original cross guard. I chopped off either end of the cross and am using those pieces for the pommel and the peen block. The main middle part of what was that cross is now the cross guard on the new sword, just much shorter and with the decorative slashes on the face ground out...and bonus, I didn't have to cut in a slot which is a major pain in the posterior. 2017-11-14_10-04-16 by warspite15, on Flickr 2017-11-14_10-04-33 by warspite15, on Flickr 2017-11-14_10-04-51 by warspite15, on Flickr 2017-11-14_10-05-10 by warspite15, on Flickr 2017-11-14_10-05-27 by warspite15, on Flickr 2017-11-14_10-05-52 by warspite15, on Flickr
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Post by William Swiger on Nov 14, 2017 16:34:57 GMT
Looking good!
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Nov 15, 2017 18:39:34 GMT
Nice work so far. What did you cut the tip off with? Looks very clean.
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Post by Croccifixio on Nov 16, 2017 3:51:33 GMT
Nice. But you still had to slot that peen and the peen block eh? Drill press + files?
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Post by Bryan Heff on Nov 16, 2017 12:45:07 GMT
Nice work so far. What did you cut the tip off with? Looks very clean. Dremel tool with a cutting wheel. Basically just cut 2 straight lines in the shape of a "V" to remove the extra blade length. Then it was just some grinding to round out the edges and make the profile look right. Thanks!
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Post by Bryan Heff on Nov 16, 2017 12:48:01 GMT
Nice. But you still had to slot that peen and the peen block eh? Drill press + files? Exactly. Drill a few holes basically, in a straight line about the same length as what you slot will need to be, then I use a dremel tool with a carbide bit which is basically a cutting tool (think drill bit but the sides of the bit cut, not just the tip) to rough it out. Then some files.
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Post by Bryan Heff on Dec 4, 2017 15:27:50 GMT
Almost complete. Everything is assembled, cross guard is wedged, "pommel" is keyed an wedged, peen block is keyed and peened. Nothing will ever twist or turn, it seems rock solid and rings like a bell. These are all good things that make me happy. The peen I left a bit "large"...I allowed the mushroom to fold over a bit the countersunk hole. I suppose I could grind it down and make it prettier but it does not bother me and I feel the more metal left on the peen to the better. So what ever, works for me. The grip shape is a pain, my original drawing had a thinner grip which aesthetically looks better I think but the tang is fairly wide and I can only go so thin in the middle with the wood before it becomes a problem. I think I am going to leave it bare wood, with some oil or stain. Was toying with the idea of some kind of studs but that prob would look weird...maybe some cuts to add texture...not sure. Maybe nothing. The blade being cut down is much stiffer now, quite stiff actually. It has a ridiculous POB of about 9.5".....that's right, 9.5". The lack of much in the way of a heavier pommel is partly to blame and the shortish 3.75" grip. So its a blade forward piece for sure but its only a 30" blade and not particularly wide so while a very out there POB, its still wieldable, just rather blade forward. Fun to make. More to come. 2017-12-04_10-16-49 by warspite15, on Flickr 2017-12-04_10-16-33 by warspite15, on Flickr 2017-12-04_10-16-15 by warspite15, on Flickr
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Post by Verity on Dec 4, 2017 15:48:44 GMT
Forgive my naivety... but won’t that mess up the heat treat at the tip given you’ve cut off the case hardened skin at the tip?
Or is the blade evenly H/T’d throughout?
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Post by Bryan Heff on Dec 4, 2017 16:02:06 GMT
Forgive my naivety... but won’t that mess up the heat treat at the tip given you’ve cut off the case hardened skin at the tip? Or is the blade evenly H/T’d throughout? I am pretty sure that Windlass blades are through hardened so as long as you don't wreck the heat treat by heating up the blade while cutting (I wrap the blade in wet cloth and never let it get very hot at all, just take my time)....should be fine in terms of the heat treat. Hopefully somebody else can weigh in as well.
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Post by Verity on Dec 4, 2017 16:06:46 GMT
That is good to know. I thought through-hardening still is different grain structure and hardness in the center than at the edge given the thickness of the steel
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Post by Voltan on Dec 4, 2017 16:25:23 GMT
Yes! I'ts about time you crawled out from the rock you've been under... You always come up with great ideas with these overhauls. Looks fantastic. Really glad to see you back to work again. I'd imagine you're going to make a new scabbard to go with?
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Post by William Swiger on Dec 4, 2017 21:46:56 GMT
Looks great Bryan!
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Ifrit
Member
More edgy than a double edge sword
Posts: 3,284
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Post by Ifrit on Dec 4, 2017 23:34:43 GMT
You REALLY make me wanna do this mod to my GSOW
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Post by Bryan Heff on Dec 5, 2017 13:54:36 GMT
You REALLY make me wanna do this mod to my GSOW Funny you should say that....check this thread out. I cut a GSOW down a few years back...it was a very successful project for me, loved the way it turned out. of course all the nice picture links are dead....thanks a lot photobucket scum! I will see if I can upload some new pics. sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/35134/tinker-conversion-completed-video-added
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Post by Bryan Heff on Dec 5, 2017 13:56:41 GMT
Yes! I'ts about time you crawled out from the rock you've been under... You always come up with great ideas with these overhauls. Looks fantastic. Really glad to see you back to work again. I'd imagine you're going to make a new scabbard to go with? Haha...yeah hiding under a rock about sums it up. Been busy with work and kids sports, take a lot of my time these days. But I have been itching to get back into the modification and scabbard game. I have few of my swords that need scabbards that will probably get hooked up before this one, but who knows. Thanks for the compliment V.
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Post by Bryan Heff on Dec 5, 2017 13:56:59 GMT
Thanks to ALL for the nice words.
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Post by Bryan Heff on Dec 6, 2017 22:02:29 GMT
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stormmaster
Member
I like viking/migration era swords
Posts: 7,647
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Post by stormmaster on Dec 6, 2017 22:10:48 GMT
That's really hot, wow I want one lol
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pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on Dec 7, 2017 0:20:52 GMT
I am impressed with your work and the appearance of the end product. I would much like a review giving the handling characteristics.
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Post by Voltan on Dec 7, 2017 3:26:00 GMT
That grip finished wonderfully indeed!
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