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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 15, 2018 15:49:33 GMT
I reworked my Windlass English Cutlass a bit. Blade nice, tang only just ok, handle a real catastrophy. Much too small for my size 9 hands, guard a too tight "basket", killed my knuckles. Handle too short and too thin, only for max. M sized hands. Symmetric round and slippery brass. I could bend and hammer out and up the guard bars and the D-bar. The D-bar doesn't sit in the pommel-hole any more and is off center but now I can grip the handle at least. I made a washer from some kind of felt glue strip and used this also to give the handle a oval form under the twine. Unfortunately I still can't work with leather, so I use the twine like on my Atlantean. I think it looks a bit more businesslike now. (don't laugh, I have two hands but ten thumbs) ... and of course I sharpened the false edge at the tip already.
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Scott
Member
Posts: 1,675
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Post by Scott on Aug 16, 2018 3:52:11 GMT
Two thumbs up! (I've only got two) All you need now is some hard tack and your rum ration.
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Post by leviathansteak on Aug 16, 2018 5:36:15 GMT
Looks good. Your wrap looks far more comfortable than the original.
Was it easy to take apart? That blade looks like it would make a nice base for a custom messer..
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 16, 2018 5:58:24 GMT
Aye matey! Thanks!
It's easy to take apart, just screw off the nut at the end of the hilt with pliers, no epoxy. The nut is brass too, so it can get grooves or scarves from steel pliers.
Plan B for me would be to cut off the tang, file down the blade's base a bit into a handle-plate and make a short machete/messer. The original tang is a bit on the small side, I don't know how it will stand a cutlass' heavy hacking job.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2018 13:15:56 GMT
Tew be honest, I find a three finger and/or handshake tew be preferable for many hangers of the period. I have size 12/13 mitts and can cram my hand into many hilts, one way or another. Don't forget at least light gloves. I prefer summer weight military flight gloves but ymmv. Instead of a full hammer grip, modify your grip to fit, wherein the wrap of your fingers around the grip ends/falls at the first join of the finger instead your palm and heel of the hand. That may seem a dainty perch but it allows for much more movement than a determined and fixed hammer grip. www.redwoodlibrary.org/blog/redwood-staff/2016/06/02/thomas-tew-and-pirate-utopia-libertatia
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 16, 2018 13:32:25 GMT
I prefer saber/handshake/pommeling grip over hammer grip but this thing was shaped in a way that I couldn't find any comfortable method to use it. This hilt was the smallest of all my swords by far.
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pgandy
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Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on Aug 16, 2018 14:57:51 GMT
Thanks for sharing Andi. Looks like a good modification but still with limits.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 16, 2018 16:45:21 GMT
It's a bunch of limits with a nice little blade attached. But at least I have a companion for pirate or navy movies now, the cutlass machete looks too modern. Congrats to your klewang! Arrrh!
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pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on Aug 17, 2018 1:46:16 GMT
It's a bunch of limits with a nice little blade attached. But at least I have a companion for pirate or navy movies now, the cutlass machete looks too modern. Congrats to your klewang! Arrrh! Thanks. It’s a dandy thing, fast and lively. Got it sharpened faster than I imagined thanks to my Work Sharp KO. It’s still shaving sharp after multiple draws from the steel scabbard and a cutting session. Will post an update tomorrow too tired tonight, was a big day.
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christain
Member
It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Aug 17, 2018 4:04:20 GMT
I found a cool trick for doing cord wraps on handles...especially on axe handles. Cold Steel hawks in particular. Use hemp cord from the crafts department in your local Walmart or wherever. You can use glue on the handle, or not. Wrap the cord nice and tight, and let the glue dry overnight. When you look at it, it will be all fuzzy from the strands on the cord. Spray it down with aerosol hair-spray, flick your Bic, and watch it transform. No more fuzz, and a really comfy grip. Also, spray more on to seal it. Works like a charm. You might wanna wear gloves and do this outside the house though.
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Post by Jordan Williams on Aug 17, 2018 4:53:22 GMT
Andi, another thing you may try is to saw the pommel cap off of the grip (or the grip section off the pommel cap, I suppose) dispose of the grip and then make a new wooden grip with a wire wrap, fitted to your liking. I think with some heat you may be able to somewhat stretch the length of the center bar in in the basket. This all suggested only if you want the knuckle bow to be seated in the pommel of course. Looks great as you have it
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