Zen_Hydra
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Born with a heart full of neutrality
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Mar 13, 2019 18:13:13 GMT
What are some uncommon materials people have used to construct sword grips?
I haven't tried it yet, but I'm considering placing a layer of a compressible material like cork between a wood core and leather wrap in key locations along the grip to see if doing so provides a stronger, and more comfortable engagement with the hand.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2019 18:47:06 GMT
One of the more uncommon materials out there is birch bark. The Finns often use layers of birch bark to complete their pukko knives. The finished look is so unique and really beautiful.
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Ifrit
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More edgy than a double edge sword
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Post by Ifrit on Mar 13, 2019 20:26:23 GMT
One of the more uncommon materials out there is birch bark. The Finns often use layers of birch bark to complete their pukko knives. The finished look is so unique and really beautiful. Just looked that up. I seriously dig that. I could see a vegan type to totally dig this kind of knife, or just anyone who digs forests
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2019 20:34:01 GMT
One of the more uncommon materials out there is birch bark. The Finns often use layers of birch bark to complete their pukko knives. The finished look is so unique and really beautiful. Just looked that up. I seriously dig that. I could see a vegan type to totally dig this kind of knife, or just anyone who digs forests Isn't it a beautiful construction, though? Not particularly difficult to do, it's just tedious as hell. The final look is rather similar to the stacked leather look, but different.
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Zen_Hydra
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Born with a heart full of neutrality
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Mar 13, 2019 21:18:21 GMT
The stacked birch back handles do look pretty amazing. I wish I lived in an area where birch was native.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2019 21:43:21 GMT
The stacked birch back handles do look pretty amazing. I wish I lived in an area where birch was native. Find somebody who lives in Finland or Russia. There are birch forests everywhere.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Mar 13, 2019 22:06:17 GMT
What are some uncommon materials people have used to construct sword grips? The uncommon materials are usually expensive, rare, difficult to work, or easily damaged (e.g., soft, brittle). Common materials: wood, horn, bone, solid iron/steel/bronze/brass/silver, rayskin, sharkskin, rawhide, leather (both as a wrap and as grip slabs), textiles and cord, wire, ivory, antler. Some uncommon materials: gold, jade, rock crystal and other stones, glass. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm considering placing a layer of a compressible material like cork between a wood core and leather wrap in key locations along the grip to see if doing so provides a stronger, and more comfortable engagement with the hand. Risers, like done with cord between the leather and wood core? Sure, why not. If you are after a slightly softer grip or shock absorption, you could cover the wooden core with a layer of cork. Or make an all-cork grip.
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LeMal
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Post by LeMal on Mar 13, 2019 22:32:08 GMT
Your idea should probably work.
You don't specify hiw "historical" youre asking about. Lately I've been returning to something simple I actually did to a handle-less antique in high school and simply sculpting a handle (guard fitted into it) from epoxy putty and carving/sanding it into final finished shape. Perfect way to play with feel and POB experimentally at one goes. Haven't tried it with short-strand fiberglass resin but probably will soon.
Meanwhile my go-to style in rehilting over a much longer time is inspired in part by some Indian swords I guess: especially hollow handles filled with resin.
I don't use a full hollow handle but rather two 16 ga steel plates cut to profile shape (including any "pommel" shape) and extending up the ricasso with (again, inspired by some Indian swords) the main attachment a rivet hole there rather than the handle. Cutler's resin in between if trying to be quasi-historical, hot melt adhesive if not caring.
Guard either fitted over blade-side like a messer or in two pieces sandwiched over from the sides and riveted at the ends. Rawhide and/or leather wrap over most or all of the handle to hold it all tightly in place.
Anyway, bottom line is, it may not be any particular historical method but it's secure as hell, and vibrationally the resin/adhesive core works *regardless* of blade construction ... nodes and pivot points be damned. No, it won't "ring," but I'll take the design with the "shock absorbers" instead thank you very much.
So bottom line, no, swordmakers of old did NOT exhaust the problem space of solutions for hilting. Not surprising when even the historical methods already varied so much across times and cultures--yet each worked.
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