Modifying a Gift Sword
Apr 16, 2020 21:35:25 GMT
Post by vel on Apr 16, 2020 21:35:25 GMT
Hello! First post here.
I was given an "11th Century Viking style" sword as a gift. I've seen it sold online as "Norse Tradesman Spring Steel Viking Sword".
At $250 it is on the cheaper side for a sword but also very pricy for a gift so I'm thankful.
Upon unboxing it I was striken at first by the nice looking leather work of the scabard, even though ultimately just wood wrapped with leather.
Handling it, however, I found it to be wristbreakingly unbalanced and awkward to use. The weight is so far forward that as a one handed sword it feels like I'm holding an axe from the very tail end of the handle. I'm not used to using this type of sword so some fault may lie with my handling of the blade. I am fairly well versed in the traditional use of heavier old shaolin style Gim swords (the style I learned some of was more slashy and less stabby than most tai chi gim styles ive seen so they used thicker more weight forward swords) and even they had much heavier pomels and the balance was further back.
The blade is 29 3/4 Inches and the center of balance is 9in up from the handguard (I don't know if I'm stating these mesurments the normal way ) Looks like the Pommel is peened in.
The steel is EM-45 Spring Steel
I really want to give it a more harsh taper towards the tip to bring the center of gravity closer to the handle, I also want to trim the tang, replace the handguard and move it up, shortening the blade by about two inches and making it almost a hand and a half handle. I also plan on replacing the handguard and pommel to fit the balance I want. Hopfully looking a little more along the lines of a European Type XIV arming sword with a weirdly long handle when I am finished. This is going to be my first sword modification so any pointers or resourses would be much appriciated!
Thanks for reading and thanks for anyone who can point me in the right direction or advise me as to the quality of EM-45 Steel!
I was given an "11th Century Viking style" sword as a gift. I've seen it sold online as "Norse Tradesman Spring Steel Viking Sword".
At $250 it is on the cheaper side for a sword but also very pricy for a gift so I'm thankful.
Upon unboxing it I was striken at first by the nice looking leather work of the scabard, even though ultimately just wood wrapped with leather.
Handling it, however, I found it to be wristbreakingly unbalanced and awkward to use. The weight is so far forward that as a one handed sword it feels like I'm holding an axe from the very tail end of the handle. I'm not used to using this type of sword so some fault may lie with my handling of the blade. I am fairly well versed in the traditional use of heavier old shaolin style Gim swords (the style I learned some of was more slashy and less stabby than most tai chi gim styles ive seen so they used thicker more weight forward swords) and even they had much heavier pomels and the balance was further back.
The blade is 29 3/4 Inches and the center of balance is 9in up from the handguard (I don't know if I'm stating these mesurments the normal way ) Looks like the Pommel is peened in.
The steel is EM-45 Spring Steel
I really want to give it a more harsh taper towards the tip to bring the center of gravity closer to the handle, I also want to trim the tang, replace the handguard and move it up, shortening the blade by about two inches and making it almost a hand and a half handle. I also plan on replacing the handguard and pommel to fit the balance I want. Hopfully looking a little more along the lines of a European Type XIV arming sword with a weirdly long handle when I am finished. This is going to be my first sword modification so any pointers or resourses would be much appriciated!
Thanks for reading and thanks for anyone who can point me in the right direction or advise me as to the quality of EM-45 Steel!