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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2008 20:33:48 GMT
What is it that brings you to the craft of sword and knife making? What part of it entices your imagination? What about it is the most romantic to you? Lastly, what does it MEAN to you?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2008 21:58:44 GMT
What brings me here? I think that it is desire to take raw materials and make them into something useful. When I hold steel stone or bone the life that is there burns in my soul. It's crying out for new life, so my imagination goes nuts. Make something silly, useful, or period correct. To recreate something period correct brings a lot of heart into it. To honor those from our past. to try to regain the feeling of life that they had. to wonder and the wonder of it all. This puts me in a connection with my past family from Scottland, highlanders, and lowlanders. I do not want to loose my real heart in this either. This creating something from raw materials brings me closer to my creator God too. He has given me the abilities to do this , so in turn give back to Him in honor. Daniel
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2008 2:28:35 GMT
Well I just love working with metal. So far I've only done welding, cold smithing, and making chain mail, but I hope someday I'll be able to do some blacksmithing.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2008 7:47:30 GMT
Those are kind of hard questions for me to answer because I can't really imagine anybody not wanting to make blades. I started grinding out knives when I was a kid, pretty much as soon as my parents let me touch power tools. My grandmother always maintained it was in the blood, her father's side of the family were smiths. Personally I can say two main things motivate me. One is that I'm just very particular about the way I like things and I can rarely find anything from a manufacturer that perfectly matches my desires. The other is that I like to experiment with different ideas and alternative solutions to problems. It's kind of like a combination of puzzle solving and exploration. In the past I've played around with some forging on a very small scale, like short knife blades and a harpoon point for jugging alligators but I've mostly done stock removal on blades up to khukuri size. I'm looking to get a real anvil and forge, I'm also studying up on sword making.
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Aug 19, 2008 21:27:49 GMT
Blah.
It is a fun hobby that occupies my evenings. I enjoy the whole aspect it affords. It is also a skill that few people develop successfully, and is something a bit different.
Great fun.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2008 0:44:03 GMT
I've always been the type to tinker with anything I could get my hands on, and have always loved knives and swords. I guess this just seems like a natural impasse between the two. That and if I turn out to be any good at it, it would be a nice way to earn some extra money
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2008 3:04:19 GMT
wow every reason i can think for starting blade smithing have been said. even before my parents allowed me to look at power tools i was putting edges on sticks by grinding them on the sidewalk. when i got my first knife i carved wooden swords and knives. and when i found a piece of metal and put an edge on it with files i was hooked. i guess my main reason for finally putting a forge together and getting all the tools was the fact that i want to be self reliant, i love knives but i don't like buying them now i can just make my own exactly how i want them, not to mention its a darn cool hobby .
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2008 17:04:47 GMT
That's just too funny! I used to grind out wooden swords on the sidewalk too! It must be a genetic condition. I'd guess if we were born 10,000 years ago we'd be knapping flint and if we were born 10,000 years from now we'd be making lightsabers. Heck, I've already tried the former and I'd really like to do the latter but haven't come up with a feasible power source.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2008 19:38:35 GMT
I haven't started yet but I am reading and hoping to one day be in a position to do it. I think the perfection of the art is what draws me to it, just as I am draw to learning the sword because of the perfection of the art. Every day I seek to perfect myself, to grow in some new way and I feel that smithing would be a great direction to go in. There is something so beautiful about a finished blade, I look at Jay Fisher and his blades are not just blades, they are art of a level that few approach, he has perfected the beauty of the sword. The most romantic part for me is the way that steel reacts to fire and the way that fire purifies and beautifies the ugliness of steel. It would mean that I would no longer have to pay for blades that I wanted and most important to me it is like anything else about achieving a level of perfection that is recognized by peers.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2008 21:44:52 GMT
I was actually inspired by brenno's stuff. While looking at his production stages I felt that I could so it too and save myself a lot of cash in the process I've made knives before though, but thats just the result boyhood
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2008 0:56:16 GMT
I'm in the knowledge gathering process now. Partly because there are things I would like to see made that never will be unless I make it myself. Partly because I like to take pride in building things, watching them take shape and seeing the end result. I used to do auto body for awhile. It's nice to see the rusted or wrecked hulk, then after work see the final product. I would love to take a small block of steel and make something beautiful.
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Sept 6, 2008 7:23:41 GMT
I don't know how to answer the question. I have always loved the fantasy stories that revolve around swords - the Barbarian, and Medieval ones mainly, though a Ninja period in my teens did occur. To be able to make my own, and especially to design my own is a real personal expression for me.
The straw that broke the cammels back and got me making was the fact that I couldn't afford to buy any decent swords here in Aus, not to mention the Red Tape and BS which goes along with trying to buy them from overseas. Y'all would have seen my several customisations that I undertook before making my first one. My Mrs kept saying, "Make one from scratch", but I dismissed her suggestion.
Until a heartbreaking experience trying to buy a serious sword from OS forced my hand, and I haven't looked back.
Now I have an obsession with making the next piece. When each piece is right I put it away and don't really take another look. It's all about what I'm wanting to create next. When I have the plan visualised in my head it irks me until I get it into material form. It has it's jolly highs and heartbreaking disappointments. It's like a battle, with imperfection being the enemy, but life is not black and white, I can only do my best, and try to achieve perfection, though it's not obtainable. But I do my best, and the successes make it worth while.
Also because I am limited by equipment, in that each piece is really sculptured in wood and metal by hand, it's not going to be as perfect as a machine made piece. Also to be able to easily cast from wax or the like would open up so many doors.
When I send a piece to it's new owner I'm so scared that they will be disappointed. To hear that they love it is such a relief. I'm so scared that a collectors critical eye will only see the imperfections.
I hope they see the spirit that the piece embodies.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2008 5:05:36 GMT
Hello folks...
I've been lurking for a little while now, mostly soaking up information. I've been interested in swords and such for about as long as I can remember. Bought my first fantasy novel (Dragons of Autumn Twilight lol) when I was in fourth grade, but prior to that I'd read the school library dry of books like 'The Riddlemaster of Hed', the Wizard of Earthsea books, and of course things like the Chronicles of Narnia etc. Owning swords when I came of age was just a natural extension...although I must say my major interest has gone from your typical fantasy style double edged straight blades to pretty much anything Katana lol.
Which leads my to why my introductory post is here. What has drawn me most towards making knives (and eventually swords!) is the absolute perfection and beauty I've seen brought out in Japanese steel. To be able to have a hand in that sort of perfection is incredibly cool (for lack of a better word!). Don't get me wrong, the appreciation for the actual steel that was drawn out of me by Japanese style swords has slowly grown to encompass most every style of bladed instruments. When looking at ANY weapon anymore, be it Katana, longsword, Wak, Tanto, rapier, khukri, whatever...my first thought is always 'If I'd done it, I'd have changed this, and this...and maybe that too' lol. Well...almost always. I've seen a few that I wouldn't change a thing on...but not many. I know this is simply a function of me having strong personal tastes...and it doesn't stop me from appreciating someone elses work at all. What it does (I've figured out recently) is inspire me to go figure out a way to do my own, better lol.
Anyhow, I'm not sure that makes a lot of sense, but it is what it is. My first Katana was a Paul Chen PPK, and it didn't take long before I had created my own tsuba, and reworked the factory furniture to suit my own tastes. Years later (tonight as a matter of fact!), I've finally began forging my first knife blank out. Hopefully it will be sword blades soon enough (another year? Two? lol). Surprisingly enough though, I'm finding I'm enjoying the process of making as much or more than the process of finishing (I think Sam can relate, from what I've read lol, eh?).
Anyway, there's my reason for being here. Thanks for providing us an enjoyable place to discuss these things, and learn more about them!
Cris
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2008 14:41:00 GMT
Hehe you ball breaker hehe, I have finished things you know:D. I like where this thread is going.......
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2008 15:26:31 GMT
Hehe you ball breaker hehe, I have finished things you know:D. I like where this thread is going....... lol yeah =) I do understand though lol...beginning to make each new idea is incredibly enjoyable...the final stretch is what's hard. Bringing an idea to a close while all the other ideas are banging around in your head wanting to get out. Like yesterday I made a conscious effort NOT to start another project. Instead I took my knife (from the 'My First Knife) thread out and polished it properly...just to develop the skills and make that knife more 'complete'. I started at 400 grit and made sure EVERY damn file mark or scuff was gone before moving up in grit all the way to 2000. I know the edge is flawed...but the knife is still very usable, and as my first effort I want it to be the best it can. I do have other ideas running around in my head lol. I just know myself well enough to know that if I don't finish one project before starting the next...the first will never get done. Now to rewrap this thing so I can get started on the next one! Cris
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2008 20:39:15 GMT
The first book that my mom ever read to me was a collection of Arthurian legends and then came the robin hood stories and it seemed to spiral from there
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2008 4:46:06 GMT
I do it for the sparks. Each one living for but a moment but still they lived a life. They light they universe with all their might for just a moment to cast a light, almost like a blessing, upon the work from which they were spawned. They lived for but a moment but it was a moment still.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2008 17:17:05 GMT
;p If anyone has heard of an anime called Berserk then they will get what I mean but to tell you the truth I just love looking at hot steel along with working with metal in general.
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Post by mythosequidae on Nov 1, 2008 3:06:57 GMT
I consider this a lot. Why are instruments of destruction so appealing. I love handguns. I'm obsessed with blades. Why? I don't admire the kitchen knives on end. I don't remove the lawnmower blade and wave it around. My theory. I love fineness. Jewellery and all that resembles it. Swords, Firearms, Motorcycles, ALL racecraft (if it has been optimized for speed, you can assume that each component shares the beauty and detail of jewellery). I can't really think of another reason. Simply because every detail of every component has endured extreme attention. Don't even bring up F1 cars.........
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