|
Post by highlandredneck on Apr 15, 2021 2:32:15 GMT
Hi new member here, came for knowledge about swords and DIY customization. I have a HT emshs and a Cold Steel basket hilt im looking to fit together. I've seen some of the others that have done this, if they could chime in that would be awesome. What are the thread size/ measurement on the tang? As anyone ever thought of using a stainless/ non stainless steel knob instead of the factory pommel . The CS pommel is crazy heavy for a pommel I feel, at least with a basket hilt. So yeah any info or thoughts, I'm open ears. Did historical antique basket hilt swords have peened or threaded tangs primarily?
|
|
|
Post by nebulatech on Apr 16, 2021 2:41:49 GMT
The heavy pommel may be intentional to move the center of gravity toward the handle, but in general I've found Cold Steel swords to be on the heavy side. I do carry a CS pocket knive daily.
|
|
|
Post by highlandredneck on Apr 16, 2021 19:03:35 GMT
I was just curious if a lighter pommel with diffrent blade will improve the handling. I like the profile of the HT blade more, taper is much better. What other pommels will fit the HT emshs blade, besides the wheel and the custom one from lgmartialarts?
|
|
|
Post by highlandredneck on Apr 20, 2021 19:00:23 GMT
So thoughts, would it be better to mod the tinker blade or the Cold Steel hilt to fit?
|
|
|
Post by nebulatech on Apr 21, 2021 2:49:19 GMT
Pictures and some details would help to understand the need for modification. Obviously, the parts don't fit as is. There are a few considerations:
- destructive vs non-destructive - after any destructive modification, which sword can be reassembled as original? Which do you like better, or which has highest resale value? - will the modified work be safe? - can you just make a new handle, not use the Cold Steel parts at all?
As a follow up re: the pommel, it would be worth your time to temporarily replace the heavy pommel with a simple nut, just to feel the difference in performance. Practice a few moves, cut something, see if you like the change in weight and balance.
|
|
|
Post by highlandredneck on Apr 21, 2021 14:15:01 GMT
Sorry I'm still trying to figure out how to add photos with my phone, alas I have not. As for the modding, I'll need a new handle made. The tang of the HT blade is a few millimeters thicker and wider, all that fits in to the hilt are the threads. So filing the Baskethilt to fit the blade, or grind and reshape the tang to fit the baskethilt? Those are the options I'm seeing. I saw a member, Kilted Cossack, did the same mod. I wonder what he did?
|
|
|
Post by highlandredneck on Apr 21, 2021 15:37:51 GMT
I'm still bouncing it around in my head, I like the CS sword, after removing the pommel it feels much livelier. I was eyeing the Dunvegan set for the HT blade, they are all sold out currently. What's the thoughts on a replacement pommel, this thing is crazy heavy. Without it the pob is 4" maybe 4.5". I'm may be wrong I didnt actually measure it... I'm still in the air about it.
|
|
|
Post by nebulatech on Apr 22, 2021 3:18:55 GMT
I can't comment on the performance, having never handled it, but if you are satisfied, that's what counts.
A general rule is never take steel from the blade. You can get a set of small files and make the handle hole wider. Amazon or, believe it or not, auto parts stores, should have these files. Alternatively, a drill press may work. You would probably need to buy a long bit (I believe 18" is the size available) then cut the bit shorter to fit in the drill press. However, many drill presses don't have a lot of travel, so plan it out. Clamping the workpiece may prove interesting. Heck, if you're confident enough, you can drill it with a hand drill. Only you know if you possess the experience...
Drilling or filing the grip is probably the way to go. If you ever want to revert back to original, you can fill the tang hole with thickened epoxy or polyester and re-drill for the smaller tang.
|
|
|
Post by nebulatech on Apr 22, 2021 3:26:28 GMT
I was eyeing the Dunvegan set for the HT blade, they are all sold out currently. What's the thoughts on a replacement pommel, this thing is crazy heavy. Might be a good idea to contact the seller of the Dunvegan set, ask when they will have it. They want to make a sale, I'm sure they are happy to chat. Re: pommel, I don't have any guidance. It's very personal, what will look acceptable to you, does it need to be custom fabricated? There are SBG members who can do this for you. Also, there is a sticky on posting photos. I had to re-read it yesterday myself.
|
|
|
Post by pellius on Apr 22, 2021 3:47:54 GMT
|
|
|
Post by highlandredneck on Apr 22, 2021 6:18:25 GMT
Here is the tangs, the left is the CS. The right is the HT. The baskethilt, which is still mounted to the cs blade has minimal space to wiggle. These photos show it with no pomme. There is a metal spacer ring that goes over the handle then sits in gap of the basket and handle
|
|
|
Post by markus313 on Apr 22, 2021 15:51:31 GMT
So what I did with this mod was I shortened the tang, dilled the grip’s tang hole just so it had sufficient material left and then ground off a bit of material from the tang, which of course also needed to be rethreaded using a tap and die tool.
IIRC, the Hanwei blades have M6 (metric size) threads, the CS threads are a bit smaller (imperial size).
|
|
|
Post by highlandredneck on Apr 22, 2021 17:28:24 GMT
So what I did with this mod was I shortened the tang, dilled the grip’s tang hole just so it had sufficient material left and then ground off a bit of material from the tang, which of course also needed to be rethreaded using a tap and die tool.
IIRC, the Hanwei blades have M6 (metric size) threads, the CS threads are a bit smaller (imperial size).
Did the mortuary hilt have the same pommel style as the Scottish hilt? I was not really wanting to alter the tang much if any, it is one aspect I liked more. The cold steel tang looks puny in comparison.
|
|
|
Post by markus313 on Apr 22, 2021 20:04:36 GMT
So what I did with this mod was I shortened the tang, dilled the grip’s tang hole just so it had sufficient material left and then ground off a bit of material from the tang, which of course also needed to be rethreaded using a tap and die tool.
IIRC, the Hanwei blades have M6 (metric size) threads, the CS threads are a bit smaller (imperial size).
Did the mortuary hilt have the same pommel style as the Scottish hilt? I was not really wanting to alter the tang much if any, it is one aspect I liked more. The cold steel tang looks puny in comparison. It seems the Scottish basket hilt’s pommel holds directly onto the tang, whereas the English Backsword’s pommel is held on by a separate nut which reaches down into the inside of the pommel and presses down on it from above when tightened.
Didn’t need to take of much from the Hanwei bare blade’s tang, perhaps just a millimeter from each side right below the shoulders. That tang is still very strong. I didn't want to make a new grip, since the original one seemed well fitting (it also reaches into the pommel from below for a few millimeters).
|
|
|
Post by highlandredneck on Apr 22, 2021 21:53:27 GMT
My scottish BH has the same style of pommel, a conical pommel with a retention nut cylinder, roughly an inch or so long. I'll get a photo when I get home. (Heres said pommel) And its solid and heavy Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by nebulatech on Apr 23, 2021 2:49:29 GMT
I would file down the wood. Even better, does the wood core come out? You can make a new core from two halves of wood. This lets you trace the exact pattern and chisel it out, then glue the two halves together. If you start with the two halves being much longer (8"-10") tha. You need, you have some fall-off that you can clamp with. A round over or bullnose router bit will help round over your core.
|
|
|
Post by highlandredneck on Apr 23, 2021 3:18:52 GMT
I can remove the handle, but the core is well in there. I thought of using a little file to fit the Tinker blade tang. Ide still have to file the basket hilt to accept the tinker. I'm still considering a diffrent pommel on the stock sword its self. The sword is super nice without it. The way it compession fits without the pommel leaves the bottom of the basket free to move. As a small ring spacer is used to fill the space between the handle and basket( see above pictures).
|
|
|
Post by nebulatech on Apr 24, 2021 4:07:48 GMT
If you aren't too concerned with appearances, you might find a fender washer to fill in the space for the basket hilt, then a slightly larger one on top. Washers are thin and usually soft steel, do they are easy to sand down to make them fit.
Thinking about modifying the core, a file will work, but you might find a thin wood rasp. Same idea as a file, but more aggressive ( it works faster ). Either way, wood files easier than metal, and it would be a travesty to wreck that beefy tang.
|
|
|
Post by highlandredneck on May 3, 2021 0:13:06 GMT
So I decided not to swap blades. I removed the blueing, added a flange bearing to the bottom of the handle, and rethreaded a drawer knob for the pommel. The knob is really solid. I broke the tap in the first one I attempted, throwing it on my concrete garage floor in a rage merely scuffed it. The second throw proved as fatal as the first. It's even lighter than the factory pommel.
|
|
|
Post by highlandredneck on May 3, 2021 0:33:45 GMT
Can this be moved to the sword customization section .
|
|