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Post by arivendare on Dec 13, 2023 22:59:34 GMT
Hey guys, this is semi old sword I’ve owned for a few years but have just recently realized there is what appears to be a small crack or deep scratch right by the hand guard. It doesn’t go all the way to the edge of the steel, the steel is 1/4 1075 from a good dealer. Any ideas what I’m looking at? Thanks! Sorry if the pictures are bad, I can not get my camera to focus well. Attachments:
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Post by larason2 on Dec 13, 2023 23:05:23 GMT
Looks like a weld line to me. It's a part at the edge of a weld that didn't weld. Still looks extremely well welded, so I wouldn't worry about it.
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Post by arivendare on Dec 14, 2023 4:36:54 GMT
Looks like a weld line to me. It's a part at the edge of a weld that didn't weld. Still looks extremely well welded, so I wouldn't worry about it. I don’t think there’s any welds on this one, I think it’s one full solid bar of 1/4 1075
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Post by mrstabby on Dec 14, 2023 6:44:32 GMT
Try taking the photo in sunlight. You might be able to take a better pic of it. Or a stronger light source like a flshlight where you can angle the light.
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Post by izzy on Dec 14, 2023 6:54:25 GMT
Could be a milling mark or an "oppsie" when grinding out, or a corner that was not ground off, etc....one could always try to sand it and see if it comes off.
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Post by arivendare on Dec 14, 2023 14:53:41 GMT
Could be a milling mark or an "oppsie" when grinding out, or a corner that was not ground off, etc....one could always try to sand it and see if it comes off. I tried sanding it but it took a while and didn’t change and I was worried about damaging the wood handle.
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Post by mrstabby on Dec 14, 2023 15:56:57 GMT
You could try a sharpie or any other permanent marker. I am not sure, if I can explain. Clean the defect with solvent (alcohol, acetone, something to get the oil off as much as possible). Let it dry a bit, then apply the marker to the spot. If it's a crack, the sharpie will get wicked in by capillary action and firstly you might be able to see it flowing into the hair crack and secondly you won't be able to wipe it off with alcohol and you might see if the crack extends deeper.
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Post by arivendare on Dec 14, 2023 19:41:49 GMT
You could try a sharpie or any other permanent marker. I am not sure, if I can explain. Clean the defect with solvent (alcohol, acetone, something to get the oil off as much as possible). Let it dry a bit, then apply the marker to the spot. If it's a crack, the sharpie will get wicked in by capillary action and firstly you might be able to see it flowing into the hair crack and secondly you won't be able to wipe it off with alcohol and you might see if the crack extends deeper. Okay, I’ll give that a shot. I’ll also try and take photos with more light. It’s very dark and overcast where I’m at right now but I’ll try and see what I can do. Thanks!
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Post by arivendare on Dec 14, 2023 22:54:14 GMT
Try taking the photo in sunlight. You might be able to take a better pic of it. Or a stronger light source like a flshlight where you can angle the light. Here’s a better photo Attachments:
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Post by mrstabby on Dec 15, 2023 9:52:25 GMT
Still hard to say how deep it is, but I also think it might be a weld or forging defect. If you can't find any hairline cracks going outwards, should be fine.
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Post by arivendare on Dec 15, 2023 16:23:29 GMT
Still hard to say how deep it is, but I also think it might be a weld or forging defect. If you can't find any hairline cracks going outwards, should be fine. I did the sharpie thing you mentioned, it obviously isn’t just surface because some of the sharpie was left but I could not see any runnings of hairline cracks outward from that area.
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Post by larason2 on Dec 15, 2023 17:15:53 GMT
Lots of smiths forge the blade, then weld the tang on later. If they weld it on, it's often a bar of the same metal as they were using otherwise. That way, if the blade doesn't work out, they just lose the metal of the blade. If properly welded, it should be just as strong. It's true it could be an "oppsie," but usually that would run the full thickness of the tang, and you'd expect the metal grain to be the same on either side. If you look at your second picture, the grain of the metal doesn't line up perfectly across the join. Also, across the join, you can see evidence of the weld grain going into the metal on either side. As I said though, looks really solidly welded. A forging defect is also basically a weld that didn't take in that area.
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Post by mrstabby on Dec 16, 2023 7:42:01 GMT
Lots of smiths forge the blade, then weld the tang on later. If they weld it on, it's often a bar of the same metal as they were using otherwise. That way, if the blade doesn't work out, they just lose the metal of the blade. If properly welded, it should be just as strong. It's true it could be an "oppsie," but usually that would run the full thickness of the tang, and you'd expect the metal grain to be the same on either side. If you look at your second picture, the grain of the metal doesn't line up perfectly across the join. Also, across the join, you can see evidence of the weld grain going into the metal on either side. As I said though, looks really solidly welded. A forging defect is also basically a weld that didn't take in that area. So you see a difference too? I thought I was imagining that there is a line of sorts, the steel suddenly looks slightly different. So pretty much certain it's a weld.
If it hasn't failed yet, it should be fine unless you go crazy with it.
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Post by eastman on Dec 16, 2023 18:53:13 GMT
To me it looks like a gouge from the edge of a sander belt. I've made similar marks when sanding into a curve with a flat-plate backed belt. You avoid that kind of mark by using a belt grinder with a really small contact wheel.
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Post by arivendare on Dec 18, 2023 15:01:48 GMT
I contacted the maker and he pointed out that the tang is not welded but in fact it’s a grind mark from the change in angle at that point. Thanks for the input!
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Post by mrstabby on Dec 18, 2023 15:35:53 GMT
Good. Are you willing to show the whole sword? I am intrigued by the handle.
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Post by glendon on Dec 19, 2023 14:47:58 GMT
Okay, somebody has to:
"Scratch or crack? Man, ya'll ain't got no scratch, ya'll ain't gettin' no crack!"
We apologize, and return you now to your regularly-scheduled program...
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Post by izzy on Dec 19, 2023 16:04:45 GMT
I contacted the maker and he pointed out that the tang is not welded but in fact it’s a grind mark from the change in angle at that point. Thanks for the input! I sure looks like Full Tang, glad they got back to you, at least you don't have to worry about it now.
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