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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2009 4:13:21 GMT
Hey hey!
I was wondering if any of you knows of any good targets to test a blade that won't scratch the etching on a damascus blade. I recently purchased a very nice witchking replica from the guys at DSA and well, I'd like to see how it performs without ruining the amazing etching. She wasn't particularly cheap and I would really be pissed if I damaged it. However, I'm not looking for easy targets like milk jugs, but something that will actually test the blade's cutting ability. I was thinking about the pool noodles, but it seems more like a test of skill and strength rather than a test of a blade's capacities (but I may be wrong). Thanks!
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jan 29, 2009 6:19:05 GMT
that's a tough question. pretty much anything you cut has the chance to scratch your blade. with that in mind I think tatami, nice clean, new ones like you can get from Mugen Dachi would be the best bet.
so is your damask pattern-welded in or is it just etched onto a non-welded blade? etched on mono steel is going to fail I think no matter what you cut, while pattern-welded and etched to bring out the difference can be cleaned, polished and re-etched to return the pattern. if you really just couldn't stand to see any scratches in it, maybe you should choke down the fact that you shouldn't cut with it. sorry this isn't a more positive response but I just don't se how you could cut pretty much anything without any chance of scratches. whatever you do DON'T use plastic bottles. hopefully some-one more informed will come by and save you from the fate of not cutting with your beautiful sword.
good luck
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2009 6:42:57 GMT
pool noodles=zero scratching
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jan 29, 2009 13:34:41 GMT
I agree. I kind of overlooked them because I've never cut one. can't see anything that would scratch a sword on a noodle. though if your damascus pattern is etched on as opposed to true pattern welded then it could still get rubbed off. if it IS folded/pattern welded that there's no worries about pool noodles.
hey it's the swordsman that makes the cut without you the sword is just furniture. I don't see anything wrong with testing the swordsman. I suspect that to cut a noodle a sword has to be pretty sharp though, so I can see it being a good test of the sword too.
hope we've helped.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2009 14:16:59 GMT
Yeah from experience the only thing the noodles do is they sometimes leave bits of residue on the blade. Aside from that you'd be hard pressed to scratch a sword blade with a pool noodle.
Tom's right though - if you're truly concerned about not scratching/damaging your blade you shouldn't cut with it at all. That's a personal decision every sword owner has to make - do you cut with the sword and thereby risk damage to your sword or do you just hang it on a wall and resign yourself to not cutting with it?
I can tell you that virtually everything else leaves scratches (some leave smaller scratches than others). Pool noodles are you best bet (as Ken made clear) but even then you risk scratching if there's anything on or in the noodles that is abrasive. Of course a properly heat treated blade wouldn't scratch very easily - I've put a couple Hanwei katana through wood without scratching.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2009 15:08:37 GMT
Hey guys, thanks for the replies! The blade is pattern welded, and the patterns on the blade are very prominent (as in you can feel the demarcations with your nail kind of prominent). This is the actual blade /index.cgi?board=europeansword&action=display&thread=7624&page=3I guess I'll give a shot to the pool noodles once the winter is over. As for not cutting with it, I'm sorry, but it's out of the question. It's a fantastic blade, but it's not an historic museum blade where I'd be risking a part of human history. I would feel like a guy who bought a brand new Ferrari and who leaves it sitting in his garage just to gawk at it from time to time...nah, sort of disrespectful for the maker in my book. Alright, thanks! Federico
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Post by 293master293 on Jan 29, 2009 15:36:28 GMT
If they still make swordfodder targets, that might work.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2009 18:58:05 GMT
Hmm so you're the guy who commissioned that blade. Well I'd have just written it off as an expensive wall-hanger. Not saying it was not functional but its a show piece in my mind. Anyway good luck cutting with it. Hopefully it doesn't sustain too many scratches. By the way - if the pattern is so prominent that you can feel each ridge/valley etc with your fingernail you might find that its cutting ability might be less than you'd expect. Those little ridges and valleys create points of friction that can impede your cut. I could be wrong but well I'd think that would be the case.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2009 21:54:01 GMT
Yeah, I guess it would impair cutting slightly, although it's not like I plan on using it on cutting competitions or anything of the sort, let alone structural integrity tests (hell no!). It's just a question of testing the functionnality of what I have.
Don't worry about the blade though, I've been through my "I wanna try to cut anything in my path" phase already with my cold steel katana. I've had the thing for a good six years and I got that out of the system some time ago.
As for sword fodder, it seems that the guys who made it went out of business, but I can always find high density styrofoam somewhere.
Anyways, thanks for the replies!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2009 23:07:31 GMT
Basically any soft foam will work, nice blade you have there btw.
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