Insane (in the membrane) katana chopping project?
Feb 25, 2009 2:31:25 GMT
Post by Kilted Cossack on Feb 25, 2009 2:31:25 GMT
Ladies and Gents:
I am a goofball, and frequently I have ideas. Sometimes these ideas are good. Sometimes, even with the good ideas, my lack of knowledge means that these ideas---even the good ones, mind you----simply won't work.
I was inspired by the Dread Baskethilt Katana. (Which might have been carried, I suppose, by one of the Dread Pirates Roberts.) See linky thing here: /index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=8963&page=1
Here's what I was thinking of. For various reasons, it is vastly cheaper to get into a "katana-style blade" than to get into a European style blade. When I say "katana-style blade" (hereinafter "ksb") I don't mean a true nihonto or anything like that, I mean something that will be forged from a decent carbon steel, decently tempered, and bearing a decent edge.
Could one follow this basic path to modifying a ksb?
First off, get a ksb. Second, anneal the hilt. Third, trim the hilt from the Japanese style to a more Euro-style length. Fourth, modify and fit a Euro-style guard/cross. Fifth, reshape the hilt in an S-curve so that the upper rear of the hilt is in line with the point. Sixth, fit "messer style" grip scales, and have the tang threaded for a Euro-style pommel?
Here's what I see, in my imagination.
Let's say you started with this: www.kultofathena.com/product~item~SW341BLD~name~Build+Your+Own+Katana+Kit+-+Blue+Dragon.htm
(Yes, you'll have to cut and paste.)
Take a cheap ksb. With a 28" blade and an OAL of 40.5" (or 40 1/2"), that leaves a tang of 12.5" (or 12 1/2"!). Reshape the hilt, after annealing, to resemble a European saber. Whereas a katana (or ksb) is an arc on a curve, what I'm thinking of is a sword that could be used for thrusting or cutting.
Once more: quite frequently, I am not only a goofball but a misinformed goofball. There might be problems here I am not even imagining. But I'm trying to imagine.
Am I just "off my meds" here?
I am a goofball, and frequently I have ideas. Sometimes these ideas are good. Sometimes, even with the good ideas, my lack of knowledge means that these ideas---even the good ones, mind you----simply won't work.
I was inspired by the Dread Baskethilt Katana. (Which might have been carried, I suppose, by one of the Dread Pirates Roberts.) See linky thing here: /index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=8963&page=1
Here's what I was thinking of. For various reasons, it is vastly cheaper to get into a "katana-style blade" than to get into a European style blade. When I say "katana-style blade" (hereinafter "ksb") I don't mean a true nihonto or anything like that, I mean something that will be forged from a decent carbon steel, decently tempered, and bearing a decent edge.
Could one follow this basic path to modifying a ksb?
First off, get a ksb. Second, anneal the hilt. Third, trim the hilt from the Japanese style to a more Euro-style length. Fourth, modify and fit a Euro-style guard/cross. Fifth, reshape the hilt in an S-curve so that the upper rear of the hilt is in line with the point. Sixth, fit "messer style" grip scales, and have the tang threaded for a Euro-style pommel?
Here's what I see, in my imagination.
Let's say you started with this: www.kultofathena.com/product~item~SW341BLD~name~Build+Your+Own+Katana+Kit+-+Blue+Dragon.htm
(Yes, you'll have to cut and paste.)
Take a cheap ksb. With a 28" blade and an OAL of 40.5" (or 40 1/2"), that leaves a tang of 12.5" (or 12 1/2"!). Reshape the hilt, after annealing, to resemble a European saber. Whereas a katana (or ksb) is an arc on a curve, what I'm thinking of is a sword that could be used for thrusting or cutting.
Once more: quite frequently, I am not only a goofball but a misinformed goofball. There might be problems here I am not even imagining. But I'm trying to imagine.
Am I just "off my meds" here?