A few pictures of my short sword

[David Stifle]

Last month I emailed Jimmy Fikes and got his Ok to do a version of his Jungle Honey design. As I began work, I almost immediately started deviating from his original work. First, I chose 5160 steel, it's a steel I use a lot and am familiar with, but it also meant no hamon like the original. Second, I wanted to do a kind of Persian type of blade. Of course, I kept the most important part of Jimmy's design, the short blade/long handle feature. I think it is a great survival sword, versatile in everyday camp stuff, and badass enough to be a very good defensive weapon.

The blade is 16.5", the handle is 16". It weighs 3 pounds, and cuts like a monster. With the long handle, you can swing it unchecked, full force, like a baseball bat. I nailed the HT, and it takes down thick branches with no damage to the edge. It cuts rope like thread. When I run out'a ammo, this is plan B. All comments welcomed.

 

[Nixelplix]

That's awesome!

 

[David Stifle]

Thanks Josh. I'm starting to think of it as a large waki on steroids. Just'a hell'va cutter.

 

[BePrepared]

that's like something from Lord of the Rings.. awesome!

 

[David Stifle]

Thanks a lot! As I said, this is a derivative of the Jimmy Fikes/Don Fogg collaboration. The two best examples are the cloud cutter and the dragonfly. I chose a modified persian style for this blade, but I am in the process of making other swords with long handles, and the realm of possibilities is endless. I threw in a couple of pictures of other styles, for no particular reason, other than they are pretty cool too.

Comments are welcomed.

 

[JewelryMaker]

That has hard use zombie killer written all over it.....nice job:thumbup:

The only thing I am not super crazy about is the castrator pommel. I think it looks good but I could imagine opening up the artery in my forearm with that bad boy if I got a little too animated.

Overall still a killer piece though

 

[Paul Brach]

I was thinking the same thing. It is a super cool piece with great aesthetics and first class grinds but knowing myself I have a feeling that after I got through with an all out assault on the vegitation in my back yard, I would find a three foot section of my small intestine laying on the ground.
Really cool stuff though! Thanks for sharing.

 

[crimsonfalcon07]

Actually, that makes me think... I wonder if Mr Stifle could do a spear, styled on the ashandarei (based on a naginata or quandao, I'm sure) from Robert Jordan's fantasy book series. The blade on this piece looks pretty similar, and it makes me think it might be fun to use like a staff or pudao.

 

[mrjet1982]

Cool Blade Bro !! I love short swords and Have made a few of my own .

 

[BePrepared]

Actually, that makes me think... I wonder if Mr Stifle could do a spear, styled on the ashandarei (based on a naginata or quandao, I'm sure) from Robert Jordan's fantasy book series. The blade on this piece looks pretty similar, and it makes me think it might be fun to use like a staff or pudao.

Left nut... trade if for that I would

 

[C.S. Graves]

Looks like what'd happen if you crossed a bowie with a panabas. :thumbup:

 

[David Stifle]

I've been away for about a month without the use of a computer. I'm glad I checked this thread, and happy to see some more comments. I've finished the sword, sanding the blade to 400 grit, adding slabs, wrapping them in thin leather, covering the leather with spar varnish, and then adding paracord and turks head knot. I also finished the sheath, adding a hammered brass fitting to hold attach strap rings. I then made another companion sword, this one though is a one handled model,again with the same blade profile and pommel. I have yet to make a sheath for the second blade.

I know the larger sword will have to be carried sling style on the left side, for a right hand draw. I'm thinking of trying to mount the second blade in a back carry rig.

 

[David Stifle]

Actually, that makes me think... I wonder if Mr Stifle could do a spear, styled on the ashandarei (based on a naginata or quandao, I'm sure) from Robert Jordan's fantasy book series. The blade on this piece looks pretty similar, and it makes me think it might be fun to use like a staff or pudao.

I'll have to look into it, it sounds like fun. Can you post a picture? I'd appreciate it as I'm always looking for new ideas. If you look at the original pictureof the sword I posted, image a slighter longer handle with an identical blade on each end. Like the Kliyons use in Star Trek? I just can't think of the name.

And Please, everyone, no Mr. Stifle, it's Dave.

 

[crimsonfalcon07]

Here's some of the cover art. Very much like a naginata, but with a wider and slightly more curved blade.

Klingon sword is a bat-leth or something like that. My wife would love one of those

 

[David Stifle]

Thanks for the picture. Actually, a spear like that wouldn't be hard to make. But I'd prefer a spear with a short haft, overall lenght around 3 feet. More of an African stabbing spear. The Bat-leth would be fun. I was thinking of some kind of quick release mechanism in the middle of the handle, so it could disengage and be used as two short swords. A quick connect, and you again have the bat-leth configuration. In this way, I could properly heat treat and temper both blades. Just a thought, I have so many things whirling around in my head, I'll probably never get to them all. Lot'sa plans, so little time, haha.

 

[crimsonfalcon07]

Funny thing is, another one of the races of characters in that series (the Aiel) use short stabbing spears with long blades, very like the assegai. So you'd still potentially be making a Wheel of Time blade.

 

[David Stifle]

The Wheel of Time! Damn, ain't that cool! Should I engrave that on the blade in Middle earth lingo? I do have a JR Tolkien english to middle earth transulator. It also includes noridic, elvish, and I think, latin. I guess you can tell I never read the book....

 

[BePrepared]

if you ever make a really usable version of that spear with a 5-6 foot overall length, and with a good quality steel, you can call me the first in line for one

 

[David Stifle]

if you ever make a really usable version of that spear with a 5-6 foot overall length, and with a good quality steel, you can call me the first in line for one

Making the blade is easy, well..I mean I've done it on a regular basis. The problem lays in the heat treating and especially the tempering. Most makers, including me, can only temper an overall lenght of around 26 or 27 inches. That includes the tang. So, say you make a 18" blade, you'd only have a nine inch tang to support a 5' shaft. I've seen guys do this, but they have a collar arounf the shaft with pins through the iron collar into shaft and through the the tang. A good solid sturdy construction. But not picture pretty. Functional as hell, but...

I'll be happy to make you a blade with tang fittings, if you want to mount the shaft yourself

If you want to pursue this, best to go to Pm's.

 

[chuxwan]

While I really like it, it seems the only commonality with the Fikes jungle honey is the length of handle and blade.