A just for fun project, in process.

Phillip Patton

Phillip Patton

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jul 25, 2005
Messages
5,383
A month or so ago, one of my friends hinted around that he might want me to make him a wallhanger sword. I told him what some swords go for, and he almost had a heart attack. :D
He doesn't know it yet, but I'm planning on giving him a sword, or just letting him pay what he can afford. At any rate, here it is, after forging, with no grinding done yet. The original drawing is next to it.

It's aluminum bronze, and the total length is about 29-1/2" I'm planning on doing a leather lace handle, with turks head knots at each end. Does anyone have a good tutorial for tying those?


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I was feeling pretty burned out, trying to get ready for Blade, as well as filling orders, so I decided to take a day or two off from making knives, and work on this instead.
 
Your buddy's gonna be psyched - that thing's cool!

Say Phillip, are you making knives full time? You've really been banging them out
 
Thanks, Stacy! I'll have to study those for a while. I was never real good a tying knots...

Wulf said:
Your buddy's gonna be psyched - that thing's cool!

Say Phillip, are you making knives full time? You've really been banging them out
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Thanks! I kind of like it myself. He may end up never seeing it. :D
Yes, I am full time.


Mace, if I come to Blade, I will definitely bring it. :cool:
 
I got The Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding by Bruce Grant to help with my whipmaking but it has knots and braiding techniques for all kinds of projects, even a knife handle or two. It also has tons of info on making your own rawhide. I haven't done it (I live inside the city limits and I would imagine it's a smelly process) but it's also got info on coloring your rawhide, like using Easter egg dyes, tea and rusty iron for black, etc. Highly recommended.
 
jackrabbitslim said:
I got The Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding by Bruce Grant to help with my whipmaking but it has knots and braiding techniques for all kinds of projects, even a knife handle or two. It also has tons of info on making your own rawhide. I haven't done it (I live inside the city limits and I would imagine it's a smelly process) but it's also got info on coloring your rawhide, like using Easter egg dyes, tea and rusty iron for black, etc. Highly recommended.
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Hmmm, sounds interesting, thanks! I'll see if my library has it.
 
Great idea! I've been dreaming of trying to make an aluminum bronze Hoplite sword some day whey I got good enough. You beat me too it.

I really want to see how this comes out.
 
Boy Phil, you sure made that look easy.:thumbup:
Very, very nice.:D
Mace
 
Didn't realize I liked swords of that style so much, now I'm going have to start saving up.

Your lucky the person wants a normal sword made though. My cousin wants me to make some advanced 6ft (!) fantasy based design based on one of his character drawings when I get better. (30+ years from now, since I'm still in early learnign stage) He has no idea what it would cost to make such a sword.
 
That's amazing Phillip!!!
Your friend must have been watching Troy at the same time I was! :)
Watching Pitt sling that sword around made me want to make one too!!!! :D
 
Edro20 said:
How long did the grinding take? Looks flawless!!
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Oh, it is definitely not flawless. :rolleyes: A picture covers a multitude of sins....

The grinding took about an hour, hour and a half. Polishing took less than an hour, I think. I wet sanded it, so it took hardly any paper, and went really fast. I'm becoming a real fan of wet sanding. Bronze is much easier to work with than steel, at least as far as grinding and polishing goes. Drilling and filing is not as easy.

Here it is now. The grind lines got kind of washed out when I was slack belt polishing.... It has a mirror polish now.


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I just finished it this morning, and I'll probably be giving it to my buddy this afternoon.

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I settled on camel bone for the handle. What do you all think?
 
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