An interesting new short sword I made. Multibar, basket twist hilt.

The skill it took to make that handle is staggering.

The blade, however, leaves me speechless. SO gorgeous.
 
Salem That is some really great work I love what you did with the handle so creative
 
Well thought-out work. Masterly performance. It was a pleasure for me to follow every detail. Your article is delightful.
 
Salem Straub said:
Thanks for the kind words, you all. Yes, it's a bit odd for some, looking at the rather elemental hilt with the more refined blade. This is an early experiment in a direction I'd like to explore much more fully, that is the miniaturization and adaptation of artist blacksmithing techniques and design elements, for use in knife, dagger, and sword fittings.
I have a lot of it in my head, much of it I have not developed the skill for as of yet. Forging small things is hard!

I really want to try one soon, in which the twisted basket handle with quillons is integral with a multibar twist blade. Still lots of experiments and failures to come no doubt, before I can pull that off.
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That sounds like a truly epic forging challenge. I imagine it like an octopus, where the mantle is the blade, and the tentacles flow into the quillons and twist into the grip.

Nice choice with the silicon bronze, it's super strong and I think particularly pretty with its muted coloring. If I may say, that blade is really damn nice! :eek:
 
As others have said, that blade is just gorgeous. The handle, if maybe not on par in a purely aesthetic sorta way, sure makes up for it in creativity and outsidetheboxiness. Two things we don't see enough of in my humble opinion. Keep pushing the envelope Salem and thanks for sharing. :thumbup:
 
Blues Bender said:
I really like that! It has a raw and natural look to it, and is a perfect example of the beauty that a man and his hammer can create.
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I agree. Beautiful and ingenious.

Best

mqqn
 
Thanks again for the interesting and constructive comments, gentlemen! It's the best part of finishing a knife- yes, compliments feel good to receive, but I enjoy differing perspectives as well, particularly when voiced thoughtfully.
I imagine it like an octopus, where the mantle is the blade, and the tentacles flow into the quillons and twist into the grip.
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Mecha, that's a very good way to put it- you are seeing it much like I hope it could turn out!

...outsidetheboxiness.
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Patrice, I liked your entire comment, but this was my favorite part- to a fellow "outsidetheboxer," i.e. you, I say let us face this mad world of knives in solidarity, resolved to march to the beat of our own drums!
 
That is the most beautiful thing I have seen since the first time I met my wife and the sight of my children when they were born! Well done and well met!
 
I totally love this one.

When you say: "much of it I have not developed the skill for as of yet" I feel you're probably being overly humble.

Any ideas for a scabbard for this bad boy?
 
I may begin thinking of a scabbard for it, possibly one using a purpose-built tooling stamp. I like doing that.
No humility there, I have blacksmithing skills but doing that work on a small scale is kind of another skill set altogether, as well as thinking around corners when it comes to adapting joinery, etc.
I often have knives half finished that take me weeks or months to finally settle on a fittings design. The blade is the easy part!

Ron, that surely is hyperbole, but even so- what a nice thing to say. Thanks!
 
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