Basket Hilt

peter nap

peter nap

Joined
Nov 27, 1999
Messages
3,745
I have made three specularly unsuccessful attempts at making a basket hilt for a broad sword. I tried weaving and welding, cutting it out from sheet (that worked from a technical point but looked like an ebay special :barf: ) and a combination of the two.

Anyone ever make one and any suggestions....PLEASE? :o
 
Peter-
I've seen both originals and repros made by cutting from sheet although the basic method for most was/is to weld individual ribbands and plates together in the shape/style that you want.

If you are interested I have the book "Scottish Swords and Dirks" by John Wallace and will be glad to scan pictures of various styles and views. Just give me a shout. It gives you enough construction detail that you should be able to figure it out.

FYI - I have already scanned the Dirks portion of the book and if you are interested it's here: http://www.wrtcleather.com/1-ckd/dirk-book/dirks-page1.html
 
George C. Neumann's Swords & Blades of the American Revolution has a lot of examples of both as well- including some of early colonial manufacture that might make you feel a little better. :D I still see recent printings of this book (especially at the rendezvous in Friendship, Indiana) so it shouldn't be too hard to find. Good luck. Share your progress!
 
Thanks MacHete. I have that book as well as Edged Weapons of the Revolution. I can see how they were put together but mine sure don't look like the ones they made. Even the blacksmith models. :eek:

I'm having trouble keeping the round bars round. I could silver solder but this is going to be a charcoal blued hilt and the lines will show. I guess I need to keep at it.

Chuck, I'm going to that site and look right now! I love making Dirks and am always looking for new examples. I'm going to put some of this one the back burner for a while. Turkey season starts next week! ;)

I just looked at your site Chuck. I think that is the most attractive web site I've ever seen. Lots of information too! :)
 
Thanks Ivan. I'm heading there now.
Chuck, the hilt I'm trying to build has the normal flat sections but also has some sections that are braided round. It's the transition areas that are causing the problem.
 
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