Bronze - What kind for guard?

Doberman_Dave

Doberman_Dave

Joined
Nov 13, 2004
Messages
650
Hi All,
I'm thinking about making a guard from bronze and would greatly appreciate info on what types are suitable, or maybe more importantly, what types aren't.

I see silicon bronze used frequently and understand its appeal is that it is very resistant to corrosion. Is this a major concern for a user?

There's a baffling number of bronze alloys (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_copper_alloys) but I can get 660 and 954 locally and hope I can avoid shipping from the USA to Canada.

Thanks,
Dave
 
I'd suggest 954 (aluminum bronze) because it's the most corrosion resistant, and it has a beautiful gold color. It is a pain to machine and file, but it's my favorite.
 
I have tried both and prefer the sil. bronze for it's ease of working & it will patena out to a nice soft brown over time. It is used in statuery as seen in and outside of museams. I know I'll never used alum. bronze again !
 
Sometimes an alloy is picked for the color .If you want redder than silicon bronze try phosphor bronze.
 
About the same IMHO .For hammering these and most bronzes are the cold work and anneal types rather than hot forge.
 
mete said:
About the same IMHO .For hammering these and most bronzes are the cold work and anneal types rather than hot forge.
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Not the aluminum bronze. It forges great at around 1400-1500 degrees F. I wish steel moved that easy. :)
 
Dave, Don made this hunter for me this year using bronze for the guard and pin.
Not sure the type of bronze but I'll ask him and get back to you.
Should have done that before I posted. :o :)

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Doug
 
Ahhh darn it, now you guys got me thinking about doing a bronze dagger --- something period for using bronze. Mele or Phil, which bronze do you thing would hold the best edge ? And, does this sound like a screw ball idea to you ? Please keep in mind that I would want something carried by a wealthy person of that period --- knife would have to have best qual scales/handle, engraving/sculpting & anything considered flashy/showy for that time.
 
Ken Hurst said:
Ahhh darn it, now you guys got me thinking about doing a bronze dagger --- something period for using bronze. Mele or Phil, which bronze do you thing would hold the best edge ? And, does this sound like a screw ball idea to you ? Please keep in mind that I would want something carried by a wealthy person of that period --- knife would have to have best qual scales/handle, engraving/sculpting & anything considered flashy/showy for that time.
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Aluminum bronze, definitely. It's tensile strength is close to that of steel, (if I remember correctly) and if it's cold worked a little, then the hardness is not too bad.
I'd like to do some experimenting with it as blade material myself, just haven't had time.
 
Beautiful hunter Doug/Don. I really like the patina some bronze gets.

What got me thinking about it was the guard (silicon bronze) on a bowie I received from Jason Knight & Jimmy Chin a little while ago. Still getting around to taking some pics.

Dave

PS - My secret hope is that a patina might draw less attention to my very poor work.
 

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Interesting thread. How about any suppliers of bronze?

Does anyone know of a way to test bronze? I have some old sign plates and would like to know if they are brass or bronze.
Mace
 
Mace said:
Interesting thread. How about any suppliers of bronze?

Does anyone know of a way to test bronze? I have some old sign plates and would like to know if they are brass or bronze.
Mace
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You might want to check these folks out: http://www.atlasmetal.com/silicon-bronze-everdur.php. I'm most accustomed to silicon bronze from foundry work, but they carry other alloys too and have some basic descriptions of them.
 
Farmer Phil said:
You might want to check these folks out: http://www.atlasmetal.com/silicon-bronze-everdur.php. I'm most accustomed to silicon bronze from foundry work, but they carry other alloys too and have some basic descriptions of them.
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The link to Atlas that Farmer Phil posted is where I get mine from too. I like to use 655 Silicon Bronze , no, wait........... I love to use 655 :thumbup: :thumbup: I get it in 1" x 1" x 36" L. bars

Here's a Take-Down I made using 655 for a majority of the fittings. There's a slice of 416 S.S. in there too ;)

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:thumbup:
 
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