How deep are fullers?

Joined
May 5, 2005
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I believe this is the best place to ask.

How deep are fullers in swords and sabres? I am especially interested in the sabres.

Lets say I have a sabre that is 8mm thick at spine, and have and appleseed edge. How deep will be fuller?
How much steel are left inside? 1mm, 2mm, 5mm?
 
I would expect there would be at least 4mm left towards the end of the fuller towards the point. Many sabres then drop off to just a couple of mm thickness or less at the very point. It is going to range somewhat the same way the overall distal properties are and there is no way to know for sure without using calipers to determine the dimensions. While one can generalize a bit, it is really a matter of picking up a period sword and measuring it. I lack calibrated dividers that would reach into the depths. The best I can do is with verniers and then measuring up to the jaws from the fuller floor. With my small rule amongst the missing. A tire depth gauge would work. Some swords have fullers pretty much right to the point and those will often have distal taper within the fullers as well. 10mm spines at the guard are not at all unusual in the 18th and early 19th century. Radical distal of the blade itself for the first six inches or so and then in a more linear fashion until the end of the fuller (when ending some inches from the point). Looking at many old swords here and the fullers usually have much less (if any) distal than the blade itself.

Cheers

GC
 
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