Hybred Short Sword

[David Stifle]

Hi Gents,

Here's a short sword I've been working on, well off and on, for over a year. I've had several different handles, guards, etc, on it and this style in what I decided on. I wanted a Turkish style blade with a hamon, and Japanese furniture. I know the furniture is a bit rough, but its a PITA to make. I know you fellas aren't shy, so let me know what you think. I'm very interested in your thoughts, especially considering the mixture of styles.

Stats: 17' W2 blade with hamon, brass seppa, iron guard, and ebony textured handle. If you're interested in the thickness I'll measure it. Balances around three inches in front of the guard and weights exactly 2 pounds.

 

[David Stifle]

And one more picture, just a little larger

 

[horseclover]

I imagine the blade is fairly thick. It honestly looks nice but more of a long knife build to me. Weight wise what one would see in a bowie of the same general stature. Nothing wrong with that but maybe the definition between a short sword or large knife. There are exceptions, such as the 18th and 19th century brass handle gladius types which were glaive to the French or equating gladius in Latin, so a short heavy sword still qualifies as such.

Cgeers

GC

 

[David Stifle]

I imagine the blade is fairly thick. It honestly looks nice but more of a long knife build to me. Weight wise what one would see in a bowie of the same general stature. Nothing wrong with that but maybe the definition between a short sword or large knife. There are exceptions, such as the 18th and 19th century brass handle gladius types which were glaive to the French or equating gladius in Latin, so a short heavy sword still qualifies as such

Cgeers

GC

Appreciate the input, HC. But at 23" OAL, 17" blade, are you saying it better qualifies as a long knife? I'm a little confused by your post.

 

[Mecha]

I really like that guard, it's my favorite part. It's satisfying to the eyes like meat and potatoes in a steaming bowl of stew on a cold day!

It does look to be perfectly centered between a knife and a sword. It's not the blade length I think, maybe what would make it definitively more sword-like would be a bigger, bit heavier pommel since the grip is one-handed.

 

[David Stifle]

Thanks a lot, Mecha! I really like your description. I understand your point, I made the smaller pommel to keep the weight down. At first, it weighed 2 pounds, five ozs., when I managed to get it down to 2 pounds even it felt like a totally different sword. I didn't know a few ounces could make such a difference.

 

[gregorio]

It is certainly in the regime where a sword and large knife are debatable. I personally think it is more of a short sword.

Is there any distal taper? To me that is what separates good and great work.

I like the handle and blade shape. The habaki looks to have a clam shell effect going on, is that what you were going for?

~Greg

 

[David Stifle]

It is certainly in the regime where a sword and large knife are debatable. I personally think it is more of a short sword.

Is there any distal taper? To me that is what separates good and great work.

I like the handle and blade shape. The habaki looks to have a clam shell effect going on, is that what you were going for?

~Greg

Hi Greg, yes, distal taper was necessary in order to get the proper balance and weight. Since it's a fairly long blade, and one handed, it needed to be a light blade. The weight was also one of the reasons I made the guard the way I did. The habaki was made to resemble a clam shell, although it is simply suggestive rather than a detailed carving. It never even occurred to me people might look at this blade and think large knife as I've never heard of a knife this large, although, if people view it that way it's fine with me.

 

[horseclover]

Appreciate the input, HC. But at 23" OAL, 17" blade, are you saying it better qualifies as a long knife? I'm a little confused by your post.

As mentioned, to me it looks and reads more like a large knife than a short sword. Two pounds is considerable for a sword that size, aside from the glaives mentioned with brass hilts. There are certainly bowies made with long blades and at this weight. You still didn't mention thickness of the blade stock. I certainly don't fault your labeling it as a short sword but my own take is that of a long knife. I like the effort and attention put into it.

Cheers

GC

 

[David Stifle]

As mentioned, to me it looks and reads more like a large knife than a short sword. Two pounds is considerable for a sword that size, aside from the glaives mentioned with brass hilts. There are certainly bowies made with long blades and at this weight. You still didn't mention thickness of the blade stock. I certainly don't fault your labeling it as a short sword but my own take is that of a long knife. I like the effort and attention put into it.

Cheers

GC

As I mentioned, I certainly don't mind if someone thinks of it as a large knife, it just took me by surprise. The blade measures .23" at the guard, with a .10 reading near the tip, it's 1.45" wide at the widest part. It's a stout blade. I appreciate your recognition of the attention put into it. Thanks!

 

[gregorio]

Keep up the good work

 

[horseclover]

The pleasant mixture of influences is perhaps how my mind took it perhaps ambiguously. A Turkish dao? A Turkish walizashi? Yes too long to be Turkish tanto but not longer than a Japanese/Turkish Kyber knife or Turkish/Japanese faschine messer. How about Japanese/Balkan yataghan?

Even a dictionary and others would be on the fence
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yataghan
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/yataghan
http://rarevintageantiques.com/turk...-turk-ottoman-sword-dagger-kilij-knife-sabre/
http://www.todayszaman.com/national...ill-manufactured-but-as-souvenirs_120375.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yatagan

I'd love to see more detailed pictures of the tsuka and tsuba, I love ebony and bought a large chunk years ago but have yet to carve it.

Cheers

GC

 

[David Stifle]

I suppose I should try to make something everyone immediately recognizes as one type or the other, I honestly don't know why I mix style up. I just take one thing here, one thing there, and put it together in a way that pleases me. I found ebony (first time using it) to be both a pleasure and a pain. It's not all that hard, so it's easier to work than blackwood, but it does tend to chip and it's fairly difficult to get a flawless finish. Anyway. more pictures of the tsuka and tsuba as requested (I do sincerely apologize for the poor quality of the pictures).

 

[Noxious Fumes]

Nicely done:thumbup:...... Short sword..... Big knife, meh...... It's a beaut either way. 2 pounds does seem heavy for the size of blade. However, the fact that your point of balance is 3 inches in front of the guard should make it quite "flickable".

 

[David Stifle]

Thank you. Yes, it is slightly heavy and I might bring it down in weight a little more, but as you mentioned, it's quite well balanced and handles well. I personally like the fact that it has a lot of power to it. Appreciate your comments:thumbup: