Looking to make a replica of a "sword"

T

Tetrafish

Joined
Jan 14, 2015
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4
I have a 3D model/rip of a sword from a video-game. I plan to make it with flattened PVC pipe.

My question is this: Is there a standard thickness to knives and swords? From what I've been able to find out is that it's either 60mm, or slightly thicker at .25 inches.


If it makes any difference.... What might be the thickness of most of the blades made by Nemoto Knives?
 
There is no standard thickness to a traditional, (i.e. hand forged), sword or knife. The length and thickness of the stock was determined by the sort of use to which the blade would be put. Also, most decent sword blades would taper in thickness from the hilt to the point -- what they call a distal taper -- in order to keep the weight closer to the grip and make the sword handle more quickly.

The more standard thicknesses of this time is a product of industrial production. Stock comes from the foundry in standard thicknesses and makers choose thickness based, (again), upon the purpose they have in mind.
 
The OP may have more luck answering these questions on a board dedicated to cosplay. PVC is lighter and more whippy than steel, and dimensions will need to be adjusted based on this.
 
Nemoto stuff is 6mm

Re 1/4" being too thick, it really depends on the sword. A great many historic swords are 3/8" or more at the hilt and then exhibit a concave distal. 10mm>6mm@pob>4mm@cop and down to 2mm or less at the point. This formula crosses centuries of western sword blades and many with that distal swords less than 2lbs. For a fer instance, a period 1796 sabre a bit more than 2lbs and very thick at the hilt. Or, look at a modern reproduction such as Albion's Ringneck with 3/8" stock, or some of Gus' low polar examples. It puts the mass closer to the hilt. Many of my spadroons share the same formula of a concave distal. Some reducing in thickness by half by pob and then more linearly to the point.

FWIW

GC

2ls9opl.jpg
 
Last edited:
horseclover said:
Nemoto stuff is 6mm
Click to expand...


Thanks for the reply. That is very helpful. :)

While working with the 3D model - I used that figure (6mm thickness on the metal part of the handle) and came up with a length of 1031.2mm, or about 40.6 inches for the in-game version of the sword. My previous (gu)estimate was 39 inches, or about 990mm.

In the link below there is a pic of the SHORT version of the sword.

http://fortress.militaryblog.jp/e336220.html

If you translate it you can see that the short version is said to be 20cm shorter than the sword from the game. Using other pics I've managed to find on the net - I've put them next to each other (resized and scaled via image editing software) and can guess that it is the BLADE that is 20cm shorter, not the overall length.

Here's a link to more detailed pic of the handle section. I can't seem to find a photo of the whole sword in 1 pic that is flat and at a high resolution.

http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/1/10798/2595033-metalgearrising_artbook_page14.jpg

...and, fwiw, a pic/rendering of the LONGER in-game sword.

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Raiden-s-HF-blade-465931028



So.... If the thickness of the (metal part of the) blade would be 60mm - then I shall go with that and make it 40.6 inches.

Unless anyone else has anything else they'd like to add...? I will check back later. :o

Just to note: That blade does have 3 layers.... I can't say I've ever seen a knife or sword made like that before.



Useless info.: There are other replicas of that sword available (either to buy or view) on-line. But, you can really see the differences in the fine details... AND, I have no idea what method they used to arrive at the length they have for their versions. I've seen various lengths from 38.75", 39", 100cm, 48", and some versions with the blade straight :rolleyes: (no curve to it at all)....
 
Do you mean 60mm wide and 6mm thick? It appears you are looking at Japanese flavored blades and in that case, lamination/layers are not uncommon. There are several variations and thiese are some.

2isnpg.jpg


The distal or thinning of Japanese style swords is usually less drastic as mentioned about western swords. There is still some but they are typically thicker towards the point. A more linear distal.

Cheers

GC
 
horseclover said:
Do you mean 60mm wide and 6mm thick?
Click to expand...

Just 6mm thick. I didn't refer to width, or I didn't mean to if I did somewhere. :o


Thanks for the graphic! Now that I think about it - the blade has 8 torx head bolts along its length (excluding the handle area). That could suggest that the blade is constructed similarly (if it were real) to the Honsanmai, or Orikaeshi style of blades. ...Maybe.
 
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