making swords out of leaf springs

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joemamma12

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has anybody tried making a knife or sword out of a leaf spring (off a car)? is it even possible to straiten them? if so, how'd you do it?
 
Car spings are made of 5160 or 1095 on older cars the problem is that after bending up and down so many times they may have a memory. even after heating and a slow cool down period you might be better off getting new steel.it is not that much money but if you want to you can heat to above critical and hold for a half a hour and bang it straight then let it cool very slow in sand or vermiculite hope this helps
 
The answer is YES they will work.You will ned to have a forge available and then you can straighten them.Annealing after straightening them is a must if you will just be grinding them out.But if you are going to forge them to shape you can save the normalizing and annealing proccess untill after you are through heating and beating the shape you are wanting...If you are wanting to save time and are afraid of stress cracks from the steels previopus life as a spring then you would be better off buying new stock but if you are like allot of use and want to recycle the old steel into something beautiful then give the spring a shot.I have used many of these springs during my time as a knife maker and haven't had any problems with them.
This is just my 2 cents worth here.
Bruce
 
There are several reputable and knowledgable makers here who make knives out of leaf springs, so there is a wealth of good information here.

There is a good amount of published information about the ways to do this. You can forge it or grind it or use both techniques to get what you want. You may want to consider your design, your intended use for the sword/knife (functional tool versus wall hanger) and the tools available to you before deciding what method you use. You can buy straight, annealed steel which may suit your purposes.

Good luck!
 
Ditto what Bruce said except....clean it up well and really give it the once over for cracks. After the first few heatings liik for the cracks because they may not show up at first. There is nothing more heartbreaking than spending days on a really nice sword and have it come apart in use.
 
I'm working with some springs now, marked ford-24 (I know it's a shame, but that all that was left of the truck)

I agree with what has already been said, the only thing that I would add is that i wouldn't make a long blade first, I'd work up a test run, something small to try and get the feel of the material. once you have run your test. You will have worked out some of your problems, have some experience, and sort of know what to expect.

have fun, EE
 
I use leaf springs for my blades and I'm very happy with them, it does take some effort to get rid of the memory, but once you do they are great blades :)
 
Try this web site. It is an excellent sight on making leaf spring swords. I have made a two handed long sword, and a slender tapered sword using the methods describe and I have had excellent results. I have friends that have bought swords form Mfg.s and when they pick my sword up, they are amazed at how light it is. The steel is also much harder. All this is done cold forging! They are not authentic swords but they are battle ready and very functional.
Regards,
Saki:D
www.livesteelarmor.com/how.html
 
damn look at the date on this thread..
08-06-2001, :eek: he may have found what he wanted just a tad ago:D
 
Leaf spring is good as the others have said. Also the coil springs from cars are just as good. with a bit of effort you can heat a section at a time and unroll them. I have used them to make harpoons. A fun thing. I have also used them in short length to forge knives.

good luck
 
sakimoto said:
Try this web site. It is an excellent sight on making leaf spring swords. I have made a two handed long sword, and a slender tapered sword using the methods describe and I have had excellent results. I have friends that have bought swords form Mfg.s and when they pick my sword up, they are amazed at how light it is. The steel is also much harder. All this is done cold forging! They are not authentic swords but they are battle ready and very functional.
Regards,
Saki:D
www.livesteelarmor.com/how.html
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as mentioned before, the thread is from 2001. The thread starter hasn't been here since august 2002. (look at his public profile)

:o you might want to take it easy on browsing those old threads...
 
sakimoto said:
So what!!!
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this thread is 4 1/2 years old.
your answering to a guy I don't think is even here any longer he hasn't posted anything since 2002 . it's his thread..that's what
 
Dan Gray said:
******* :confused:
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sorry if you have been offended, we just don't normally dig up old post like that. and it does belong to him, you can start your own threads on the same subject..

apesadumbrado si le han ofendido, apenas no cavamos normalmente encima
del viejo poste como ése y él pertenece a él, usted podemos
comenzar sus propios hilos de rosca en el mismo tema. :)
 
I have no idea what insult you are taking about! I guess you don't watch the beer comercials.But in every forum it seems like there is always somebody that is trying to make someone look stupid. I thought that this one would be different. But I think maybe the name might have fueled these actions. It is just to bad that these words cannot be said to each other face to face! Do me a favor and remove me from this damned web site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PS forgive the spelling:thumbdn:
 
sakimoto said:
I have no idea what insult you are taking about! I guess you don't watch the beer comercials.But in every forum it seems like there is always somebody that is trying to make someone look stupid. I thought that this one would be different. But I think maybe the name might have fueled these actions. It is just to bad that these words cannot be said to each other face to face! Do me a favor and remove me from this damned web site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PS forgive the spelling:thumbdn:
Click to expand...
sorry if you took it that way
no I don't watch the beer commercials

the key word was IF in
sorry if you have been offended
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I can't even apologize where it wasn't called for in the first place:rolleyes:
with 4 post here I'm wondering why you don't stay long in any forum:rolleyes:
trying to make someone look stupid
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if you take things wrongly that way I guess it's your problem, anything I've said was not intended that way..
WLF
 
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