Need some help...

I

ITRules

Joined
Feb 6, 2002
Messages
7
Hello to everyone

Im new to this site and would like to ask a little help and advice.
I can truly say that Im an amateur when it comes to knives and blades and would like to know much more if possible. You see me and some friends here in the Philippines would like to purchase custom made swords from a local blacksmith here. We are familiar with basic designs of european longswords and japanese katana. The problem is we dont know much on the steel used to make it and general thickness and width of such blades. Ive also been informed that they use stainless steel to make swords. These are my questions:

1. What type of stainless steel is good to use for these types of swords?

2. What is the prescribed thickness and width of blades of european longswords with overall length (including grip and pommel) of 34-38 inches?

Any comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated Thanks!!
 
5160 spring steel is probably your best bet. Old American and Mercedes truck springs are good for swords, but you have to get them red hot and pound them flat before you even start. There could be small cracks in them from years of holding up the truck. If you can find 5160 that hasn't been bent into springs yet, all the better. Kris Cutlery has somebody over there makin their swords out of 5160.
Generally stainless is too brittle for a sword, use carbon but take care of it. The climate over there is supposed to be pretty unfriendly to carbon steels.
Some other choices are 52100 (Industrial Ball Bearing steel, I mean the BIG ones) 1095 (what KaBars are made out of) 1084, seen some tomahawks and big knives made from it. As far as thickness, I'd go with 1/4" minimum, more likely 5/16" or even 3/8". Make sure he puts a distal taper towards the point, and fullers might lighten them up a bit too. These are merely my opinions, others may have different ideas. Go on over to "Shop Talk" and ask them. They're a great bunch of guys, and girls. Many have made swords.
 
Hello,

I`d suggest you could really have the swords, but only as a decorative reason. If you want a functional sword my advice is never have an stainless steel one, it can broke and hurt you. If you want a real sword you must look for a carbon steel one, but if you buy one you should know how to preservate it (by oiling and cleaning it properly).
 
Hey thanks a lot Hoplophile :) Me and my friends went back to ask and guess what, they use spring steel too!! The guy said he gets it from trucks or somethin so I believe that would be 5160 spring steel or something close to it. He also mentioned that it corrodes easily. Well Im off to shop talk, thanks a lot!! :)
 
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