O.K. so I do makes blades occasionally- a rapier

remind myself, and others, that I am still a bladesmith and make things now and then when not researching, testing and staring at steel through a microscope.
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Kevin, you must have a real job? :)

This is truly a beautiful piece!
 
If it may help, Exibit 592 in Poldi Pezzoli museum in Milano has an identical decoration on its small plate (page 550 of the catalog).
Exibit 638 is very similar in hilt shape (but different decoration of the plates) but is quite inferior to Kevin's as it comes to craftmanship.
 
Exquisite.

I picked up one of your damascus blade/gold plated damascus guard rapiers years ago at Ashokan. I thought it felt pretty magical. I would love to get my meathooks on this one!

Cheers,

Nick
 
" It's feel and handling" Recently I was trying to explain swords when the subject of 'sweet spot' on tennis rackets came up. The swords may have more than one sweet spot , or more properly 'center of percussion' . Where is the center of percussion on this rapier and how many ?
 
Any chance you'll have this in Atlanta in June? I'd give anything to handle it.
 
Oh My. This not only goes to a whole new level, I'm not even sure I dreamed the levels could go this high. Beautiful work.
 
That work is breathtaking. Wow. How about a shot of the sword chopping a watermelon?
 
As someone who fights with rapiers on a weekly basis that looks beautiful, well researched, authentic, and MAGNIFICENTLY CRAFTED!

Nice piece

-Page
 
... so THIS is what you've been fussing over! I'd say it was worth your customer's patience, my friend! Exceptional, and likely too much of it is lost to my untrained eye. Will a cigar bribe at Ashokan buy me a bit of ear-bending regarding the geometry of such a piece?
 
Bravo Kevin! Bravo! It's work like this that inspires me to keep on working in the shop. Thanks very much for sharing this with us....

-d
 
Kevin, that is stunning! aesthetically very pleasing but it does not belay the practicality of each element :D you know what I mean :)
 
Astounding. You have piqued my curiosity to learn more about this. That you put so much research behind your obvious talent is more than inspiring.
 
Patrice Lemée;8121612 said:
Truly beautiful work Kevin.

Can I ask you about your process to heat blue the 1018?

Thanks
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Keep the metal immaculately clean ans suspend in a kiln from 480F- 550F for at least two hours, quench in light, clean oil when done. Oils will often maintain the color but Renaissance Wax will often shift the colors to a plum/purple hue, this one maintained its nice blue/black color. Messing with oxide colors is always a bit of a crap shoot and the little variable will always work against using an exact set recipe.
 
You balance art & science extremely well Mr. Cashen. Now back to that microscope. HEHEHE.
 
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