rope twist guard

[Sam Salvati]

Forged this up tonight for a sword I am working on. here you go Patrice

 

[JoshEarl]

Wow, Sam. Fantastic.

I'm assuming the rope is several strands twisted together. Did you forge-weld the ends, or somehow cut the strands into the middle a solid bar???

Josh

 

[Sam Salvati]

thanks!

Nooooooope

keep guessing Josh

 

[silver_pilate]

That's beautiful detail work, Sam. Great job!

--nathan

 

[DanGraves]

Thats just real cool. Good job Sam. Show the piece when complete.:thumbup:

 

[Phil Dwyer]

keep guessing Josh

Fantastic Sam! Can I guess too?

You chiseled some deep grooves down the center of the four sides of the bar, lightly knocked off the four corners, then twisted it all to give the illusion of a multi-strand "braid" or twist???

Your scale and movement of curves and spirals from one end of the guard to the other is spot on. Well done! Hows the fit on the tang? I'm guessing you punched and drifted that too?

Thanks for posting Sam! Swwwweeeeeeeet!!!!!!!

 

[Patrice Lemée]

That's just gorgeous Sam. Can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[Mike Quesenberry]

Sam, you are the man! That looks great, are you going to keep us in suspense or let us in on your technique? Can't wait to see the finished blade.

 

[unky_gumbi]

Fantastic Sam! Can I guess too?

You chiseled some deep grooves down the center of the four sides of the bar, lightly knocked off the four corners, then twisted it all to give the illusion of a multi-strand "braid" or twist???

Your scale and movement of curves and spirals from one end of the guard to the other is spot on. Well done! Hows the fit on the tang? I'm guessing you punched and drifted that too?

Thanks for posting Sam! Swwwweeeeeeeet!!!!!!!

This how it was done, the only reason I know is that I saw it done before by someone else but it wasn't done as well as this one. Its darn near perfect:thumbup:

 

[Sam Salvati]

Phil's read a couple blacksmithing books He and Unky are right, I drew a taper, then knocked in the corners then chiseled in a groove on all 4 flats then twisted, it is a very neat effect (and no forge welding needed ).

thanks everyone, glad you like it! I might have to do some finangling to get it to fit tight, or I might have to re do it, milled it just a bit too wide.

 

[joshuawy]

very cool
may have to try this when i get out to the forge this summer

 

[Phil Dwyer]

Phil's read a couple blacksmithing books....

Mostly, I just look at the pictures. I've dabbled around with the pineapple twist, so I was familiar with the look from that process. Here's a snapshot of the pineapple twist steps from someones flicker...

 

[jim poling]

Very nice work Sam!

Jim

 

[DanGraves]

If you milled it to wide, just heat it and close it, if you have the room.

 

[Sam Salvati]

Thanks guys!

Here's the whole blade.

Dan, not too wide thickness wise, too wide width wise.

 

[dustfurn]

thanks everyone, glad you like it! I might have to do some finangling to get it to fit tight, or I might have to re do it, milled it just a bit too wide.

Historically, guards AND pommels were often drifted wider than necessary then wedged tight with metal or even wood wedges (do it from the handle side of the guard/pommel, or course). Peter Johnson has a thread with examples of this on myarmoury.com if you want to do a little searching. Hey, if it was good enough for them...

 

[C.Edmondson]

:thumbup:Awesome!!!

 

[montana guy]

That is cool, did you use one of these (Picket Twister ~ $300)

or just a vise and a crescent wrench or tongs or some other hand tool?

 

[tntbegg]

that guard is cool

 

[Sam Salvati]

Montana guy, no that's fer sissies I used a big wrench.

Dustfurn, i have seen Peter's information on Don Fogg's on the wedges, from what I have seen in the Met and the Higgins, atleast what is on display, and what was posted by others on Don's, wedged guards and pommels were not often done, they were done but rarely. I have done this personally also, it works well. I still personally think we know better these days hehe, 5/8" steel is cheap i'll make another guard if I can't make this one work. Fit and finish is a higher standard in these modern times....