Short sword for battling zombies

That's hard to answer and quite theoretic, since you can argue that the actual sword's use will differ from person to person -- that's why i'm sure you'll get the answer that all are suitable steels for such a short sword. Never a truer statement.
 
Hmm. Well since were looking at a zombie weapon for TEOTWAWKT, I'd say a hacker, slasher,'chopper and stabber. :D

I realize 5160 is a high end steel, the only reason I ask is because I've read that S7 is used to make jackhammer bits and that's about as hard and rough as you could ask for.
 
agoutihead said:
Hmm. Well since were looking at a zombie weapon for TEOTWAWKT, I'd say a hacker, slasher,'chopper and stabber. :D

I realize 5160 is a high end steel, the only reason I ask is because I've read that S7 is used to make jackhammer bits and that's about as hard and rough as you could ask for.
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I wouldn't exactly call 5160 a 'high end' steel. It's just a good, tough steel that has proven its capabilities over many years.

For a nicely handmade, AFFORDABLE, usable short sword, check out Scorpion Knives and Bows. He posts in the Knifemakers for sale section once in a while under the name ArcherHere (if I remember correctly).

http://www.traditionalarcherybows.com

I'm partial to the two-handed golok.
 
agoutihead said:
Hmm. Well since were looking at a zombie weapon for TEOTWAWKT, I'd say a hacker, slasher,'chopper and stabber. :D

I realize 5160 is a high end steel, the only reason I ask is because I've read that S7 is used to make jackhammer bits and that's about as hard and rough as you could ask for.
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Application and composition are just two ways to look at it.

I think a major difference is more of a result of the heat treat and skill of the maker in designing and building an sword more than the steel. 5160 is used in leaf springs so it can be very soft or heat-treated to over 60 HRc and brittle. I don't know the range for S7, but the Scrapyard Dog knives are known to be very tough and still hold a comparable edge to most other steels. A "cheap" 1050 steel makes a very good machete and 1040 makes a good axe.

I would suggest you pick a quality maker and good design over debating between 5160 or S7.
 
The steel won't matter to the Zombies. The blade geometry, heat treatment, and edge will matter more in the end. S7, Sr-77, SR-101, or 5160 would all make a great short sword.
I'd get something to practice with, so you can judge the lenth, handle size, and weight that will work for you. You gotta be able to swing that thing for a while and have energy to run from the hoard.
If it's too thick and heavy for you, you will tire out, and/or it will get stuck in a Zombie. It's gotta work for your arm length, strength, abilities, etc..
I love my Swamp Rat Waki, though I have yet to encounter Zombies. At least the kind your talking about.
 
wrxguyusa said:
Application and composition are just two ways to look at it.

I think a major difference is more of a result of the heat treat and skill of the maker in designing and building an sword more than the steel. 5160 is used in leaf springs so it can be very soft or heat-treated to over 60 HRc and brittle. I don't know the range for S7, but the Scrapyard Dog knives are known to be very tough and still hold a comparable edge to most other steels. A "cheap" 1050 steel makes a very good machete and 1040 makes a good axe.

I would suggest you pick a quality maker and good design over debating between 5160 or S7.
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Well as I mentioned the Gage Tactical Gladius is the one that really spoke to me and really was the look that I was wanting.

From what I can tell his work and quality are very high, including the heat treatment.

But it scares me to hear that 5160 can be soft or brittle... Both aspects that I wouldn't want obviously.

foxx said:
The steel won't matter to the Zombies. The blade geometry, heat treatment, and edge will matter more in the end. S7, Sr-77, SR-101, or 5160 would all make a great short sword.
I'd get something to practice with, so you can judge the lenth, handle size, and weight that will work for you. You gotta be able to swing that thing for a while and have energy to run from the hoard.
If it's too thick and heavy for you, you will tire out, and/or it will get stuck in a Zombie. It's gotta work for your arm length, strength, abilities, etc..
I love my Swamp Rat Waki, though I have yet to encounter Zombies. At least the kind your talking about.
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Maybe steel won't matter to them, but I still want a high quality piece that will last many generations.
 
Yeah, that's the point -- it all comes down to finding a reputable person or company that has proven to make quality blades. Don't focus too much on steel. If you like the Gage Tactical Gladius and can afford it, go for it! :D I haven't heard much about the Gage Tactical Gladius, but I really question its styling in terms of timelessness -- one consideration when thinking about an heirloom blade.

And if the sole purpose of the sword is for zombies, a sword is a fairly bad choice; a short sword a worse choice; a one-handed short sword damn near a white flag of surrender to your own safety. You have to use a lot more force to generate the speed and power in each swing to do meaningful damage through bone -- zombies aren't going down from flesh wounds. My advice is to look at the Cold Steel Indian Warclub and Fiskars Pro Chopping Axe/Gerber Extra Large Axe for pretty ideal anti-zombie weapons. Those things will make short work of skulls and brain matter more easily, efficiently and consistently then swinging a sword.
 
When you say 5160 can be soft or brittle, I think you are misunderstanding something. The heat treat allows for a range, from soft to brittle. Within that range, for a specific tool, the maker can choose the heat treat process that is best.
A sword in 5160 could have a softer (more flex) spine, but a harder edge (edge retention)
Don't think that 5160 is hit or mis, it is what the knife or sword maker wants it to be.
 
How the steel is quenched & tempered (heat treated) determines how hard or soft it is no matter what steel is used.
 
agoutihead said:
Well as I mentioned the Gage Tactical Gladius is the one that really spoke to me and really was the look that I was wanting.

From what I can tell his work and quality are very high, including the heat treatment.

But it scares me to hear that 5160 can be soft or brittle... Both aspects that I wouldn't want obviously.



Maybe steel won't matter to them, but I still want a high quality piece that will last many generations.
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I seem to have misrepresented the steel when I was explaining. I was merely trying to demonstrate that every steel composition has a lot of flexibility depending on purpose. And to not get too caught up in composition.

Properly made 5160 is tough and holds an edge very well. Lots of people know how to properly heat-treat it. For example, Himalayan Imports has traditional makers using an open forge, water pitchers, and their own experience to produce super tough khukuris and swords from 5160 harvested from old truck leaf springs. And those knives are used very hard by the rural Nepalese villagers for many generations.
 
J.Davey said:
I wouldn't exactly call 5160 a 'high end' steel. It's just a good, tough steel that has proven its capabilities over many years.

For a nicely handmade, AFFORDABLE, usable short sword, check out Scorpion Knives and Bows. He posts in the Knifemakers for sale section once in a while under the name ArcherHere (if I remember correctly).

http://www.traditionalarcherybows.com

I'm partial to the two-handed golok.
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That's who made my khopesh. I've owned it for about a year now and I'm very impressed with it. It took and holds a good edge and its very tough. I've done things with it I wouldnt dare do with many of my other blades.
 
Wolf_1989 said:
That's who made my khopesh. I've owned it for about a year now and I'm very impressed with it. It took and holds a good edge and its very tough. I've done things with it I wouldnt dare do with many of my other blades.
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Awesome. I'm still looking forward to having the spare money to get one of his 2 handed goloks. It looks like a real damager!:thumbup:
 
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J.Davey said:
Awesome. I'm still looking forward to have the spare money to get one of his 2 handed goloks. It looks like a real damager!:thumbup:
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I've decided my next Scorpion piece will be a modified khopesh. It's just too good.

Saw my first khopesh in a museum display back in 1985 and I couldn't stop staring at it.

It was many years later in 2009 that I found Mr Palmer's URL and I couldn't pass his version by.

When I got it it wasn't very sharp and the blade still had some minor grind marks on it. I convexed the edge by hand and polished it with sanding sponges. Now it's pretty and sharp as a razor. For $209 and MADE IN USA you really can't beat it. His heat treatment IMO is just right.
 
I've actually decided to go with a Tactical Gladius from John Gage. It's exactly what I was looking for. I just had to cough up a lot more than i wanted.

But it's a really high quality sword so I'm happy with it.
 
I am now ready to fight the coming zombie uprising too.
I got two Hanwei Banshees for Christmas. Now the effort to give them a nice cutting edge. They are only capable of bludgening zombies with the edge they come with. They seem a nice solidly made blade that I look forward to chopping with once sharpened.:D
 
Now you just need a blue eye mask and a big belt buckle with an L on it and you'll be ready to take on Shredder hordes of zombies! :D
 
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