Sword #000002 Verteidiger (Scabbard Done)

Thanks John... Yep. I'm feeling it. Not even nervous about the quench this time either.

Darcy..... I got that idea from Peter Johnsson and it was a revelation. It sure beats using calipers and makes for a sword with dead-on harmonics.
 
Another winner in the works. Love the scabbard for the earlier piece.

Roger
 
wow...
 
Nice work! How do you normalize and heat treat something that large? Do you have a special sword forge?
 
Thank you folks...

Lunadam... I do and I'm about to use it in about half an hour. Here it is:

htforge.jpg


The picture makes it look more precariously perched than it actually is. :-) I'm in the process of moving to a new shop so it is temporarily mounted. But it's just a water heater tank with 1" of kaowool inside and a venturi burner placed opposite of where the sword goes in. This is still a work in progress and today I plan to play with some kaowool baffles to even up the heat more....

ps... I actually am nervous about the quench. That earlier statement was senseless bravado.
 
I am considering a vertical HT forge to do my next sword..........should keep the longer blade from drooping while austenizing. Good luck with the HT.
Darcy:)
 
Scott,
Looking good. Good luck on the quench. I'm wondering how you temper the blade--I guess we'll soon see hopefully.

Tad
 
Darcy... So you will just run your sword in and out to get your heat then? I have a vertical forge already.. but I didn't like the idea of having to stand there moving it in and out. I put several stainless cross pieces in that I can lay the sword on if I have to... but I've just been holding it with the edge up to avoid the drooping.

Tad.... I don't have a great system for tempering yet. The best I can do right now is use a bigger food oven with part of it sticking out and covering with wool blankets to avoid heat loss. Then reverse the blade. Until I get salt baths.. this is the best method I've been able to come up with. Torch tempering is an option.. and quick run-throughs with a forge running on low.. but those methods are too easily screwed up. When I move to my new shop I plan to start building sword size salt baths which should help with both the quench and tempering.

Well I'm on my second quench. I lost too much heat at the tang/blade junction on the first one. I just got back from the second quench and I now have it clamped to a level steel table to hopefully correct some warpage. If that doesn't work.. then I will give it one temper cycle at 450 and then attempt some more corrections. Seems like there is no way to avoid the dang warp. Sorry no pictures.... quenching swords by myself is too crazy to take pictures. But I will try to get a few later.
 
Scott, can you elaborate on the salt bath you are speaking of? I don't have access to a large oven(without the lady killing me for putting swords in the food oven). :)
 
Lunadam... I only know enough to be dangerous. Look at the stickies in the maker's forum and Kevin Cashen has a good description. But it's basically using molten salts with temperature control.

Pictures tomorrow.... my sword is still clamped in the oven. Hopefully straightness tomorrow.
 
Michael Rader has a wicked salt bath, awesome for swords (of course)
 
This is one of those threads that, as a maker, gets me really inspired. Fantastic stuff we're seeing. That sheath for your first one is fantastic. So suiting of the sword it sheathes.

Thanks!
 
Your first sword was incredible, and this second one looks to be following in the same footsteps. I can't wait to see the finished product!
 
ScottRoush said:
Darcy... So you will just run your sword in and out to get your heat then? I have a vertical forge already.. but I didn't like the idea of having to stand there moving it in and out. I put several stainless cross pieces in that I can lay the sword on if I have to... but I've just been holding it with the edge up to avoid the drooping.
Click to expand...
No, I didn't make myself clear I guess. I would have the sword tip down. Use a forge much like yours but standing on end. Then straight up out of the forge and over to the quench tank and straight down into the oil. Never have to worry about the blade drooping.
Darcy:)
 
Awesome thread. It's really inspirational to see you take the sword from rough stock to forged shape to the point where it's at now. When you get to the finishing stage, I'd love to see some extra pictures there. That's the part that I have the toughest time with (plus, with a sword, it just takes so LONG compared to a shorter knife). Fantastic work. What is that scabbard made out of for the Errant? It looks superb!
 
Thanks a lot folks...

I will try to get more pictures soon.... but I'm really fighting a 'kink' right in front of the tang at the thickest part of the blade. I've been clamping it and shimming it during my tempering cycles but it is being stubborn. From the looks of it, and I just didn't catch it, it is out of balance in terms of thickness in that spot. I may have to do some more grinding and then heat treat again. This, to me, is the toughest aspect of the whole deal.

Darcy... That makes too much sense. I may have to do some re-design.

I've started doing some shaping of the guard and drilling of the pommel... will post pics soon (once the stress of a warped blade is gone).

And the scabbard is wood core, deer rawhide covering and old saddle leather for the suspension.

The next one will have less rawhide I think.. and a copper chape.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top