- Joined
- Dec 27, 2013
- Messages
- 10,020
Hello everyone,
A small sword-like knife made recently inspired some thinking about the business end shape of single edged swords, resulting in a few knives that represent some subtle differences that have a pretty big effect on the way a very long blade behaves, or I could also say the way someone behaves when using them.
From left to right:
1. What people most often inquire about, which is to say something that in silhouette vaguely resembles a Japanese sword - gently flowing from wide to narrow at the point.
2. What I actually make - a gently curved blade that widens toward the tip. This type takes better advantage of the feel of a relatively light titanium alloy blade.
3. What I want to make - a way more exaggerated snub point, with an angle greater than 45 degrees. This will be a good design for use with a tough titanium sword blade, which can get whipped around with ridiculous speed and power.
These three are forged from 89.5Ti 10Nb 0.5Fe beta titanium bar stock, and of course are distally tapered. However, they have thicker spines than usual, and are less like a giant thin razor blade than past blades, and more like a thin wedge. They are very light weight.
They were made differently than usual: the grind bevel extends all the way from tip to tang end, using a different sort of grinding technique. This is how my more refined future blades will be shaped. They also sport janky finishes that are the result of testing different fine grit belts, like cork polishing belts (they didn't work very well). I also finally got to try some fantastic wide leather lace for the overwrap, with cotton inner cord sealed with beeswax over leather (it did work well)!
The grip structure is recessed down into the dog-boned tang end of the blade, not just wrapped over the top, in attempt to keep it from breaking up the flow of the profile lines. The maker's marks are not very clean because they were punched into a bevel, which was more difficult than expected.
The small one, if extended to about three feet long, would be a very advanced and effective design for a beta titanium alloy sword or large chopper. I'm extremely excited about it, and it will be the basis for the self-designed swords in the near future. Although I do like trying to mimic historical designs, a fully developed and advanced ti alloy sword blade will not be quite the same as one made of steel, because it's just too different.
Sorry for the ghastly bad photos, and thanks for checking these out. Expect to see more refined sword-sized and fully hilted versions of these things in the future.
NOTE:
The small one I'm so giddy about is going to a special Canadian,but one of the large ones is available for a price that reflects the fact that they are the result of quite a few "new techniques." X] These sword tip knives are fairly ugly imo but should function splendidly.
They would be perfect for, uh...er....batoning! Yes, batoning in subzero temperatures! If anyone needs to baton things in ridiculously freezing cold weather, then this would be the blade for you.If interested, send me a message for details. I can't say how much it would be, because M. Gregory will yell at me again.
A small sword-like knife made recently inspired some thinking about the business end shape of single edged swords, resulting in a few knives that represent some subtle differences that have a pretty big effect on the way a very long blade behaves, or I could also say the way someone behaves when using them.
From left to right:
1. What people most often inquire about, which is to say something that in silhouette vaguely resembles a Japanese sword - gently flowing from wide to narrow at the point.
2. What I actually make - a gently curved blade that widens toward the tip. This type takes better advantage of the feel of a relatively light titanium alloy blade.
3. What I want to make - a way more exaggerated snub point, with an angle greater than 45 degrees. This will be a good design for use with a tough titanium sword blade, which can get whipped around with ridiculous speed and power.
These three are forged from 89.5Ti 10Nb 0.5Fe beta titanium bar stock, and of course are distally tapered. However, they have thicker spines than usual, and are less like a giant thin razor blade than past blades, and more like a thin wedge. They are very light weight.
They were made differently than usual: the grind bevel extends all the way from tip to tang end, using a different sort of grinding technique. This is how my more refined future blades will be shaped. They also sport janky finishes that are the result of testing different fine grit belts, like cork polishing belts (they didn't work very well). I also finally got to try some fantastic wide leather lace for the overwrap, with cotton inner cord sealed with beeswax over leather (it did work well)!
The grip structure is recessed down into the dog-boned tang end of the blade, not just wrapped over the top, in attempt to keep it from breaking up the flow of the profile lines. The maker's marks are not very clean because they were punched into a bevel, which was more difficult than expected.
The small one, if extended to about three feet long, would be a very advanced and effective design for a beta titanium alloy sword or large chopper. I'm extremely excited about it, and it will be the basis for the self-designed swords in the near future. Although I do like trying to mimic historical designs, a fully developed and advanced ti alloy sword blade will not be quite the same as one made of steel, because it's just too different.
Sorry for the ghastly bad photos, and thanks for checking these out. Expect to see more refined sword-sized and fully hilted versions of these things in the future.
NOTE:
The small one I'm so giddy about is going to a special Canadian,
They would be perfect for, uh...er....batoning! Yes, batoning in subzero temperatures! If anyone needs to baton things in ridiculously freezing cold weather, then this would be the blade for you.
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