Swords that ring?

Sam Salvati

Sam Salvati

Joined
Aug 6, 2007
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NO this is not a thread about those ringing swords you see in the movies :jerkit: :D ! I am just wondering the effects and reasons as to why a sword rings? Could it be taken as an indicator of good tight fit? I have seen it do so when the guard was such a tight fit it had to be hammered on, and also when the guard was welded onto the tang on the back/tang side. SO WHAT'S WITH DA RINGIN'!??!??! What effects it? What causes it? Is it a good or bad thing? I personally like it, sounds real cool to get that ring when you draw the blade out, or when you cut something R-ING-ING-ING hehe. Sound is vibrations, so does the "harmonics" of a blade really have to do with actual sound?
 
So you want to capture that sound and put it in your cell phone ?? Ringing is still used to check for HT,and defects. A cracked piece will certainly not sound like a good piece.A HT'ed piece will ring while an annealed piece won't. Shape does have an influence.
 
Sam the sound all depends on the style of sword. Many single edged swords dont ring much at all in cutting while double edged European style pieces sing beautifully when making a cut. I love to attend a cutting party where there are both Katanas and European longswords being used and listen to the melodious ring amidst all the dull thwacks and thuds. The double edged blade is much more complex in its dynamics as it passes through a target thus it moves more and rings. It has a lot to do with the symmetry in the cross section allowing for uniform vibration.

For structural soundness the hilts really should have to be hammered on one of these blades, so that both it and the pommel are as tight as can be, otherwise you will get a nasty rattling vibration instead of nice ring. I would avoid the whole “harmonics” thing if I were you since it has been blown so far out of proportion that it has reached mythic proportions containing around 20% substance and 80% bull@&$%.
 
Kevin R. Cashen said:
I would avoid the whole “harmonics” thing if I were you since it has been blown so far out of proportion that it has reached mythic proportions containing around 20% substance and 80% bull@&$%.
Click to expand...

Awww and here my next question was going to be along the lines of if a combination of harmonics and forging produce a superior blade :barf: :D hehe.

So would you agree Kevin that a nice ring would go hand in hand with a tight and well put together sword? The two blades I have seen this with so far are both single edged, now you have me getting the jones to try on a double edge to hear it, I would imagine it acts more similar to a tuning fork as like you said with the symmetry and all. Good to hear there is a base in reality and it's not all from the movies:D.
 
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