The Ashokan Gladius Challenge......

Mace

Mace

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Apr 8, 2003
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Well I was talking with Matt (aka Mr. purple) the other day about Ashokan.
We were talking about the demonstrations and it led to Bill McGrath's short sword course/running the troops thru some drills.
I thought how is he going to do this when most folks wont happen to have a sword with them and I said to Matt "How about we each make a Gladius?":thumbup:
I think Matt about fell over!:eek:
Then he agreed.:D
So now I issue the challenge to the rest of you makers who are going.
I know it's a little short notice and both Matt and I have a couple of days head start but it sure would be fun to see what you guys come up with.
How about it? Who's in?
For an added incentive Matt has agreed to let us test out our blades on his car!
Macemus
 
Macemus (formerly known as Mace),

With deep regret (for want of a forge and anvil) I must abstain from this challenge. Next year though....that's another story :)
 
Erik, There is no rule it has to be forged. For example Matt is "cheating" Ah....I mean grinding his blade.:D
Macemus
 
Well, then, I might have to get into the shop to see what I can whip up.....hmmmm....Hope I still have some 5/16"s laying around....
 
Hopefully Mr. Cashen will see this thread, as his input here would be appreciated... I'm guessing most of us have no way to heat up 20 inches of blade uniformly for heat treating, and I don't have enough time to scout for a 55 gallon drum to make a Fogg-style heat treating oven. Are there any utilities available at the field campus that we could all use to overcome this obstacle?
I'll bring my quench tank (5 gallons of Park's #50 included, and it's plenty big enough), if anyone else has ideas.

I just don't want to be 'assaulted' by Mace's gladiator costume...:barf::barf::barf:

PS- Grinding isn't cheating, just smarter. Keep swinging your hammer, lummox!;)
 
Then you'll have to make a trident , then armor , then have gladiator fights !!!
 
There certainly is some equipment at Ashokan to help! If you all bring your swords, a bag of real charcoal and one of you a shovel, there is a sword heat treating forge that Phil Baldwin used the last time he was there just off the far end of the pavillion, it is hidden by earth but once you have removed a dozen shovel loads or so you will see it. It is an earthen trench about 4 feet long and 10" wide that will accept your charcoal just fine. Oh and if one of you bring a perforated pipe around 3' in length, with a blower attached to it, you can even have draft to increase the thermal efficiency:D
 
This is the Trench Forge that Kevin was referring to.
BaldwinTrenchForge.jpg


This is Phil Baldwin using his forge
BaldwinTrenchForge3.jpg

Phil gave an excellent demo, heat treating a double edged sword in his forge and quenching it in the upright tank next to it. He used the trash can lid to fan specific areas of coals to even out the heat. His contraption seemed to work well, although it did look like a lot of work.
 
Only those images leaves the impression that there actually is some fire brick and existing construction to the forge, when I was really being a smart alec by telling folks that there is a sword forge anywhere they would like to dig a trench and build a fire at Ashokan, but no such aparatus already exists.
 
Uh...thats Mr. lummoximus to you Matt.:eek:

Hmmmm...a trident might be nice too.:D
Macemus
 
hey matt you should bring the 300 r.u.m. and give it a try on mace's truck.... just wait till i'm outta my bedroom (a.k.a. the glove compartment)
 
Kevin R. Cashen said:
...I was really being a smart alec by telling folks that there is a sword forge anywhere they would like to dig a trench and build a fire at Ashokan, but no such aparatus already exists.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I was a little slow on the uptake. I was wondering what the heck Phil could have left behind...
 
Matt, as you are using stock removal, what size material are you starting with?

Macemus, as you are forging, what size matierial are you starting with?

I have a billet of 5160 that is 1 3/4" X1/4" and I have some 1075 that is 1 1/4" X1/4". I am thinking that the 1 3/4" would forge out wider than 2", so I'm going to use the 1 1/4" and hope is get wider that 1 1/2", and hope I finish before Ashokan.
 
Larry,
Both Matt and I used the same wonderful steel. 1084 of course ...1 1/2" x 1/4. I know a guy that has some for sale if you need a 1000 lbs. or so.:D


I have to admit I almost grabed a bar of 1 3/4" 1075 when I started.
Seems to me Larry you have a gap in your steel selection that could easily be filled with some high quality 1 1/2" 1084!:D
Can I put you down for a few hundred pounds at least?:thumbup:
As my uncle Danny use to say "Such a deal".:thumbup:
Mace
 
Hey, Mace......how much of that 1084 did you guys have made originally?
 
Mace said:
.....Seems to me Larry you have a gap in your steel selection that could easily be filled with some high quality 1 1/2" 1084!:D
Can I put you down for a few hundred pounds at least?:thumbup:
As my uncle Danny use to say "Such a deal".:thumbup:
Mace
Click to expand...


Mace, If Mike and myself are going to ride with you this year, I can always pick it up on the way home from Ashokan :eek::D
 
Mace said:
Joe, The question is....How much do you need?:D
Mace
Click to expand...

LOL....I was just curious. A lot of people talk about having custom melts done and some places say they will do them as small as 250 pounds, but when the rubber hits the road, the size is normally much larger than that if you want the stuff to be anything close to affordable. And YES, when I get my new shop set up and my knife making finances figured out, I will be ordering some from you:D The chemical analysis on that stuff makes it hard to resist.
 
Kevin R. Cashen said:
it is hidden by earth but once you have removed a dozen shovel loads or so you will see it. It is an earthen trench about 4 feet long and 10" wide that will accept your charcoal just fine. Oh and if one of you bring a perforated pipe around 3' in length, with a blower attached to it, you can even have draft to increase the thermal efficiency:D
Click to expand...


Hey Kevin, would a trench like that be hot enough without a blower? :confused:
 
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