Tiodhlac (Sword DONE, Poem NOT)

So I had the idea to add the clamshell like 'leaf guard' from a picture of a big two hander in a Ben Boos book. But I just came across an early claymore style I wasn't aware of. A clamshell claymore!

12222_471683996206360_1458269823_n.jpg


They were shorter and lighter swords than the 'Great Swords' so it makes sense..and I always like having some historical basis in fantasy stuff. I will be altering my plan a bit to fit my sword into this model I think.

I started forging the wrought iron cross guard (will be much shorter after doing the scroll work) and also started cold working the copper into the leaf. I need to research a bit into how to forge leaf veins, etc into them before I start bending them into the proper shape.

20581_471682196206540_863763329_n.jpg


64082_471682189539874_1635306701_n.jpg


I will try to get an update conceptual sketch for this soon!
 
cool beans Scott!
 
Coming along VERY nicely! Question: how much edge meat have you left yourself for HT to prevent warping on a blade this long?
 
Thanks guys...

Matt... this will be my first heat treat in a PID controlled kiln. But even in my forge I was leaving less than an 1/8. Unless it's paper thin.. I don't worry about that kind of warpage. I worry more about the big warps in the thicker areas due to uneven heating and uneven grinding. I was meticulous when I layed this blade out... so I'm feeling pretty good about how even the grinding is. And with a 40" long kiln... I'm feeling good about heat. The thing I'm more worried about is whether or not my kiln will work. I have an electrician friend coming out today to help me with the final wiring. So if everything goes well I may have a sword today!
 
By the way... time for a poetry update:

The Gift of the Ghillie Dhu

Wrought from star-dolven iron,
Quenched in sap of the Beithe,
Was Tiodhlac: Gift of the Ghillie Dhu

Young Duncan took care of the old birch wood,
Kept poachers and axmen at bay,
Gaining the love of the birch-bound Ghillie Dhu

When Young Duncan, his love-sworn abducted,
For the jealousy of wicked Black Donald,
Sorrow and pity was the old Ghillie Dhu.

It's like one of those old radio show cliff hanger's eh? :-)
 
Egads... this has been a heck of a journey over the last week or so trying to get my sword heat treat kiln running. I now know that I went WAY over my head trying to build this myself.

But I now have it running and I successfully quenched this blade today. The quench went great with only minor warp in the back third. Amazing how the pattern pops after the quench!

188621_475011499206943_914214157_n.jpg


Now to temper. It will be nice to have a full length tempering oven for this one... torch drawback just isn't much fun.
 
Oh my! This is already a great looking sword. Take your time and hurry up, we all want to see the end result.
Cheers Keith
 
Scott - It's turning out awesome. Love the shot of the pattern post-quench.

Rick - Anyone ever point out that you're a varmint? :)
 
Thats a beautiful pattern on that steel, I am also anxiously awaiting seeing the finished sword!

Jake
 
Thanks for the comments folks!

A little more work today... clean up after heat treat, tempering, straightening and working on fittings. Still LOTS of work on cross guard and copper leaf guard.. but the picture gives an idea. Lot of time spent on making sure things are symmetrical. Laying the blade on a grid to check for symmetry. Marking a grid ON the blade to mark center-line. Checking symmetry of guard on graph paper. Symmetry is important on double edged swords. :-) I'm hoping the pattern will become a little more symmetrical when all the grinding is done. I'm have an area of annoying straight laminates on one side of the blade! Asymmetrical grinding or asymmetrical forging? Probably both.

148910_475427575832002_1299496411_n.jpg


188777_475427589165334_339372289_n.jpg
 
Well this has been a trial. I realized rather late that I didn't have full hardness in my blade and had to re-heat treat it 3 times! I'm still getting used to the kiln and I must have been losing heat when extracting from kiln and also too slow of oil in my sword quench tube. On the second attempt I quenched and when I pulled out the blade it had taken curvature to the side like a single edge blade! Ughh.. At first I thought it warped that way.. but then I realized it was the way the sword was sitting in the kiln. So I had to take it back to the forge for correcting. I finally got an excellent heat treat by setting the PID 50 degrees higher and quenching in brine... (I didn't have enough of my Houghton to fill the tube).

Anyway.. It is good now and it has straightened up with corrections in temper.

Here I am flexing the blade and checking for any set. Awesome. You can also see the birch bark I'm preparing for the grip.. in addition to some Masur birch burl.

385278_478744195500340_597503666_n.jpg


I have all the profiling done.. again... and am now working on the finish of the blade. Here is my new hollow grind sanding jig.. some 2" hydraulic hose. Works great!

163314_478744198833673_387765457_n.jpg


And here is the edge I'm working with while hand sanding. Have to watch those fingers!

553286_478744205500339_1344005649_n.jpg


This is basically where it is right now... 150 grit to get rid of machine lines. Will now start to take to 600. I've done some more work on the 'leaf guard' and will take some more pictures tomorrow. But I'm now leaning towards having it point up.. like a rain guard. It just looks better. I've started doing some basic leaf vein engraving with katakiri chisels and round punch. I actually inlaid some nickel silver wire but didn't like it. Tomorrow I will polish it and prepare it for a sawdust concoction bury for green patination.

602807_478744245500335_980426406_n.jpg
 
Man Scott.. This is looking fantastic.

One of these days I hope to see one of these up close.
 
I like your sword work anyway, Scott, and I just have to say again that the pattern of your blade metal looks so cool.

It's even cooler with the mixture of metals you put into this one. Way to go.

John
 
Thanks John... One of these days I will show the hilt coming together! Not just the pattern.. :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top