Virtual bbq bush sword. wip.

oldanvilyoungsmith

oldanvilyoungsmith

Joined
Feb 7, 2011
Messages
427
Here's where I am so far. I have the sword forged to shape, and I think I know my plan for the handle and fittings, but wanted to get some opinons on it.


The rough forged blade beside my drawing. Down in the corner is my ugly rendition of my guard idea.
My basic idea is a clamshell style guard, from wrought, and a walnut handle. With a stainless pin and a stainless thong tube.

I have yet to decide if I want to do a partial tang or a through tang, thoughts? (you'll notice, I left the tang big enough too do either).

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For the guard I'm thinking a shell guard (as mentioned before) similar to the guards on these two. I'm thinking that the shell would go with the cutlass like look the blade has - link1 link2





What do you guys think? What would you do or change?
 
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While I'm at it, I thought I'd show this. After forging the largest blade I've ever done, I found that I needed to straighten it. Typically I use my 4 1/2" shop vise to help straighten out a knife, but this sword was too long for that too help at all. So, I took some heavy bar and made new longer jaws.



Normal jaws.

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New 12" jaws.
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In use, I still had to tweak it after this, as the distal taper wouldn't let this straighten it all the way, but it helped a lot.

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Get three cylinder magnets to set on those jaws in the places needed to take out bends/warp.
 
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Well, I don't know about ya'll, but the tip of this blade just doesn't feel right to me. So last night I was talking it over with my dad, and sketching out ideas. So now I think I'm gonna reforge the end to look like this new drawing.

What do you guys think of the new possible design? does it look better, or seem to overstated.


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While I'm at it, I'd also like some opinions on the wood. I'm leaning towards walnut, but I also have these following woods in big enough sizes. Ironwood, purple heart, zebrawood, and maple (not curly). I might be open to ordering a piece of something if nothing I have seems quite right, but I'd prefer to use what I already have.

Edit- I forgot, I also have a block of Vera, and a handful of apple wood.
 
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This is my personal preference, but I would put on some Osage Orange. this knife just begs for a nice straight grain wood. Also, I like the tip the way it is. it looks to me as though the sketched tip might be just a bit fragile for the intended use of this knife. Just thoughts.
 
I agree with the geek on the tip. Maybe just a conventional spear point will work if you don't like what you have now. ??
 
Okay, I've been thinking about ya'lls thoughts on the new tip. And I agree, it could make it weaker. So I've redrawn it (again). And I think this new one is what I'm gonna do, all I really changed was pulled the hump farther back, straightened the edge, and added a slight radius.

What do you think of #3?

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#3 of the options given. #2 just looks too....phallic.

when it comes to sketching ideas: more sketches are better. Go nuts, fill a sheet of paper with thumbnail sketches (like 3"sq in truth). Don't spend more than 2 minutes on any sketch. Eventually some really cool stuff comes out.
 
Hey guys, I do exist. I thought I'd be less busy when spring semester was over (BTW, now a certified welder!). But fortunately for me, I've gotten more hours at work without classes. But I do have some progress.


I reforged the tip, and I have the bevels ground/filed in, and am working on sanding it all down to 150. But I've had to set it aside for a bit so I can work on my dad's bday knife (I'll post a pic soon). So I'll be working on it again soon.

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This is the knife I'm working on for my Dads b-day. Christopher Price forged it from a cutoff I had from the second look knife during Bowies Hammer-in last year. I've finally got around to working on it (a week and half before dads birthday).

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