Warped Blade

[JoeCitizen]

I have an Ontario Blackwind katana ‘2nd’ that does not pass the ‘lie flat on the table’ test. Is that fixable? Anyone come highly recommended?

 

[scarysamcary]

If the warp is small it may be fixable without ruining the temper, but without pictures I don't know. Seeing as it is a factory 2nd, did it arrive with the warp or was it caused by use?

 

[BitingSarcasm]

The Ontario Blackwind series was neat, but the aesthetics were so easy to copy that sadly the whole line was discontinued due to counterfeiting. Unless you got your second directly from Ontario, the chances of it being authentic are small. Small warps are fixable with heat and pressure, but the coating would most likely suffer. Unless there is a lot of sentimental value in this one, the cost of having it fixed by a professional would be better spent starting over with something new.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Not to hijack a thread, but I also had a warped blade question.

I just bought a Hanwei Scotish Claymore and it seems to have a warped tip. Should I try to fix it, or would it be best to just send it back to Kult of Athena?

 

[horseclover]

I would gently try to fix it. You could/should notify them and maybe receive a bit of a rebate but the other option would be a return or exchange. It is your choice of time and effort.

Cheers
GC

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I contacted Kult of Athena. Very good folks and really took the time to answer my questions. It seems that bowed blades are common when you get to Claymore length in the sub $300 level of swords. They checked their other stock, and they were just bowed farther down the blade than mine. At least with mine, I may be able to straighten it...or not. Its not bad and doesn't seem to have any effect on the function. I seriously doubt anyone has been run through by a giant sword and proclaimed, "Ha! Ha! The tip of your blade is off center by 5 degrees, thus having no effect on me!"

 

[Kailash Blades]

I think it's definitely fixable without damaging the blade. Try to isolate where the centre of the bend is then place a phone boom or some similar underneath there. Put gloved hands on either side of the phone book and push down gently- the springiness of the steel is your friend. Gentle pressure with small peaks in force as you bounce on the blade slightly will lead to a very controllable end result. If the parts you're pushing on hit the ground before the blade can take a set raise the phone book up higher, try again then raise it slightly higher again. We are aiming for the lowest minimum height. If the radius is too tight for a phone book to properly isolate, use a smaller book stacked on top. This will be much easier with katanas (soft spine) than many fully quenched swords. A fully quenched sword may require a fair bit more force, there are techniques with a vice if necessary.
Best of luck guys!