Completed sword

[ApprenticeMan]

And here it is, after a long road!

Stats are as follows:

Overall length-36 5/8ths
Grip length-10 1/4
Blade length-26 1/4
POB (point of balance)-4 3/8ths from the front of the guard
Sweet spot-17 inches out from the guard, 9 inches from the tip
Steel-1075 with a lazy waves hamon
Finish-Satin, but still able to make out the hamon
Grip wood-Zebrawood
Hilt steel-mild steel


Handling:
Blade is very nice, bit heavy due to not much taper, but balances very nice in the hand. Cuts very well, very fast. Rings like a bell when flicked and when you cut.

Fit and finish:
Fit is good, nice and tight, hilt feels solid no rattles or looseness anywhere

Overall impression:
Friggin awesome! MY first complete sword!!!!!!!


Comments and critique welcome please, I am pleased and proud as could be, but do not hesitate to offer suggestions on improvement. Special thanks to John Lundemo, I originally forged the blade from a blank, but it was John who helped HT and ground the blade in it's beginning stages, all I did was polish it and finish grind and etch to bring out the hamon, then regrind the down curve tip then gave it the satin finish. Thanks brother!

[ApprenticeMan]

More pictures:

The sword is call Bruchort, german for "broken tip".

[Mills]

Outstanding!

Quick make another, while its fresh.

I'd offer that you take a look at the pommel. It isn't as smooth as the rest of the sword. That would be the only improvement for this one.

Good work.

[HWooldridge]

I like it just fine. A long fuller down the blade would take some weight out but she's pretty nice just the way you made her. The grip is gorgeous!

[Valentin]

Be carefull not to heat me !!! Nice work !

[TarAlderion]

What!?!? Sam actually finished a blade?!?! What strange parallel universe have I stumbled into??

Looks good Sam. Its nice to finally see something of yours finished. You have all sorts of cool and interesting ideas and half finished blades running around and its great to finally see one taken to completion.

I like the Zebra wood grip. Some better pics of the blade and Hamon would be nice to see. There isn't really enough clarity in the pics you posted to see the hamon.

The biggest problem with your work that I can see, is that you havent finished more. Get crackin on another. I am sure you have a bunch laying about just waiting to be finished (or should with all the pics you have posted of the ones you have banged out). I would like to see more, and I would like to see some fancier things done on some of your future pieces. Instead of a flatbar guard and simple pommel, add some more geometry and depth to some things, I know you have the hammer skills for it. Really play with some of the designs and wow us .

Great job on this one Sam!

Now I have to get out to the shop and finish a big one (that 48" longsword failed in HT and I used it for a destruction test/learning tool, but I have two more big ones about half way forged out), cant let Sam get the upper hand on me .

[ApprenticeMan]

Thanks Guys!

Graham, thanks . I always value your opinion on swords design and function. Mills, the pommel is a bit rougher than the rest, though I will fine tune and smooth things out a bit if it is uncomofortable.

[Finnr]

That is excellent work!!! Nicely done! Just one question ? Who are you , and what did you do with our Sam? LOL!! All teasing aside it's very nice work!
Finnr

[brucegodlesky]

Nice job, Sam!

[ThomasPowers]

Weight? a very important stat not mentioned!

Now to see if this is the evil Sam or if it was the other one that was the evil Sam.

Feels *really* *good* to finish something doesn't it?