Playinwitmetal Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 I know there isn't an exact science to tell a person when they are ready to take on the task of swordsmithing but I still want to ask. I've been bladesmithing for a year now and have made a couple dozen knives or so or various sizes and styles and I've learned or at least attempted different methods of heat treating and tempering and have more or less been successful (only destroyed 4 knives so far lol). I've made a couple of large items (more like medium sized things like machetes) but no actual swords.I'm also an apprentice smith for the ABS and rely on the plethora of collective knowledge accumulated by their master bladesmiths. Anywho; I've made swords out of mild steel just so I could get the basics down, but I haven't made one of a quality steel yet. I don't like to fail and I have limited amounts of Steel and I hate to waste material. So in the spirit of Conservation I wanted to ask you swordsmiths about how to judge when I'm ready for swordsmithng. Should I just dive in or perhaps are there ways to test or build myself up to the task? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Seems l ike you have acces to an answer. Those in the ABS that have seen your work and know you wold be my first choice rather than an answer from those of us that can only guess wot you do and where you are at in the process. I can give you my thoughts and am sure others will join in. You said you do not like to fail and I think that is a big thing that may jump up at you in longer work. You can make a 7" long knife blade and have a problem and maybe get a smaller nice blade from it. You can also make a knife blade and have an issue in heat treat and send it to the scrap pile. Think of those as tuition.If you are useing the abs guidelines for testing forged blades then you have an idea of how you are at heat treat.I hope you are keeping a log of wot kinds of steel you use and exact heat treatmentds you use for that and how it did in testing. That data will be like pure gold when you move ahead. Remeber top log all blades including the ones that fail if that happens. No sense in repeating that method. REmember you need to be spot on on hand finishing for a long blade and dead onn when getting it straight. Fittings are similiar to knives in that they also need to be really fit well and the lines matching the blade shape. I know you are already planning how you will heat treat a long blade, as likely wot you use now will not be quite enough.With all of this in mind I 'spect it is wot you feel is time to move ahead, Have fun and read the safety issues on this site about sords Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Try one, learn from what happens. try it out and if it fails think about why. If it doesn't do what you think it should then fix it til it does. Get to a knife show and handle a proffessional's blade, a high end maker like Rick Barrett or Kevin Cashen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 What I am trying to say basically is, you won't get better at making swords by making knives, a sword is not just a big knife. You want to make swords then start like you did making knives, and that's by screwing a bunch of them up til you got one that is right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Start thinking about how swords differ from knives. Look at *good* designs (historical examples NOT replicas which are often very poorly made and often far too heavy!) Figure out why they did what they did to get the POB, COP, vibration nodes, etc (Vibration nodes are very much a sword thing and can make the difference of a sword that sticks in your hand like it was glued there and one that wants to jump out of your hand when you hit something with it!) Figure out why and how heat treating may differ in a sword vs a knife. Be willing to fail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Carnecchia Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 I always jump right in. You can't learn without trying. What type of swords are you interested in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balian625 Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 jump in and learn on the job! that the best way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Playinwitmetal Posted September 23, 2011 Author Share Posted September 23, 2011 I always jump right in. You can't learn without trying. What type of swords are you interested in? european and japanese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balian625 Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Stick with european there more fun in my opinion! if yu want to do something curved try a scimitar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DClaville Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 there is one and only one answer to that question.. when you dont ask it no more, thats when remember be honest to your self and do all the home work (read up and look and feel some real swords) and remember that HT is one of the most important things. my first sword was a real ugly one but i used a steel i knew and have done some testing on HT on and i sharpened it up put on all sorts of safety gear and then took on a 4 inch dia. ash tree and down it went after lots of insane swinging (i dont recommend this to any one) and my edge was dulled a bit but not rolled or chipped in any place. now i know that one of my blades wont break from normal use and hurt any one play safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPH Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 <Zen Mode On> Ohhhhhhh Bedbug..if you have to ask when, then you are not ready.... <Zen Mode Off> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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