Reshaping a sidesword tip -- myArmoury.com

Keen Mark · Posted: Wed 05 Aug, 2009 4:28 pm Post subject: Reshaping a sidesword tip

So... I have received my AT sidesword and, in addition to cleaning/polishing it up, I would like to reshape its tip and make it more even and pointed. Is there any particular sharpening stone I should buy and any techniques I could use to make my life easier? I was going to buy a cheap synthetic sharpening stone (the ones made in China that are coarse on one side and less-rough on the other), put some water and start carefully grinding away. Is there a better way to do this?

G Ezell · Industry Professional

There is a faster way, but not necessarily better, that being a belt grinder. I'm assuming you may not have access to one... In that case, stones might be the best way to go. Start with something very coarse, then work your way up in fineness, being sure to get out coarser scratches as you go. Sandpaper on a stiff backing may be more versatile, and less expensive for one project than buying a full set of stones. 400 grit sandpaper leaves a nice satin finish, 2000 grit will be close to a mirror polish. Do as much of the rough shaping as possible with 50 grit or less, then jump to 80, 120, 220, 320, 400, etc... until you arrive at the level of finish you desire. You can use the paper wet or dry, wet cuts a little faster but cuts rougher than dry in my experience. As you are working just the point, it shouldn't take too terribly long. Good music helps... Cool

Luke Zechman · Posted: Fri 07 Aug, 2009 10:09 am Post subject:

If I were going to change the tip of a sword drastically, say from a mainz pattern pointedness to a pompei pattern... would it hurt to remove the three inches of metal I don't need with a hack saw? Then once to that point i could remove the rest carefully with a file. I figure as long as i don't get the metal too hot I should be fine right?
The following diagram show what i have on the left and what i want on the right. the red line indicates what i would like to hack off. would this hurt? So just to clarify... red part is the area I would remove with a hack saw. green part is what i would remove with a file. see second diagram.

Josh Maxwell · Posted: Fri 07 Aug, 2009 12:01 pm Post subject:

Luke Zechman · Posted: Fri 07 Aug, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject:

I would use a file to get the shape you want, then i would use 600 grit sandpaper to smooth it out. save the sharpening stone for... sharpening the edge. go slow! you can always take more off, but you can't put it back on. Also use something to clean any oils off the blade before shaping so you don't clog up you file/sandpaper with oily metal dust. and remember that files only cut on the push so save the wear on the file by only pushing it away from you, lift and push.

Justin King · Industry Professional

Hacksaws and files can only be used effectively if the steel is soft enough. Some current production blades are harder than others and may dull these types of tools fairly quickly. A hard enough blade will reject the file completely, but you will encounter blades of this hardness fairly rarely in the production sword world. To simplify, there is no reason why you cant use these types of tools on blades, just that some blades are easier than others to use them on.
There is also no reason you can't use a belt grinder or even other types of grinders on heat treated steel, but in doing so you do need to work in such a manner that the blade does not get over-heated. Belt grinders which use industrial-grade metal grinding belts are ideal, removing lots of material for minimal heat buildup, but other kinds of grinders can be used if one knows what one is doing. Using a fresh, sharp, and relatively coarse abrasive with light to moderate pressure is usually best for removing lots of material without creating lots of heat.

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Fri 07 Aug, 2009 10:30 pm Post subject:

A dremel with a cutting wheel will cut hardened steel like butter but one almost must cut in a strait line as the cutting wheels are fragile and cutting in a curve is very difficult to do ! But the point of a Gladius is very strait so it should work fine.

Oh once the cut is initiated staying in the cut become easy but the initial cutting pass has to be perfectly strait and where you want it and needs a very steady hand.

You don't cut deep, you cut a shallow groove the whole length of the cut and then go over and over again in the same groove until the whole piece falls off. It's also easy to make one or two passes at a time and let the steel cool or wet it with a towel to not affect the heat treat.

Once you have your desired profile you still have to re-establish a primary bevel before adding a secondary bevel or apple seed edge.

Hope this helps. ( Oh, one can stack multiple cutting wheels together and cut in fullers also, but one needs a VERY steady hand or some sort of mechanical guide to avoid the cutting wheels from skipping out of the groove/fuller and cutting the surface of the blade where one doesn't want to mar the finish ).

Luke Zechman · Posted: Sat 08 Aug, 2009 12:12 am Post subject:

Thanks a lot gentlemen. This information is great, and I really appreciate it. I will be posting progress on this project eventually.

G Ezell · Industry Professional

Luke Zechman · Posted: Sat 08 Aug, 2009 12:02 pm Post subject:

Bought a Dremel 300 today with the tips I made at the pub last night and started the cuts. Found it easier to make a straight cut but first perforating the surface. I have been making 3 or 4 passes and then wetting with a paper towel. This is working great, and the metal never even gets warm. Taking a break, and about half way through.

Keen Mark · Posted: Sat 08 Aug, 2009 7:03 pm Post subject:

I'm happy to report success. Reshaping a tip with a waterstone is not a piece of cake, it requires at least an hour or two of careful grinding by hand, washing the stone frequently to remove the gunk that builds up. Afterwards, the edge needs to be re-aligned, then all the grind marks must be polished out by progressively finer grits of stones, followed by a cleanup with 1000 grit sandpaper to help remove burrs. And all the time you have to be careful of the edge and especially the tip. Fortunately this was an AT sidesword, so my life was made easier by the fact that I could remove the hilt, grip and pommel to help me handle the blade much easier. Here is the finished work, I may go back over it again with more 1000 grit sandpaper to further refine it. The buckler it's resting on is an Arms and Armor italian buckler.