| Author |
Message |
Robin Smith
|
 Posted: Tue 06 Nov, 2012 6:29 pm Post subject: New project by Jeff Helmes |
 |
|
A few months back I contacted Jeff Helmes about a project. Jeff caught my eye with the great Viking and High Medieval swords he has done for Tim Lison and JD Crawford. My primary period of interest is the Viking and High Medieval period, so I figured Jeff would be the perfect smith to work with. As this has been my first custom project, it has been fun and I have learned alot. Jeff has been great.
After going through many different ideas, Jeff and I settled on the HAM 2036.1 that is covered in the feature article on this site. I have always loved the subtle beauty of the HAM 2036.1, the graceful blade, the inlay, and the brazil nut pommel. After discussing certain options we decided silver would be the most appropriate for the inlay and the hilt parts would be done in wrought iron.
Anyway, enough talking.... Here's some pictures
The blade after being forged awaiting engraving for the inlay
The blade after inlay and preliminary polish
Close up on inlay of one side
Recent pics of the hilt after some rough grinding
As you can see, Jeff is still working on the project. After the sword is complete, Jeff will be making an appropriate scabbard.
the HAM 2036.1 Feature Article
http://www.myArmoury.com/feature_higgins_vik.html
A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
|
|
   |
 |
Josh Wilson
|
| Posted: Tue 06 Nov, 2012 6:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
Nice!! Can't wait to see more pictures! :-D
|
|
|
|
|
J.D. Crawford
|
| Posted: Tue 06 Nov, 2012 7:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
Looks like another beautiful blade from Jeff! Good choice. I've been watching this on Jeff's facebook page as well. Looking forward to seeing the final product!
|
|
 |
|
|
Patrick Kelly
|
| Posted: Tue 06 Nov, 2012 11:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Robin, that's going to be a beauty. Nice, nice, nice.
"In valor there is hope.".................. Tacitus
|
|
 |
|
Robin Smith
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 6:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks guys! I agree, it's beautiful....
New pics for the morning
A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
|
|
|
|
|
J.D. Crawford
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 8:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Robin Smith wrote: | Thanks guys! I agree, it's beautiful....
New pics for the morning
|
Sweet. What is the status of the finish? Is it in final shape / weight at this point? Its hard to tell from the photos but it looks like the final surface finish is not done.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Woodruff
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 8:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
Absolutely beautiful! I am sure that being a Jeff Helmes sword that it faithfully follows the dimensions of the original. I am curious, how does the mass of the complete sword compare to that of the corroded original? The original only weighs 1lb 10 oz, despite its long blade and good condition. Just for convenience, here is a link to the feature article with the dimensions: http://www.myArmoury.com/feature_higgins_vik.html
|
|
|
|
|
Robin Smith
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 8:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
JD you're correct. This is half through the polish....
Weight right now is just a hair over 2 lbs. So a bit heavier than the original, but this has not lost some mass to corrosion. I think it's probably fairly close to what the original was in its prime.
A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
|
|
|
|
|
Kai Lawson
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 11:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
Does it have a fairly thin blade overall, to keep around 2 lbs?
Absolutely beautiful sword. Seriously, one of the best I have ever seen. You'll have to add more pictures when finished; I'll have to contact Mr. Helmes at some point
"And they crossed swords."
--William Goldman, alias S. Morgenstern
|
|
|
|
|
Robin Smith
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 12:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Kai Lawson wrote: | Does it have a fairly thin blade overall, to keep around 2 lbs?
Absolutely beautiful sword. Seriously, one of the best I have ever seen. You'll have to add more pictures when finished; I'll have to contact Mr. Helmes at some point |
Oh, I will definitely add more as the project wears on.
The blade is thin, as are all blades of this type. Really I am interested to see what the PoB ends up being.
A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Woodruff
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 12:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
Nice. It really takes a keen eye for volumes to make a sword like that. It must feel fantastic in the hand. I can't wait to see the finished sword.
|
|
|
|
|
Roger Hooper
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 1:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That looks great. Is the blade differentially tempered as Peter Johnsson thought the original might be?
I love those type A pommels. I'd like to see a photo of it with grip and scabbard done.
Were you able to match the distal taper of the original HAM#2036? Perhaps the corrosion prevents those dimensions from being determined with absolute accuracy.
|
|
|
|
|
Robin Smith
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 1:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Roger Hooper wrote: | That looks great. Is the blade http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8163966073_2e5038f644_b.jpg as Peter Johnsson thought the original might be?
I love those type A pommels. I'd like to see a photo of it with grip and scabbard done.
Were you able to match the distal taper of the original HAM#2036? Perhaps the corrosion prevents those dimensions from being determined with absolute accuracy. |
Jeff can correct me, but I believe he used a through-temper.
However, I assume the comment by P Johnnson you are alluding to is: "The corrosion on the blade reveals layers of metal stacked one on top of the other. Peter Johnsson speculated that this might be indicative of the nature of a tempered steel blade: skin of hardened steel on top of softer core in the middle." That comment seems to indicated that he is not talking about method of tempering. He literally means a layer of harder steel outer skin forged to a softer core. It was fairly common method of construction in this period. In order to determine temper, they would have to do hardness testing all along the blade, which AFAIK this sword has not undergone.
Ultimately though, I wasn't really hung up on the metallurgy with this project, because to go down that road we'd have to go into bloomery steel and determining correct construction (sandwich? piled? case carburised?) So I opted for the simple mono-steel.
Jeff said the dimensions all around are close to the originals. That said, I wasn't pushing for them to be exact.
A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
|
|
|
|
|
J.D. Crawford
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 6:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
Robin: I've long been intrigued by the low weight to size ratio of the original sword. The blade must be thin indeed. If Jeff has managed to come in at 2 lbs for blade cross and pommel he must have come pretty close to those original dimenions. You will have a great opportunity to experience how the original might have felt in action. I have an A&A custom of similar type and very similar dimensions that comes in at 3lbs and still handles very well. This one ought to float through the air, even if the CoG comes out fairly far from the cross. Looking forward to some kind of review from you in the end.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tim Lison
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 6:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
That is just plain gorgeous Robin! Jeff does such nice work, this is no exception. What are you gonna do for the scabbard?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeremy V. Krause
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 6:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Robin you know I am all over this project!
This sword type (type XI with A or B pommel) is among my favorite forms.
|
|
|
|
|
Robin Smith
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 7:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Tim Lison wrote: | | That is just plain gorgeous Robin! Jeff does such nice work, this is no exception. What are you gonna do for the scabbard? |
Appropriate integral suspension, and no tooling... But as for color and whatnot its up to him (just no black).
As for the grip I told him maybe something simple. Originally I was thinking some simple Romanesque tooling in the grip, but I felt it wasn't appropriate for this period (which is a shame, since it looks amazing). Again, leaving the color to him.
A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
|
|
|
|
|
Robin Smith
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 9:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Jeremy V. Krause wrote: | Robin you know I am all over this project!
This sword type (type XI with A or B pommel) is among my favorite forms. |
So you think its more an XI than an Xa? I personally would classify it as Xa,.
A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeremy V. Krause
|
| Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2012 10:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Robin Smith wrote: | | Jeremy V. Krause wrote: | Robin you know I am all over this project!
This sword type (type XI with A or B pommel) is among my favorite forms. |
So you think its more an XI than an Xa? I personally would classify it as Xa,. |
You're right. It is more of a type Xa, 
|
|
|
|
|
Robin Smith
|
| Posted: Wed 14 Nov, 2012 2:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
New Pictures up....
A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a standard topic