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Johan Gemvik




Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Joined: 10 Nov 2009

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PostPosted: Sat 20 Jul, 2013 4:18 am    Post subject: Impossible helmet bifurcation!         Reply with quote

They said it couldn't be done, but just look at this photo I took last night!



Obviously it can't be done with a normal sword, we all know that.
But using a sturdy seax with a square section cross and a razor sharp edge I just put the blade there in the center of the 2,5 mm thick steel helm, no resistance or anything. It was like a lightsaber. Wink

"The Dwarf sees farther than the Giant when he has the giant's shoulder to mount on" -Coleridge
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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
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PostPosted: Sat 20 Jul, 2013 8:36 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Not to steal your thunder, but I'm pretty sure that helm was welded down the center ridge...poorly. Nice strike, though! I like that seax! Who made it?.........McM
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Ben Coomer




Location: Colorado
Joined: 06 Sep 2011
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PostPosted: Sat 20 Jul, 2013 2:15 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Mark Moore wrote:
Not to steal your thunder, but I'm pretty sure that helm was welded down the center ridge...poorly. Nice strike, though! I like that seax! Who made it?.........McM


I think it might not have been welded at all, only a clever bit of showmanship.
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Johan Gemvik




Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Joined: 10 Nov 2009

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PostPosted: Sat 20 Jul, 2013 2:17 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Mark, got you! Big Grin
April fools! Well in July but I'm a bit behind the times I suppose. Wink

I thought everyone would see the photo was an obvious fake that you guys would just call me on right away.

I was cutting up a pre-welded top along the weld (which was a perfect through weld btw) with an angle grinder to make my project Vendel helm more bowled out and round topped rather than the Norman style top it used to be and thought this would make a hilarious photo to just throw up here and see what I could get out of you guys with the gag. Wink


Anyway, the Seax is pretty nice. I'll post a photo later when I find the time.
It's made by a custom knifemaker on the UK Ebay and I recently modified it to look more authentic to the 10th century original by silver plating the brass fittings and grinding and polishing the damascus pattern off the edge section. It is very sturdy and made from two high tensile tool steels twisted and forged into a damascus ladder pattern billet. You can cut down a tree with it, I've tried chopping wood with it with no noticeable wear.
But bifurcating a modern steel helmet? That really is impossible unless one re-solders the edges or otherwise prepares the seam to intentionally break apart.

"The Dwarf sees farther than the Giant when he has the giant's shoulder to mount on" -Coleridge


Last edited by Johan Gemvik on Sat 20 Jul, 2013 2:22 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Johan Gemvik




Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Joined: 10 Nov 2009

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 793

PostPosted: Sat 20 Jul, 2013 2:18 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Ben Coomer wrote:
Mark Moore wrote:
Not to steal your thunder, but I'm pretty sure that helm was welded down the center ridge...poorly. Nice strike, though! I like that seax! Who made it?.........McM


I think it might not have been welded at all, only a clever bit of showmanship.


Exactly! Good eye there.
The blade isn't even reaching the table with the cross resting on it and the cut is still all the way, maybe that tipped you off? Wink

With some space between the halves it really was resistance free like a "lightsaber" putting the blade there in between. Like moving it through air. Big Grin

"The Dwarf sees farther than the Giant when he has the giant's shoulder to mount on" -Coleridge
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Dan Howard




Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
Joined: 08 Dec 2004

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PostPosted: Sat 20 Jul, 2013 3:26 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

It seems as if the US Army would be better served by lobbing saexs at enemy tanks instead of 50 calibre armour-piercers.
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Daniel Wallace




Location: Pennsylvania USA
Joined: 07 Aug 2011

Posts: 580

PostPosted: Sun 21 Jul, 2013 10:47 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

the little bit of blue discoloration tells me that if you by any chance of the world actually cut this helm in half with that - you sat there with a sawing motion for hours until you actually heated up the steel and began to cut through it during its non-metallic state. Razz
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Ben Coomer




Location: Colorado
Joined: 06 Sep 2011
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PostPosted: Sun 21 Jul, 2013 9:03 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Johan Gemvik wrote:
Ben Coomer wrote:
Mark Moore wrote:
Not to steal your thunder, but I'm pretty sure that helm was welded down the center ridge...poorly. Nice strike, though! I like that seax! Who made it?.........McM


I think it might not have been welded at all, only a clever bit of showmanship.


Exactly! Good eye there.
The blade isn't even reaching the table with the cross resting on it and the cut is still all the way, maybe that tipped you off? Wink

With some space between the halves it really was resistance free like a "lightsaber" putting the blade there in between. Like moving it through air. Big Grin


It was there being no damage to the table, actually. I would hazard that a helm splitting blow would have probably made an impression on the table beneath it.

Otherwise you'd be a living anime character. And scary...
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Johan Gemvik




Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Joined: 10 Nov 2009

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PostPosted: Wed 24 Jul, 2013 6:20 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Right you are Ben. Big Grin
"The Dwarf sees farther than the Giant when he has the giant's shoulder to mount on" -Coleridge
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David Clark





Joined: 10 Feb 2009

Posts: 132

PostPosted: Wed 24 Jul, 2013 6:30 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

OMG! That seax must be made from a samurai sword with their mad skillz because the Norse were total N00bz with sword forging.
Ow...that hurt my brain to type.

But seriously, I am always excited to see a Vendel or Valsgarde helm or one inspired by them. They are most fascinating and gorgeous.
And I really like the seax. Can you pop us a link to the maker?
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