[Jan Downs]

Hello all,

I am modifying an old Atlanta Cutlery viking sword (you know, cheap Windlass one). My question is when I am fitting the cross to the base of the blade should I shape it to match the guards curve or keep the shoulders square (though radiused) and modify the cross to accept the base of the blade? I hope the question makes sense.

Any help is appreciated.

Jan Downs

[Peter Johnsson]

[Greyson Brown]

Jan,

I think I know which sword you are talking about. The one with the brass five-lobed pommel, right? I have two of those. One retains its original fittings, but the other was modified a bit. My dad helped me to make a new pommel and guard for it back when I was 17, and we went ahead and left the shoulders the way they were and filed a curve in the guard. That blade broke at the tang (more from misuse than any fault of the sword, I am actually quite impressed with that piece when it comes to taking abuse), and I had to reforge a tang out of the blade. I went ahead and used the same guard and pommel that we had made before, but in forging out the new tang, I did not end up with shulders that were as curved. Im consequence, I had to refile the guard a bit as well. I also chose to remove the pointed escution. The later was a bad choice, as this guard did not have the slot that Peter mentioned, and that cusp was the closest thing to one. There is not much play in the guard, but there is more than there needs to be. Also because the guard was made from brass, this has resulted in some unsightly marring of the face of the guard that would have been avoided or hidden if the slot had been there.

That just goes to show that you can use both methods on the same sword and guard just fine. I agree with Peter that rounding the inlet on the guard or straightening the shoulders is a matter of taste or convenience, but I also agree that you need to ensure you include that slot for the blade. Even if it is loose, it just seems to help pull everything together right.

Here is a picture of the sword that I modified. the rain guard was added because I was foolish enough to go with a threaded tang (I'm actually a bit proud of the way I pulled that off, but it isn't the right way to put a sword together), and I needed something to make everything fit right. [Please note that I make no claims of historical accuracy with this sword. It was one of my very first sword projects, and there are several things that I know now that I wish I'd known then. I can still change many of the things that are wrong with it, so I have decided to make this my "learning blade" in many ways.]


[Edit] I'm not seeing the picture for some reason, if it's not showing up for you either, go to this post and scroll down to the second set of pictures.

And here is a picture of the un-modified sword (well, mostly unmodified, the "leather" is missing from the grip in this photo, and I have since redone the grip with a knotted cord wrap (which is sufficiently ugly and ill-fitting that I won't be sharing that one unless forced to)).

[Jan Downs]

Thanks to both Peter and Greyson. The info will be very helpful.

Greyson, that is the exact sword I am talking about. I got it as a gift some years ago and I am using it as a learning blade. In fact reading one of your threads on the subject inspired me to make my own mods.

I really appreciate the help.

Regards,

Jan Downs

[Greyson Brown]

My first one was a gift, as well. I bought the second one specificy to modify. For $60, I think it is really pretty decent quality. It's not historically accurate, it will hold up to what borders on abuse. I certainly think it is a good sword for modifying partly because you aren't out that much money if something goes wrong.

Just so you are aware, my brother also has one of these (as does my dad - he got them for all of us for Christmas one year). There can be quite a bit of difference in blade mass, tange width/thickness, overall length, and especially in handling. If you decide to get a second one for a project blade, don't plan on it being just like the first one.

Do you mind mentioning what you have in mind for this sword? As always, don't forget to show us some pictures of your modifications.

-Grey

P.S. It's kinda frightening to think that I helped inspire this project. I hope you don't start cursing my name if you hit a snag.

[Jan Downs]