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Sean Flynt
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 Posted: Wed 07 Feb, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject: Machete to Messer Conversion: Why Not? |
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There are some good quality short blades out there for decent prices. Martindale machetes come to mind. There's also the new Cold Steel "Bowie" machete (see below). The version with 18" blade is $30. Add a cross/nagel, wood scales/rivets and a messer pommel. Does that do the job or do you have only a Messer-Like Object? The blade of the CS is 3mm thick, which strikes me as being outside the range of what I'd expect for a true messer (too thin). Other problems include the secondary bevel. But just in general, what do y'all think of this possibility? Is 18" too short? 3mm too thin?
 Attachment: 23.01 KB
-Sean
Author of the Little Hammer novel
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Hammer-Sean-Flynt/dp/B08XN7HZ82/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=little+hammer+book&qid=1627482034&sr=8-1
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Jonathon Janusz
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| Posted: Wed 07 Feb, 2007 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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I've got a Martindale blade I've been working on again off again (more off than on. . .  ) I figured would work well for just such a purpose. The biggest things I've got concerns over are the placment of the holes drilled for the original grip slabs and the shape and offset of the tang - straightening it and squaring the shoulders would take off a lot of metal for something intended to be the full width of the grip slabs.
In any case, I would recommend the Martindale blades as something to play with - very lively even with just a couple of grip slabs.
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Sean Belair
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Wed 07 Feb, 2007 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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Weird I was telling a friend today about doing that. I have a real piece of junk machete from Wal-Mart for $7. it would really be just to practice polishing and hilting but still it’s not a bad idea if you have a quality machete and not enough time to forge or grind the blade.
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M. Eversberg II
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| Posted: Thu 08 Feb, 2007 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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I've been considering turning my machette into a fulschun -- has the blade shape, but not sure if it's long enough.
M.
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Simon E.
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| Posted: Thu 08 Feb, 2007 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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I've thought about doing this too, but I wonder if there's any distal taper to messers. Something I don't know messers; most machetes I've seen don't vary in blade thickness at all. How do you propose fixing the cross to the machete? Well, if it be similar to messer or no, it'd surely make an interesting machete.
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Jean Thibodeau
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| Posted: Fri 09 Feb, 2007 2:22 am Post subject: |
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| Simon E. wrote: | | I've thought about doing this too, but I wonder if there's any distal taper to messers. Something I don't know messers; most machetes I've seen don't vary in blade thickness at all. How do you propose fixing the cross to the machete? Well, if it be similar to messer or no, it'd surely make an interesting machete. |
From what I've read about the Albion " Vassal " falchion there is distal taper on this one: Not an original but Peter Johnsson used originals as models and took some measurements on a few I think. ( Did some decent research and saw or handled museum originals as his usual process when designing swords for the Albion Next generation line ).
With modern machetes the blade are thin already and are usually of inexpensive manufacture: Thin 1/8" inch stock or thinner and just cut out of the flat sheet of steel with little of no main bevel and just with what would be the secondary bevel to sharpen. ( At least for most cheap ones I've seen in hardware or sporting goods store. Those made locally in tropical countries might be forged and have different qualities. )
The idea of making a messer or falchion would be more interesting if the blade was thicker than the average machete.
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
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Jonathon Janusz
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| Posted: Fri 09 Feb, 2007 4:58 am Post subject: |
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Regarding distal taper and machetes, although many don't have any variation in blade thickness, the blades from Martindale do. I checked out some info on their web site (and can confirm visually on my particular blade). Again, really worth checking out for this kind of project 
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Scott Hanson
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| Posted: Fri 09 Feb, 2007 7:16 am Post subject: |
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| Jean Thibodeau wrote: | | From what I've read about the Albion " Vassal " falchion there is distal taper on this one |
I can confirm that, and more importantly to this thread, I can confirm that the Meister does as well. I got to see both blades when I was there last year.
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This is a standard topic