Your Opinion On A New Sword Project -- myArmoury.com

Nat Lamb · Posted: Fri 05 Jun, 2009 12:18 am Post subject:

this project and its updates are a real inspiration to get off my, errr, couch, and back to the workshop. Awsome work.
As an asside, due to your profile pic I have an image of you doing all your work in a suit and tie, which adds something rather awsome to the whole scene.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 05 Jun, 2009 11:28 am Post subject:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 05 Jun, 2009 11:48 am Post subject:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Mon 08 Jun, 2009 11:46 am Post subject:

I scrapped all the leather--grip, chappe and scabbard cover. Eek!

The color was a mess and I was already thinking that I wouldn't peen the tang so I could redo everything later. That's no good. I want to finish this thing properly. So, last night I re-wrapped the grip in good-old black. Tonight I'll cut and dye a new chappe.

Chamois glued to a wooden scabbard core or sword grip does not come off easily, by the way. Big Grin

Felix R. · Posted: Mon 08 Jun, 2009 11:54 am Post subject:

Hi Sean, what kind of leather dye did you use?

Sean Flynt · Posted: Mon 08 Jun, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject:

I'm using Fiebing's leather dye.

http://www.fiebing.com

It's good stuff. The problems were of my own creation. First, I should have rinsed the leather to clear excess dye. Next, I shouldn't have waxed the leather until I was sure I liked the color. Next, after I decided against the red I shouldn't have tried to re-dye the leather in place through the wax. I dyed the wax, basically, and that led to a mottled red-and-black look, with the black easily coming off on the hand or cloth. I don't have many regrets, though. I got the overlap of the grip wrap wrong (I think it should fall under the fingertips and pull in the direction of the wrap) and forgot to position the excess leather at the lower end of the grip so that the tongues of leather to be sewn to the chappe are the full width of the grip. At the time I decided I could live with these flaws, but they were already bothering me. So, there were plenty of reasons to start over.

After dyeing the new grip wrap last night I rinsed it thoroughly. No bleeding problems. When binding it to the grip I noticed that the glue was mixing with some of the red dye left on the grip core, making a pink mess where the cord squeezed it out at the bottom of the grip. So, maybe the red dye isn't quite as stable as the black(?).

I'll be removing the cord tonight, when the leather and glue should be quite dry. If the cord is removed too quickly the leather can spring back a bit, reducing the depth of the cord marks.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 12 Jun, 2009 6:51 am Post subject:

Better. The grip is ready for stitching. Again. Big Grin

Felix R. · Posted: Fri 12 Jun, 2009 8:02 am Post subject:

Nice, I wish I could get a reasonable priced Windlass here in Germany. When I compare prices to Kult of Athena, you pay hte $ in € plus about 20€. Then a windlass isn´t that reasonable priced anymore.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 12 Jun, 2009 8:36 am Post subject:

M. Eversberg II · Posted: Fri 12 Jun, 2009 12:30 pm Post subject:

Then he'd have to ship all those windlasses back home, which is probably going to be a killer :S

M.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 12 Jun, 2009 1:29 pm Post subject:

Sergej Nabukov · Posted: Sat 13 Jun, 2009 12:34 am Post subject:

Do you have a baby to go with it?
Hehe. Razz

Julien M · Posted: Sat 13 Jun, 2009 1:34 am Post subject:

M. Eversberg II · Posted: Sat 13 Jun, 2009 4:46 am Post subject:

Felix R. · Posted: Sat 13 Jun, 2009 6:45 am Post subject:

You are not allowed to take it in the hand luggage.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Mon 15 Jun, 2009 7:33 am Post subject:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Mon 29 Jun, 2009 9:10 am Post subject:

The sword is finished but I want to finish the scabbard before raising the curtain on the project. I need to make a chape and a buckle. The buckle is easy. The chape is a challenge. I've experimented with a clay model (see photos below) but I'm not sure what gauge steel to use. I have 16, which seems too thick, and 22, which seems to thin. That argues for 18 or 20, I guess. Any thoughts on the gauge of historical chapes? For those interested, note that the photos below are in the correct order--I rolled out a thin sheet of clay, pressed that onto the scabbard tip, trimmed the clay to shape then cut it down the back and unfolded it. This form will be traced onto light foam sheet to create a pattern. I'm not sure I'll keep the design as shown. I'll probably exaggerate the cutout a bit to make it more gothic. As always, I welcome your comments and questions.

Etienne Hamel · Posted: Tue 30 Jun, 2009 9:12 am Post subject:

did you think of trying to make your chape with paterns like on some gothic armors (sorry for the english)

here is what im trying to say by paterns on gothic armors: http://www.medievaltymes.com/courtyard/images...armour.jpg

Sean Flynt · Posted: Tue 30 Jun, 2009 11:31 am Post subject:

I do want a gothic look for this chape, which, to me, means deep curves and cutouts. The linden/heart motif was one option for the cutout. The trefoil/clover was another. I'll most likely just elaborate on the simple design I have here, deepening the curves and maybe rounding the cutout a bit, as seen on the knife scabbard chape below. My sword is not meant to be a high-status weapon, so I don't want to do anything too elaborate with the chape.