Fixing a sword (crack in the spine) -- myArmoury.com

Christopher Finneman

Hello there
I aquired a albion vassal in the moat sale while its 99 percent done and heat treated it has a cracked spine. While I did a stress test and bent it it returned to true with no ill effect to the spine.
But would it ruin it if I use a wire feed welder to fix the spine. Weld small patches and not over heat it?
Thanks
Christopher

M. Adair Orr · Posted: Fri 26 Mar, 2010 3:47 pm Post subject:

Christopher,

I would advise against any consideration of using this blade for all but decorative purposes. A crack in heat treated steel will propogate. This is also a danger in the very local heat affected zone that would occur if you weld as you describe. A blade with a crack is junk pile material in my opinion, unless you can cut off that portion of the blade and re-heat treat the salvaged end.

-A

Christopher Finneman · Posted: Fri 26 Mar, 2010 4:08 pm Post subject:

Even if its a hair line crack itll keep cracking? I know on other steel objects if you slightly drill in front of the crack and weld itll stop it. Its heat treated nicely and is just a hairline crack. Im just going to make the crack stop and fix it the best I can. It doesnt look like it cracked to deep anyways Im thinking grind down the spine a ways and see it that fixes it. It has a fuller right under the spine so I dont think itll interfere with it.
Oh and the crack is running the length of the spine not the width

JE Sarge · Industry Professional

The blade is ruined, which is why it was discarded by the manufacturer in the first place. You cannot fix it, nor should you really try - in addition to the crack, there are probably other structural integrity problems which are not so obvious.

Since it's such a nice falchion, I'd hilt it up for a display/costume piece, but never use it for any thing other than dry handing.

Christopher Finneman · Posted: Fri 26 Mar, 2010 4:54 pm Post subject:

Hmm well saddness sings.
But yes Ill weld it up finish it and use it as a costume piece.
But I did a stress test to it and it bends and returns to true easy enough. If anything Ill use it as a light target cutter or a beater. Seems to be heat treated decently.
Thank you all for the advise

Robert Subiaga Jr. · Posted: Fri 26 Mar, 2010 4:54 pm Post subject:

Do you have any pictures? (From just your description it sounds dicey, but I can also envision a possible situation where a reinforced spine [especially when integrated with a ricasso segment] like Indians used on a khanda might work just fine--w/o necessitating welding.)

Christopher Finneman · Posted: Fri 26 Mar, 2010 4:58 pm Post subject:

Well no pics of it. But what I see is a small crack barely visible running down the middle of the spine 3/4 of the blade. I mean I had it in the vise and tried to crack it more(was in a heavy leather apron with heave leather gloves saftey glasses etc) But the thing is built stron and think its just a small interference being cracked.
But yes took me forever to find said crack uses food coloring to find it.
But Ill use cation if I cut with it.