[Leo Todeschini]

Jean Thibodeau wrote

[Leo Todeschini]

Here is the next tranche of work.

The Katzbalger will finally get assembled this week, the dagger components are off at the casters, but with their summer shut down coming it is touch and go whether I will get them back before they go.

In the meantime I have started the blade and the scabbad fittings.

A couple fo Lansknecht daggers show a prominent central ridge and I rather like those at the moment and am trying to get better, so it seemed like a good excuse to go that way and likewise reinforced points.

I have shown the blade starting from a piece of stock. After I profiled it I hardened and tempered it at full thickness, so I could easily dress out any warping as this would be tricky with a heavily hollow blade so I did the vast majority of the shaping once it was hard. Major bevels on first and then some very careful hollow grinding to leave the tip nice an neat. A slow and rather nervous process as one slip and it is back to the beggining.

The blade is 8mm thick and 25mm wide and about 270mm long. I will shape the tang in once I have the handle components back.

[Leo Todeschini]

So then I started the scabbard.

The original intention was to make an all metal scabbard, but basically I there is simply no money in the budget to do this, so I have gone for a leather scabbard with fittings. However it will desrve a rather nice fitting set so here we go..........

I missed the first couple of stages as I forgot I was supposed to be taking pictures -sorry.

I formed a brass chape and then soldered on some detail strips. I drilled some holes and soldered in some rivets for detail, turned up a small finial in a typical Landsknecht style, fixed this is place and then added the three globes (marbles), which is also a very Landsknecht detail.

The mouth was also formed from brass, also leaving the central ridge defined. The detail strips were added and a matching set of rivets. I then fixed on two brass shaped panels for the arches with wire and soldered these in place, cut them out, filed them to shape and then soldered on the rings.

Both pieces will head off to the casters tomorrow.

I doubt I will get anything back for a month or so.

I hope you like the progress so far and one day I will be able to get a set of pictures of all the pieces together.

Tod

[Ben Anbeek]

nice one tod.

love to see how you made the scabbard.

did you cut out the frames on the upper chape in a later stage than the picture?

ben

[Leo Todeschini]

The project is coming toward an end after a year and I must say I am thankful for that.

I recieved back the scabbard fittings and the guard fittings and so last week I ground the tang onto the blade and fitted it all to the guard and pommel. The handle itself was made from a length of sambar antler.

All the fittings have been polished and are now on the way to the platers so I just have the final assembly to go.

The top of the scabbard will get finished when the fittings finally go on.

I hope you like the progress.

Tod

[Phil D.]

That is incredible.

[Tim Lison]

Wow. That is just great Tod!

[Mark Routledge]

I have just realised that my mouth has been agape all the way through looking at this. Literally catching flys ! I find it hard to say something that does not sound lame.

Your work is to be admired by all who see it Tod.

[Leo Todeschini]

Thank you Mark.

It has been a very long road and I am finally at the end of it.

The castings had been fettled when they came in a few weeks ago and they finally came back from the platers today with a new shiny coat of silver and so all that was left to do was put it all together.

I am never that fond of plating but I do think this ha come out well and will improve (IMHO) when it gets some tarnish into the detail. The down side of all that plating is that I simply cannot take any pictures of it worth a damn.

I hope you like the pieces and I hope you have enjoyed the progress of these pieces from the first file strokes.

I guess if the new owner is happy with them they will be on the way in a few days and then maybe we can wait for his opinions - I hope he likes them

Regards

Tod

[Nathan Robinson]

I am very envious!

[William P]

four words to appraise this are all thats needed

'fit for a king'

[Paul Watson]

Fantastic pieces Tod, really highlighting your skill. Strangely though I preferred the appearance of the dagger and scabbard prior to the plating.

[Lancelot Chan]

You've improved A LOT along time, making me drooling over the screen!

[Leo Todeschini]

Personally I preffered in in bronze also, but when it has tarnished a lttle and the low areas stay dark and the high areas are silver, the 'look' will come back.

Tod