[Radovan Geist]

I was not really documenting my DIY projects recently, but decided to do it properly this time.

For a long time I was intrigued by a "Swedish feather". Some time ago, Tod started an interesting conversation on this topic: http://myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=212...ht=feather and he has made an interesting interpretation of this weapon: http://todsstuff.co.uk/in-stock/img-ts-instock-11-large.jpg

My project will be based on example sold some time ago in HH auction (picture 1). I will have to make the spike blunt, because it will be used in re-enactment. Unfortunately, I am not able to forge it, so I will not follow any specific historical production methods. Instead, it will be much about welding, grinding, etc.

I have started with the spike, shaping an old piece of steel I took long time back from my friend´s smithy. The original piece has no socket - the spike is secured only by four (?) langets. Instead of only welding the langets to the spike, I have decided to secure them by a bolt, running through into the spike.

So the first thing was to drill a hole into its bottom, and thread it (picture 2). Same hole was drilled into a long steel trip - the first pair of langets.A preliminary assembly is shown in picture 3.

Then the first pair of langets was bent and secured to the spike - the last picture was taken in the process. And that´s as far as I got now:)

[Radovan Geist]

I´ve managed to move on with this a little. After welding and cleaning the first pair of nagets, the second one was riveted to the sides (picture 1) and welded (picture 3). It was quite a long job, filling all the holes and making it as solid as possible, and I´m not really super-satisfied with the result. I really need to practice more with welding.
after some initial cleaning (picture 2) I´m done for now with the spike, and will work on the haft. For that I took a nice piece of hazel (picture 4).

[Radovan Geist]

The work is nearly finished, unfortunately I did not make too many pictures.

First, I had to re-do the spike a bit, because it was too heavy. I have shortened the langets and narrowed them (picture 1).
Next two pictures show spike mounted to the haft.

The last thing would be attaching a hook / musket rest.

[Stephen Wheatley]

Great work! a real trettioarkriget look about it. Are you going to add a musket hook?

[Radovan Geist]

Thank you, Stephen. Sure, I have already started working on it, just did not have enough time to finish it.

I am making a simple hook that will be riveted through the haft. I am planning to use this one in reenactment, so I will probably bind the hook with a leather cord - I had found it more practical (the musket does not slip on the hook, and it also partly protects stock from scratching).

[Radovan Geist]

So, this project is finished. I have made a musket hook from a piece of soft-steel that I found in the workshop (picture 1). It has been riveted to the haft through two holes, using a U-shaped piece of brass wire (picture 2). The last picture shows the final assembly.

Finally I have decided to remove two big nails that were attached to the end of the langets - I did not like the look of it, and did not find it particularly period. Instead, I have used flat-headed nails, which do not protrude much above the langets - picture 4.
And the hook was wrapped in leather - picture 5.

[Radovan Geist]

Here´s the finished piece. I´m going to put it in action at our regiment´s muster in April.

[Julien M]

This is excellent Radovan, as usual! Really impressed by the variety of things you are willing to tackle.
Cheers,
J

[Radovan Geist]

Thank you, Julien:) Apart from that spike, it was not a very difficult project. I can imagine that by forging, this could have been done even faster & easier.