are there any blacksmiths here?

[Robert Allen]

Hi my name is Robert from Ellensburg Washington and i am attending the Ellensburg Highschool and am working on my senior project. currently my project is on the history of swords and i have gotten a lot of information but i need an interview for my project. if there is anybody able to help please message me at Robert_Allen@hotmail.com. thank you

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

Hey Rob,

Welcome to our forum. I am going to try and help you, but first I need you to log off and re-register under your full name. That is what the rules here ask, if you would do that I would be more than happy to use my blacksmithing knowledge to help you out.

-Jeremiah (GFS)

[Robert Allen]

ok i have and thank you. i have been trying for a while to get help with this but dont know anybody who makes swords or anything like that.

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

Alright Robert,
In an effort to maintain Forum flow and all that, I am going to PM you and we can go from there.
Of course I am not promising a whole lot of info, I am by no means a professional.

-Jeremiah (GFS)

[Brian Hunt]

I am a trained black/bladesmith, so if you need any help from this direction let me know.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[Richard Martell]

Hi,

This thread grabbed my attention. I am interested in learning to make my own blades. I am currently learning simple blacksmith techniques from a friend who is a trained blacksmith. His background is craft work and Ferrier (horse shoes). He has taught me about the tools and anvils but his forge and anvil are smaller ones basically for horse shoes. Since I am serious about this I am getting ready to invest in an anvil and forge. Can anyone advise what to look for in making swords. I want to make sure I get the proper size equipment the first time. Thanks for any help.

Richard Martell

[Stacy Clifford]

You might have a look at these articles on the subject of sword making:

http://www.thearma.org/essays/How_Were_Swords_Made.htm
http://www.thearma.org/essays/KevinCashenInterview.html
http://www.thearma.org/spotlight/PJ_interview.htm
http://www.thearma.org/spotlight/PaulC_ ... ew2006.htm

[Brent Lambell]

Although I would not consider this an instructional video, Albion has a fun clip on its site about how they make their blades. Its short and simple, but I think its worth a few moments to check it out.

For those who may not be familiar, Albion is probably the top reproduction sword manufacturer in the country (as far as most ARMA members are concerned it seems). They use historical research of real historical artifacts to help design their blades.

Mr Allen, I would highly recommend reading around on their website, there is a lot of good info there.

http://www.albion-swords.com/

[Brian Hunt]

Hi,

This thread grabbed my attention. I am interested in learning to make my own blades. I am currently learning simple blacksmith techniques from a friend who is a trained blacksmith. His background is craft work and Ferrier (horse shoes). He has taught me about the tools and anvils but his forge and anvil are smaller ones basically for horse shoes. Since I am serious about this I am getting ready to invest in an anvil and forge. Can anyone advise what to look for in making swords. I want to make sure I get the proper size equipment the first time. Thanks for any help.

Richard Martell

If you haven't made a knife, I would reccomend that you learn to make knives first before swords. That way you can lean your basic techniques in a medium that is much easier than swords. All the skills you develop leaning to make a good knife translates are used for making a good sword, plus a couple of more you will have to learn. A good short cut is to take the Intro to bladesmithing class taught by Texarkana College in conjunction with the American Bladesmithing Society. This class will give you the basics you need in a 2 week course. Also invest in some good books on the subject and educate yourself so that you understand how to harden and temper, how to prevent warpage in your blade when you quench it, what different type of steels do and do not do. Do you know the difference between 5160, O-1, A-2, D-1 and other types of high end tool steels that make good knives. What makes a good knife or a good sword, etc.

Good luck in your quest, if you have specific question I would be happy to answer them, but you might also want to track down a couple of the knife making forums out on the internet and do a lot of reading.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

As far as beginning in bladesmithing I suggest "the complete bladesmith" by Dr. Jim "Atar" Hrisoulas. That is how I started, along with working for bladesmiths in my area. And with world renowned Artist-Blacksmith Daniel Nauman.

one must most definitely make a knife before a sword. A single edged knife at that too. The concepts that one must learn are so intricate and detailed that it is important to start with baby steps. I would suggest the first thing to do is learn the colors that metal changes to when heated, each color means a certain degree, this is very important for working with high carbon steels.

That is my starter lesson, free for nothin'

-Jeremiah (GFS)

[Brian Hunt]

Here are a couple of links to give you a thread to pull on.

http://ccgi.workshop-projects.com/blacksmithing.php
http://www.dfoggknives.com/

hope this helps.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[Richard Martell]

Thanks for the free tips. I have "The Complete Bladesmith" by Jim Hrisoulas as well as the "$50 Knife Shop" by Wayne Goddard. I will take your advice and start small.

Richard Martell

[Robert Allen]

I will definitely be checking those out as well. I have yet to really work with metal but knives, swords, and different blades are what I love. Along with sparring. By the way do any of you know what the best item to use for sparring is? At the moment a group of us are using bamboo rods but they don’t last long and tend to shatter and hurt a bit. I thought about foam but that doesn’t seem like it would work that well. Or should I post this question in another forum?

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

This is the exact right place to ask those questions. Of course the answers may vary...

I am a plastic user. I use With Intent Wasters http://www.freewebs.com/wiwasters/About.htm

Wood wasters are available out there too. I am not sure where to get those though. I don't think anyone will condone the use of shenai or bamboo. If you are looking to learn the Western Martial Arts they are entirely unfit for use. They do not simulate the western swords well at all. That's my 2 bits.

-Jeremiah (GFS)

[Stacy Clifford]

Check the Links page for links to wooden waster vendors we use. General consensus is that New Stirling Arms currently has the best product and customer service.