Francesco Muci

The "thunk" you might have heard was my jaw hitting the floor...

The more I look at this post, the more I fall in your awe. Great job, Master Johnsson. I don't know if I already asked this, but, would you mind doing a wip, one day, about the construction of an eared dagger? I was never able to see one upclose so I can't figure out the construction methods... Thank you again for this thread.

That is very true. The gates are always the problems. Think about all the trouble to pass the gates to Heaven! Anyway, I am still looking forward to seeing this finished, I am a big fan of Ballock daggers, I used to wear one myself on my 1400 costume during reenactments and duels.... One question, have you ever studied an original "Ears Dagger"? I cannot find decent pictures of originals from which make a proper philological design...

Guys, try to use a white sheet of paper big enough to cover the blade from 4 or 5 feet high, let's say 16x20. When you are trying to take a picture hold the sheet over the blade until you see it's reflection all over the blade. That will give the blade a neutral look instead of all the glare and reflection that make hard to enhance details such hamons

1. Brian Dougherty 2. Timothy Artymko 3. Doug Crawford 4. JJ Simon 5. Scott Wright 6. Wesley Alberson 7. Robert Dowse 8. Kevin Hopkins 9. George Ezell 10. Michael Lenaghan 11. Dan Bourlotos 12. Aiden Carley-Clopton 13. Mike Andriacco ​14. Emiliano Carrillo 15. Francesco Muci

I love it and I love your research. I once wanted to make an ears dagger so I requested to study an original from the museum of Castel Sant'Angelo, in Rome (which, btw, was and is in storage, in a crate, along with a lot of other beautiful pieces) and they laughed in my face. What a sad place Italy is. Anyway, awsome work, as always!

Omg, it's so freaking cute!

I agree. I had to get the pdfs when I was in Italy because such books are simply impossible to find there and most companies don't accept payment from Otaly nor ship to Italy. Beside the pleasure of having a real book, it is much easier to study on paper than on pdf, in my opinion

Thank you for the useful tip!

Nice sword. Looking forward to seeing it finished!

It looks gorgeous. Whats is permagr.... That thing there?

Hrisoulas wrote 2 nice books, I should have them somehwere in pdf...

I feel your pain mate...

Holy moly... this is making me happysad. Happy because it's a beautiful project, ssd because it made me remind that after 4 years away from forge welding, i just failed a billet of single steel... anyway, very good job. If you need a third to collaborate for the scabbard, give me a whistle...

I was looking at those fire bricks and they really look like some bricks that we use in Italy for indoor construction. We call them Siporex or AAC (Autoclaved Aerated concrete). I made a dome out of it over my forge and it took o couple of hours, as it is very easy to work. Extremely good as insulation, it keeps the temp so well that is almost ridiculous. After hour forging with my coke forge at full power, touching the outside of the brick it was just warm. The only problem is that prolonged direct contact with flames and burning coal break it down. It is used by a company which makes knifemaking gas forges here and the only advice that they give is to line the floor of the forge with ceramic tiles. Which also do in my forge made with ceramic fiber liners, because of the borax always eating it. In an electric oven you will have no problem at all. Thank you for sharing your experience, Dee, i wanted to do something similar but with gas burners. I have the same bug, I like to do things by datasheet when I am making a sword that is going to be used. I use to send my sword to be heat treated but it is a real pain. Always waiting and sometimes they also send them back warped. They answer to my enraged call was "what do you expect? That long and thin it is obvious that comes out warped" My money wasn't warped though and they took it as the blade came out straight... Anyway, sorry for rambling and thank again for your tutorial! The only thing I would have done differently is the position: I would have put it upright and put a rod through the wall so i could hang the sword... But that's my way to do things... Thank you again!