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How to make a Magic Sword?


Ted Banning
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Hey, thanks Adlai! I just got the Lion Bone and it's Awesome. Now, how do I employ it in this project, and what do I do about these federal agents following me everywhere?;)

 

Ted how you employ it I have no idea. Maybe cut it up and use the chips like cabochon.

As far as the federal wild life agents go they are no longer my problem as you are now in possession of the item.

 

(for anyone actually concerned the bone came from a lion who died of natural causes at a zoo.)

Adlai

Klatu Baratta Necktie!

 

Macabee Knives

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I would pick up a copy of The Languages of Tolkien's Middle Earth It has all of the runes used in Middle Earth.

Gibbs Rule #9: Never go anywhere without a knife

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Hmmm. some ideas: carve & inlay little teeth on the grip, make a little bone Ankh for the little figure to clutch, make little bone spikes and inlay 'em either visible or hidden inside, sand it into cabachons and maybe scrimshaw it...not sure, really. I'm finally ready for the initial forge welding, so I should have some more pictures to post tomorrow. Thanks for all the help/materials/ideas everyone. This forum really is a great bunch of people!

"Why waste an hour learning a difficult technique when you can spend 100 hours building a machine to do it"

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Here's a photo of the pre-forged billet, the core billet and the various ritual items used in the purification ritual: Gem Dust, Sage Incense, Candle, Atheme ( wooden dagger), Antler Rattle, Chalice, Gange Water, and flower petals. Not shown, Hammer and spikes.

MS_billet_pre_forge.jpg

"Why waste an hour learning a difficult technique when you can spend 100 hours building a machine to do it"

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Ted,

 

Just my $.02, and I realize it's late in he game for you, but I think if you try to be too diverse, it might not "take" (assuming you believe it really will in the first place).

 

I think you'd be better off taking that billet (made of various things which have "the weight of history" about them) and then trying one theme (Judeo-Christian, or Eastern, or Hindu, or Pagan, etc) than trying to put several of them together, especially if some themes are contradictory.

 

I'm a firm believer that one should use whatever is already closest to their own ethos and background. Being Christian and of a mixed Italian-Scottish heritage ("Scotalian"), I might mix Christian themes with Roman (Latin) and Gaelic for a blade of my own. I might suggest something different for someone of, say, Mexican-German heritage who practices Judaism.

 

Again, this is all just opinion and I don't want to dampen any fun. This is a project which I'm watching with a lot of interest and I wish you the best of luck.

Edited by Stephen Renico

Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who did not.

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A number of folks have articulated that sentiment...so what I did was invent my own magic system. Since the blade is comprised of non-organic materials, it seemed that an "Elemental" magic would be most appropriate. I'm familiar with the whole "Wicca" system but it all deals only with the bioshere (as it turns out it's proportionally thinner than the skin on an onion) on the surface of the earth, not the earth itself. So each of the traditional 4 elements is addressed at each stage of the ritual. The air is represented by sage incense grown in our garden, the fire with a candle made by my son, water with the Ganges water, and earth with the ground-up Gemstones. Then we drew the compass points on the ground with gem dust and therein drove four spikes. Did it "work"? Well when I turned on the forge the two pressure gauge needles had spun 180 degrees in their dials...can't really explain that! The billet welded up perfectly, was drawn to 13", bisected and folded with a slice of Ni200 in the middle, drawn to 13 inches, twisted back and forth six times along it's length, flattened, bisected, and stacked on the core billet w/ a 1084 slice between each damascus hunk, welded again and drawn to 13". Next up is drawing it to 20 " and forging a beefy tang on one end and slightly pointing the other, grind the blade, bend the slight recurve, file shoulders for the guard, and...heat-treating it on the fall equinox next week! In time for SOFA!

"Why waste an hour learning a difficult technique when you can spend 100 hours building a machine to do it"

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Looking forward to taking a gander at how this project looks. I`m really impressed with the resources you`ve put into this, even if it is for your kid. (I`d probably do something similar if i had children.)

Way to go! ^_^

Nothing is as beautiful, as the colour of orange-hot steel!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well pictures will have to wait until next week when my wife gets back with the camera. I have finished the blade and am now block sanding it to 800 grit...boy does that show all my grinding imperfections. Once those dips and scratches are gone I'll paint the inscriptions on with nail polish then etch it, leaving the characters raised and shiny. Next up is to assemble the habaki from Mokume I just made, as well as integrating all the jewelry items into the hilt. I really should be working on other things but hey, I'm making an Artifact !

"Why waste an hour learning a difficult technique when you can spend 100 hours building a machine to do it"

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  • 3 weeks later...

hey everybody! Sorry for the delay......here are some pictures! Blade is done, habaki is done, titanium basket hilt is done but not anodized yet. Next after anodizing the Ti is attaching all the silver jewelry.ms_blade_finished.jpg

"Why waste an hour learning a difficult technique when you can spend 100 hours building a machine to do it"

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Here is the titanium basket hilt. I started with a .125" x 1.125" x 11" strip, made four cuts and fitted two holes to the tang, then heated and curled the branches over little jigs to get the shape. After sanding and satin finishing all the edges and faces it's into a gallon of Diet Pepsi at 36 vdc until a nice vermillion color occurs.

ms_hilt_finished.jpg

ms_hilt_side.jpg

"Why waste an hour learning a difficult technique when you can spend 100 hours building a machine to do it"

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Damn Ted that is awesome. What was the final mix of steels and why they were used?

Let not the swords of good and free men be reforged into plowshares, but may they rest in a place of honor; ready, well oiled and God willing unused. For if the price of peace becomes licking the boots of tyrants, then "To Arms!" I say, and may the fortunes of war smile upon patriots

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:blink: Ted,

Thanks for the turn on. I wish I had been there all along! There was discussion about your heritage considerations in the blade creation. Not familiar with the rules at the inception of the blade but if it is going to your son would you have to consider his heritage ( son being 1/2 you and 1/2 his mother) or am I way off base here? Great Work (Or as Oleh said goot vork)

Thanks again for the heads-up. Handle does look a little like kim.

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Beautiful work ! Your son should be proud. You have created a wonderful heirloom. Be sure to write up the entire provanance in a form that can be kept with the sword for posterity.

 

Now ! Could I interest you in adopting an elderly child? :D

 

 

Larry

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I had to take some time off from the sword to work on blades for my table Oct 31-Nov 1 at the Ohio Classic Knife Show in Cambridge, OH. I did do some work on the pommel and started attaching jewelry, however. I got to tap into some of the "magic" last night...Walter woke up frightened from a bad dream so to placate him I dubbed him with the sword and asked the magic sword to protect him from nightmares. It seems to have done the trick.

"Why waste an hour learning a difficult technique when you can spend 100 hours building a machine to do it"

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Ted,

It seems that you are exposed to the fact that raising a son (dubbing with the sword) is simular to making your sword and metal work.

Have you pictured it that way? Think about the process of making a knife or sword and how the steps can relate to child rearing. Anneal,temper,putting the correct material together to form the billet, heating, quenching, could "handling with kid gloves" be the same as holding hot metal with welding gloves?

What is the site of the show in Cambridge and will you have the new sword with you?

CH

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Chuck the link is here. Unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to make it this year.

http://www.ohioknifeshow.com/

 

Adlai;

I have not had the pleasure, but through the previous posts I take it you are in Columbus.

I am in Mahoning county, Austintown twp. I have met Ted through his association with the blacksmith community.

Thanks for the web heads-up. I surfed some of the "table owners." Looks quite interesting. I might,and for the most part "might "doesn't hold water in my book , check out the knife show.

Ted does some fascinating work "I think."

 

Mucho gracious (if I spoke spanish)

in any case Thanks again

Chuck

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While there is a tradition of wizards and shaman using psychadelics, I opted out of that particularly since I have a 5 year old in my care. Besides. my mind is already "blown" don't you think?

"Why waste an hour learning a difficult technique when you can spend 100 hours building a machine to do it"

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