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drow short sword


jake cleland
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after seeing Freya's drow fighter i wanted to try my hand at something similar - i've gotten away from doing fantasy pieces, but sometimes they call me back. this design grew out of the idea of using some 1 1/4" o/d monel pipe for a ring guard, and the shapes flowed from that:

 

drow shortsword design 2.jpg

 

the blade will be about 12 or 13", 1/4" 1095, full tang. we'll see how it goes. more later...

Jake Cleland - Skye Knives

www.knifemaker.co.uk

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

 

Albert Einstein

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45 minutes with a hacksaw later...

 

drow shot sword blank.jpg

 

now to refie it with grinder and files.

Jake Cleland - Skye Knives

www.knifemaker.co.uk

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

 

Albert Einstein

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That's going to be a good looking blade when its all done. Plus who said fantasy couldn't be practical.

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I love the sleek elegance you have to the spines of your pieces. It's something I have tried and every time I fail miserably :lol:

Great project, can't wait to see more!

John

Not all those who wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien

-Shards of the Dark Age- my blog
-Nine Worlds Workshop-
-Last Apocalypse Forge-

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John - when i desig a knife i always start with the line of the spine from butt to tip - to me it's the most importat line, the one which your eye flows along and dictates the rest of the knife.

 

anyway, blade ground and flats textured:

 

drow short sword ground.jpg

 

time to normalise and harden...

Jake Cleland - Skye Knives

www.knifemaker.co.uk

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

 

Albert Einstein

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post hardening -hamon's a little lower than i'd hoped - didn't have the balls for a water quench, because the hollow ground edge creates a lot of stree risers, but i think it will look ok...

 

drow short swort h-t.jpg

Jake Cleland - Skye Knives

www.knifemaker.co.uk

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

 

Albert Einstein

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Thanks for the tip, Jake, that is probably my first (of many) mistakes B)

I like the stippling on the flat, it gives it all a more ancient feel that I could very easily see in the hands of a drow.

 

John

Not all those who wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien

-Shards of the Dark Age- my blog
-Nine Worlds Workshop-
-Last Apocalypse Forge-

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got the scales roughed out, and the guard and the rear bolsters fitted:

 

drow short sword scales.jpg

 

and i've since done a bit more shaping to the scales and bolsters, but i won't be able to do much more to it until i get it to my finishing shop and polish the blade so i can solder the guard in place and get a real feel for how it handles...

Jake Cleland - Skye Knives

www.knifemaker.co.uk

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

 

Albert Einstein

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scales and bolsters shaped a bit more and i've started the polish:

 

drow short sword rough polish.jpg

Jake Cleland - Skye Knives

www.knifemaker.co.uk

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

 

Albert Einstein

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guard shaped, fitted and soldered in place:

 

drow short sword guard sodered.jpg

Jake Cleland - Skye Knives

www.knifemaker.co.uk

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

 

Albert Einstein

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this is looking really good

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slightly off topic but what kind of solder do you use for that? Extremely nice look, feels fast, if you know what I mean. excellent hamon on that.

For the less, even as for the greater, there is but one deed which he may accomplish only once, and in that deed his heart shall rest.

 

I may not have a fiery beard (yet), but it is fire colored :D

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i used a self fluxing low temp paste solder, with two 1/8th copper pins, and there is a square groove filed around the guard so it seats tight against the tang.

Jake Cleland - Skye Knives

www.knifemaker.co.uk

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

 

Albert Einstein

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Sweet! Thanks for the info. I'll have to try that out someday.

For the less, even as for the greater, there is but one deed which he may accomplish only once, and in that deed his heart shall rest.

 

I may not have a fiery beard (yet), but it is fire colored :D

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carving started:

 

drow short sword carving 1.jpg

 

 

Jake Cleland - Skye Knives

www.knifemaker.co.uk

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

 

Albert Einstein

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sweeeet this is turning out very nicely

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carving pretty much done:

 

drow short sword carving 2.jpg

 

drow short sword carving 3.jpg

Jake Cleland - Skye Knives

www.knifemaker.co.uk

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

 

Albert Einstein

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  • 3 weeks later...

I like the design, and thanks for your comments on your design process.

That blade is elegant simplicity. Well designed and executed with decorative elements that compliment the elegance of the flow without distracting from the form.

Great work, cant wait to see the final piece.

James

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear. Except a creature be part coward it is not a compliment to say it is brave. ~Mark Twain

SageBrush BladeWorks (New website is in limbo...)

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  • 3 weeks later...

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