James R.Fuller Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 I have been dying to make a sword, so, here I go. It is 1095, about 2' 7" long, and only roughly forged out.. Let me know your thoughts! -=JF=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R.Fuller Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 I should probably remember to add the pic, huh? -=JF=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Myers Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 I like it! A spring fuller? I've noticed, on a few of my practice pieces, that nice wide fullers like that are difficult to keep consistent dimensions; kudos. What's your plan for the hilt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R.Fuller Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 As of right now, no definite plans... -=JF=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Tracey Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Great start! I'm interested to see this turn out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lester Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Nice blade; well roughed out. Be interested in seeing the progress you make with it. Doug HELP...I'm a twenty year old trapped in the body of an old man!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emiliano Carrillo Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Oh yeah that is a beautiful shape! Really great lines and the shape is very reminiscent of originals, from the shape of the tang to the way the blade tapers in profile. What does your spring fuller look like? I can't quite tell from the photo but the fuller does go into the tang I'm guessing? Your forging is very clean and will leave you little grind work later on down the road! I need to work on that I will be watching this with great interest! I'm excited to see the plan come together for the hilt, great work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R.Fuller Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 Here is a picture of my spring fuller. I got the idea for forging it out like this from my good friend, John, when I mentioned wanting to forge a fuller when I don't have a welder to make a fullering jig... I started the fuller by doing a very rough go with an angle grinder and then smoothed it out under the spring fuller.. Saved me a crap ton of time... Well... At least 2-3 hours.. -=JF=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R.Fuller Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 The fuller goes about halfway down the tang. -=JF=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emiliano Carrillo Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Oh man that is a really clever way to make a spring fuller! Good thing about the distance going into the tang, too. You should make it a type H, a strong classic design that never fails to evoke 'viking sword' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R.Fuller Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 It's funny, I was looking for inspiration online last night and was like "man... I should do a type H"...XD -=JF=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne C Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 wow man, that's pretty good hammer control. nicely done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R.Fuller Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 Ok.. So I drew up a general look... But I'm not sure on it... I like the type H fittings, but I also want a longer handle... So I combined them, gave it a bit of an artistic flare, and it looks pretty good (is there a type for this design...?). I'm just not sure if it is.... Right.... Feedback, anyone? -=JF=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Cochran Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I think it looks good. What did you use to make your fuller? How did you heat treat/temper it? Michael Cochran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R.Fuller Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 I explained the fullering in an above comment. I have yet to heat treat the blade... -=JF=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I would go for a shorter handle, personally. They were usually shorter in the originals, and I think it makes for a better grip one-handed, with the ability to put the second hand onto the pommel when needed for full-power. Most of the fighting was done with sword and shield, so only one hand was needed for the grip. Otherwise, looking good. The fuller was a great idea. Never seen one made that way. kc please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Cochran Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I'm sorry, I should've been more clear. I was actually asking about the fullering tool, not the fuller in the sword. Michael Cochran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R.Fuller Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 Kevin, I like the idea of doing it more historically accurate, but I also personally like the feel of a longer handle. the more I look at this general design, the more I like it. I'm probably going to go with a longer handle this time, and make a much more historically accurate one next go around. Michael, my bad! XD I simply forged the scroll into either end of a piece of 2" wide, 1/4" thick 2' long bar stock. once I had that, I just heated up the center and bent it... Since I only had mild laying around, I didn't heat treat it. Forging a scroll like that was surprisingly easy, the whole piece only took me about a half an hour. -=JF=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Cochran Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Thanks for that insight, James. 1 Michael Cochran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R.Fuller Posted July 4, 2015 Author Share Posted July 4, 2015 Made a little (very little, more progress on this thing. -=JF=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R.Fuller Posted July 4, 2015 Author Share Posted July 4, 2015 Also, I've decided to go with a MUCH better handle design.... Type L fittings...? -=JF=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter johnsson Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Perhaps you could try making a wooden mock up of the sword before you commit to the long grip.You have done some great work with the blade so far: good shape and proportion. It seems to me a pity to make a grip that is overlong for this otherwise very promising project. This is partly a matter of personal taste of course. But it will have an effect on the character of the sword, and not only aesthetically. I a feeling that you may not find a proper, shorter hilt length to be a bad thing if you tried it. Especially type L hilts with their curving upper and lower guards work really well with short grips, and need short grips, in my opinion. For these swords the tight grip is actually an important functional property. A longer grip often interfere with handling in a way that is not good. To my experience this kind of wide pommel does not work very well with long grips. To make it work you have to change things around so that you have a high medieval arming sword dressed up as a viking period sword. I would shorten the grip with a third of the length you have in the sketch, for starters. -But that is me :-)Looking forward to the progress of this either way you choose to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 the new fitting idea looks promising. Looking forward to seeing what you do with this one. kc please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R.Fuller Posted July 4, 2015 Author Share Posted July 4, 2015 (edited) Peter, I appreciate your advice on this. In the revised drawing, the handle is only about 4" long. Is that still too long? I decided that the longer handle would look just... Wrong on this sword.. So I redesigned it to be a much shorter grip.. Just large enough to fit my hand.. Should it be shorter? I have heard of people Making sword with 3" handles, but that seems as if it would Be incredibly small... Edited July 4, 2015 by James R.Fuller -=JF=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitton J J Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 From personal experience a handle that fits the wielder's hand snugly (without being uncomfortably tight) is the optimal choice when fighting. Giving the wielder greater control of the sword without the risk of the handle slipping in their grasp. Hope this helps with your decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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