Mark Green 17 Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Hi Gang, So, now that my ULFBERHT copy has survived heat treating, I will post a WIP, on my Picasa site. This has been a fun project, that my skills/forge had to catch up to do. This is a Viking age sword, made from high carbon, hearth-refined bloom. I will add pics as I progress. https://picasaweb.google.com/106800196895572422821/HearthRefinedBloomSteelULFBERHTMARC Link to post Share on other sites
Wes Detrick 488 Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 That really kickass stuff Mark! I liked the whole album and the explanation along the way. Thanks for that. Looking forward to more! Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Longmire 2,822 Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 DUDE! So that's what's been keeping you quiet these days... AWESOME!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Green 17 Posted September 12, 2015 Author Share Posted September 12, 2015 Yup, that, and a half dozen other project. Plus, my SCA schedule, and my day job. I have like 4 blades at this stage, that I'm making hilt fitting for. And about 10 bars of bloom steel at stages of folding's. After mid Oct., things slow down a bit at my day job, and the SCA, So, I hope to finish all this up before this year ends. Maybe. I've been dreaming of making this one for about 4 years now. I just needed to let my skills catch up to my dreams. Getting closer I guess. Link to post Share on other sites
R.W. Deavers 79 Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Beautiful work! The inlay work is especially sweet. Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Colwell 143 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Mark, that a killer accomplishment! excellent. kc Link to post Share on other sites
MLenaghan 57 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Awesome Mark! one of my goals has been to put "Lenaghan" onto a blade, but haven't worked up the courage yet! doing on bloom steel is +5 on the badass scale Any idea what hilt type you might do? Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Miller 136 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Nice! Sorry to see your inlay didn't really go as planned, but I still like it! I would love to see what you have in mind for the hilt.My theory has always been that the "ULFBERHT" inlay was a system of classification. For instance, in modern knives we often mark "5160" or "S30V" etc. I've thought this because of the fact that only the swords marked, "+VLFBERH+T" were crucible steel, and swords marked, "+VLFBERHT+" were bloom steel.The common accepted theory is that the bloom steel swords, "+VLFBERHT+" were fakes and copies. I find it hard to believe that there were hundreds of, "fakes" made from bloom steel, and not a single one of them got the freaking inlay correct. If I were going to make a copy of a Ferrari, would I put a ton of work into making it look exactly like a real authentic Ferrari, and then carelessly inscribe, "Farreri" into the car instead of, "Ferrari"? I know the fake sword theory says that the smiths were illiterate, but why then would they be so consistent?Sorry for rambling, just thought of that and wondered if any of you guys had any theories as well. Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Pikula 2 Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 but why then would they be so consistent? The historical record would disagree with you on this. Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Miller 136 Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 (edited) The historical record would disagree with you on this. I was waiting for that. I know there are tons of combinations of the letters and everything, but what I meant was that only swords marked, "+VLFBERH+T" were of crucible steel. At least, that's what I've heard... There's also the Ingelrii swords, which I haven't researched much. Do know anything you could share on this? I'm all for being proven wrong for the sake of learning. Edited September 14, 2015 by Collin Miller Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Green 17 Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 (edited) That is just it, they were not very consistent. I have never been sold on the crucible steel theory that much. At most, only a couple swords that they have found, seem to be crucible steel. Anything is possible, but having made, and worked with crucible steel, I know how hard it is to work with, unless you have had lots of training and or experience. Crucible steel was an unknown technology in Viking age Europe. But, hearth-refining had been around form the early days of iron production. It is a technology that is a natural progression of the skills of making good weapon steel. I feel, that some people were just better then others at making steel. History seems to prove this. This sword that I made, is made of hypereutectoid steel, ranging from .79 to 1.2 C.. It is very low slag. It is not homogeneous, because it is 7 small HC bars, stacked welded together to 3 bars, then stacked again, and welded, and folded twice.. Samples from the center cut of the last fold were still very HC. One day, and I'm getting close to that, I hope to make a sword size billet from one good size melt, of good HC hearth-refined bloom steel. If it is high carbon enough, that could look just like crucible steel. Many of the swords in William's book, could very easily have been made of simple steely bloom. Edited September 15, 2015 by Mark Green Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel Cauble 106 Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Ah beautiful sword!! I am pleased everything has worked out!! Link to post Share on other sites
Emiliano Carrillo 246 Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 I can't wait to see this one done, Mark! If all goes well those type S fittings will be with you in time to hilt it up if you so choose Really inspiring work all around, I cannot wait to add some of the bloom iron you gave me to some pieces Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Green 17 Posted September 25, 2015 Author Share Posted September 25, 2015 (edited) Hi gang, I finally decided on the hilt fittings. I forged up some nice soft bloom iron, with a few folds, and rough shaped out some type K's for this sword. This type was found on at least two known ULF's. In those cases, the fittings were covered with silver on lay, and then the design was carved through the silver to the iron below. The Vine design in mine will be, silver inlay, into the iron, with a dark patina. Still thinking about the grip material. I'm leaning towards bone. I just love the feel. Edited September 25, 2015 by Mark Green Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Longmire 2,822 Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 Good choice! That'll look great. Link to post Share on other sites
MatthewBerry 68 Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 Wow! Awe-inspiring project. Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Green 17 Posted September 28, 2015 Author Share Posted September 28, 2015 Hi Gang, Well got the hilt fitting close to size, all but the pommel lobes. Soon. I got the slots drilled and cut, and picked a bone handle to play with, and started the silver inlay on the guard. Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Green 17 Posted September 28, 2015 Author Share Posted September 28, 2015 OK, one side done, A lot more of the same to go. Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Longmire 2,822 Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 That's gonna be great when it gets a little patina going. Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Green 17 Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 Yes, I plan for a near, dark chocolate brown patina, on the iron. Link to post Share on other sites
Richard van Dijk 218 Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 That is looking great, one day,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Richard Link to post Share on other sites
Jan Ysselstein 67 Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Mark, This is a wonderful thread..your steel making (bloom refining ) skills are amazing. The layers of steel visible in the sword look great..it is that look ( visible in older iron objects every where) which helped draw me to blooming. I tried the plastic ties in my forge welding tests, but could not get them to work..I will try again at a later time. Jan Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Green 17 Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 Did some etching today. Link to post Share on other sites
Justin Mercier 65 Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 I like the Mark-berht sword =P Glad it survived heat treating! Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Green 17 Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 Twisted silver wire will separate each lobe of the pommel. Link to post Share on other sites
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