How to start sword making
Excellent swords are product of years of good craftsmanship. A sword is not a sword at all without an application of sufficient knowledge and a great level of expertise of sword making. For those who are particularly interested on how to create swords, it is a must to know the proper metals, materials and the right tools and equipments needed for sword making.
Tips before starting on making swords
Study, study, study. It a highly recommended to do a background research on the theories and practicalities of sword making. You can never go wrong being knowledgeable on how to produce swords.
Resources. It is true that the web offers an endless array of places to find sword information; however nothing beats the magazines and books. You should invest on needed resources. You can start with the simplest yet complete source of information found in books. Books are detail-oriented and more accurate than any source of information.
Enlist help from experts. Swords are known to be dangerous weapons that require extreme caution. You should ask help from professional sword makers. You can start by observing how smith swords before you make it yourself. Consider asking for tour around the real sword smith’s workplace. Ask questions on the process of sword making and any queries you have based on what you have read.
Great things start from small beginnings. Slowly familiarize the basics and precautions on smith swords. If you have no experience whatsoever on working on metals, don’t rush on making swords. You may want to start with daggers or knives.
Planning your first attempt. Gather all necessary tools and materials and be open for major setbacks as a beginner. Give yourself a favor by patiently learning basic techniques on sword making and allow room for improvements.
The process of making the sword blade
Real swords are traditionally made through forging. It is a different case for mass produced swords such as ornamental swords which are not forged considering the long time needed for forging and could only create one sword at a time.
Prepare a scrap metal or metal bar. Plan well and pick out the size and shape of the blade you wish to make.
Forging
Forging is the process of hammering a heated metal of your sword. The hammering process is done to form the desired shape of your sword blade. It is a repeated and long process to ensure the right strength and flexibility of your blade. Be careful not to forge your sword blade to the point of exceedingly stiff and hard for it could break. You wouldn’t want your efforts to go to waste.
Annealing
Annealing is likewise heating the blade but cooling it down gradually at a maximum of 24 hours. The process of annealing refines the metal, modifying its composition, and softens it. The method prepares the steel to be softer for more shaping.
Grinding
The process of grinding is done to form and work out the sharp edges and point of the sword. It renders a smoother finish to the blade.
Hardening
When the sword underwent grinding, it is still too soft to pass as a sword blade then moving on the hardening process to further develop the sword. The blade is subjected to an extremely high temperature then placed in a quenching tank for cooling.
Tempering
This phase in the sword making process called tempering is where your sword will undergo another heating and quenching repeatedly done again and again. The temperature needed for tempering is much lower than what is applied during the grinding process. Consult a professional sword smith to help you determine when tempering is enough. It is advised that he checks your work during the whole process of sword making to avoid making costly mistakes and for invaluable tips.
Japanese swords are evidently marked with wave like markings called hamon as a result of tempering. The hamon is found on the edge of the sword.
Finishing
Congratulations for reaching the last phase called finishing. It involves attaching the pommel, the guard, the hilt, and other necessary parts together.
June 19 2009 | antique swords | 1 Comment »