How to make Homemade Swords, Knives, and Clubs

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Jiopopp

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Does anybody have any directions, ideas, diagrams anything on how to make any of the weapons named up top?
 
There are a lot of publications out there, most are a couple of decades old, but the better ones will show you how to pick good steel, how to work with it, what steps to take, etc. In general, in making knives or swords, I use saw blade steel. Most lumber mills have these huge band saws with blades nearly a foot wide from cutting throat to the back of the blade, and about 45 feet long. When they get dull, they either send them somewhere to be recycled, toss em, or have them sharpened. If one breaks more than a few times, they have to toss it. It's excellent material for knives and short swords. As for clubs, take yerself a limb, wrap some leather around the skinny end for a handle...you have a club.

B.
 
Tons of practical info if you just read through this forum. Makers who share their info range from talented armatures to outstanding professionals.

Pick up a copy of "The $50 Knife Shop" and have at it.
 
Welcome Jiopopp,

A good search of this forum will yield a lot of good info on Knives, canes, etc, and the men who make them.

A finer bunch of guys, willing to share and help, you will not find.


Good luck and work safe.

Doc
 
Making knives, buy a belt sander. Buy a stack of the cheapest rustiest kitchen knives from a garage sale. Send them through rehab. Helps learning to shape the steel, it's tons of fun, and you get great knives for cheap.

The get some saw blades. (sawzall style) make some simple knives.

Paracord handles are easy top start, then g10 or micarta, wood, or other.

Practice and move up the ladder from there.

Swords are much harder, clubs are easy.
 
Start with a book called "$50.00 dollar knife shop." by Wayne Goddard.
Now about steel. Try Jantz Supplies you can buy knife steel cheap. I have many friends that use saw blades. I have made few knives from files. Car springs are great too. But they are way too much trouble. Get a known steel. It is cheap. It is very easy to obtain. Just a phone call away. Stay with O-1, 1085 and 1095 you can heat treat with Lump charcoal, a fan and quench. Keep it simple.
First and foremost. Just do it!
 
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A proper sword will take years and years to learn to make and once learned, weeks and weeks to make. Swordsmiths in the middle ages were the most highly skilled and technologicaly advanced "technicians" of the day.
 
I agree with Black Toe Knives. Goddard's book is very good but take the $50 deal with a grain of salt with today's prices. :D He has a lot of good advise too.

Jantz is a great place to buy supplies and first rate on customer service in my experience.
 
Yeah, 10xx-type carbon steels are definitely the most forgiving for amateurs.

Also, you could use used Nicholson files. Those are usually W2, which is a bit trickier, but they're also roughly the right shape already and come with a tang.
 
If you're in Washington you're in luck. There are a lot of very good smiths there who would be willing to show a young fellow around an anvil and forge. Look into ABANA and the American Bladesmith Society on the net and you probably won't have any trouble finding someone nearby to learn from.
 
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