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Whatโ€™s this? Another ambitious project? Sure why not?!

I fully expect to make a complete hash of this but letโ€™s see how we go eh?
#blacksmith #metalwork

#blacksmith #metalwork
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
• •
And despite aiming to only do layout today, ooops, we have the forge lit.
#blacksmith #metalwork
Charcoal and coke forge fire with metal in it.
#blacksmith #metalwork
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
• •
Iโ€™ve cut out the shell guard and thumb ring sheet from some stainless steel I had lying around. I have a plan to form a tool to help with adding the flutes to the shell. I also have a piece of 100+ year old wrought iron for the quillions.
#blacksmith #metalwork #cutless #sword
#blacksmith #metalwork #cutless #sword
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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Am thinking I might reprofile that blade. The bend is too short and in the wrong spot. I need to heat it back up anyway to get some of the kinks out before grinding.
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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After some more research, I found my blade length was too long. I had a 30โ€ blade, but typical cutlasses and hangars were only 30โ€ total length including hilt. So Iโ€™ve trimmed the tip and re-profiled the shape.
#blacksmith #metalwork #cutless #sword #BeMorePirate
#blacksmith #metalwork #bemorepirate #cutless #sword
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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More progress. Forged in the bevels on the tip, straightened and flattened the whole blade. Forged the quillions and dished the shell guard.
Still need to slot the quillions and guard and clean everything up and do a LOT of grinding.
#blacksmith #metalwork #cutlass #sword #BeMorePirate
#blacksmith #metalwork #bemorepirate #sword #cutlass
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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Tang burnt through the handle material. A lot of naval cutlasses had cast iron or brass handles as they sonโ€™t swell on a ship like wood or bone but this one isnโ€™t going to sea, and I donโ€™t have casting facilities anyway.
Since I also donโ€™t have long thing drill bits, I used the more tradition method of heating the tang and pushing it through the wood.
#sword #cutlass #blacksmith
#blacksmith #sword #cutlass
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
• •
Shaped the handle this arvo. Tossing up between twisted wire or leather thongs in the sorriso grooves.
#sword #cutlass
#sword #cutlass
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
• •

sorriso? Really autocorrect, wtf?

spiral is what I meant.

in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

Mike [SEC=OFFICIAL]
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Mike [SEC=OFFICIAL]
• •
heh, I just assumed it was some technical term known only to masters of some obscure craft I knew nothing about. ๐Ÿ˜
in reply to Mike [SEC=OFFICIAL]

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
• •
I did consider leaving it and just taking that line, but I'm sure someone out there would notice and call me on it ๐Ÿ˜‰
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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Iโ€™m leaning towards the wire. Iโ€™ve twisted some two tone wire which I think looks ok. I could twist it on itself to make it thicker, or fill the groove with clear epoxy once the wire is in place.

#sword #cutlass #blacksmith

#blacksmith #sword #cutlass
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

Laura Ritchie ๐ŸŒธ
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Laura Ritchie ๐ŸŒธ
• •
random thought - if the wire sticks out, would it give you a callous? just thinking of the weight and actually using it! Decoratively it looks good!
in reply to Laura Ritchie ๐ŸŒธ

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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At the moment, the wire is very much inset in the grooves. If I double the thickness, by twisting on itself, I don't think it'd protrude from the groove either, but would fill the groove better than the current thickness.
So I *think* I should be ok either way.
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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Double thickness wire. Fills the slots a bit better and provides a little extra grip. #sword #cutlass
#sword #cutlass
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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Roughed out a pommel. Two piece construction, very experimental, hope it works. Canโ€™t test fully until the rest of the piece is completely finished.
Donโ€™t worry about the poor fit, itโ€™s just sitting there at the moment.

โ€จ#sword #cutlass

#sword #cutlass
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

Matthew "Smiffy" Smith
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Matthew "Smiffy" Smith
• •
I love watching this, but can we see more of the tools? Particularly interested to see your lathe(s).
in reply to Matthew "Smiffy" Smith

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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good question. He must have built it in either the 70s or 80s at a guess. Maybe earlier but I donโ€™t think so.
Dad might know. Will have to see if I can remember to ask.
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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More blade cleanup today. Itโ€™s down to 500g now so I canโ€™t take any more off, except for some light sanding and the final sharpen. Still needs heat treating too.

#cutlass #sword #blacksmith #metalwork #BeMorePirate

#blacksmith #metalwork #bemorepirate #sword #cutlass
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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Iโ€™m up to the shellac stage of the grip. Itโ€™s had one coat of red oil, three of Tung oil, and three of seedlac (veg based shellac). Iโ€™ll probably do a few more coats and let it properly harden before polishing.
#cutlass #sword #blacksmith #woodwork
#blacksmith #woodwork #sword #cutlass
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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Test fit time!

Actually fits together fairly well, weight distribution is such that the balance point is 5cm in front of the guard, making for a very lively sword. Total weight is 1.2kg or about the same as my rapier (which is considerably longer).

The blade still needs heat treating and then I have all the fiddly bits in the fit up to secure everything.
#sword #cutlass #BeMorePirate #blacksmith

#blacksmith #bemorepirate #sword #cutlass
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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Well it took quite a while, but I'm calling this one done.

Here is my very first #cutlass modelled on the Dutch style from around the 1680s.

It is, by no means perfect, but the fit-up is pretty tight, and it is functionally sharp.

(iphone photos, will do some better ones later)

#blacksmith #metalwork #sword

Late 17th century cutlass with shell guard and S quillions, guard side showing
Closeup of the guard fit tolerances (very tight fit)
Closeup of the guard fit tolerances (very tight fit)
Late 17th century cutlass with shell guard and S quillions and thumb ring, thumb ring side showing
#blacksmith #metalwork #sword #cutlass
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
• •

And of course, you have to do a cut test.

My edge alignment could have been a little better, but this is the first time I've tried swinging the blade at something.

#cutlass #sword #blacksmith #video

#video #blacksmith #sword #cutlass
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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Not too bad a cut. Maybe could have been marginally closer to get the back of the cut a bit cleaner, although that was probably just bad technique on my part.

#blacksmith #cutlass #test

PET bottle cut in two. Both parts pictured to show the cut quality.
#blacksmith #Test #cutlass
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

Trisha Lynn ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Trisha Lynn ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
• •
Loved reading the journey of you forging/crafting this. If I can ask, how come so long between the test-fitting and finishing it?
in reply to Trisha Lynn ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
• •

Yep ๐Ÿ˜€

The whole thing was a series of learning processes, which is kinda why I did it (ok, so pirate cutlasses are pretty awesome in their own right, but I totally did it to learn stuff) ๐Ÿ˜‰

in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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A better (clearer) photo of the #cutlass with the hook and hat I've made previously.

#pirate #sword #hook #tricorn #hat

#pirate #hook #sword #cutlass #tricorn #hat
in reply to David de Groot ๐“†‰

lazy cat โ˜ฎ๏ธ
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lazy cat โ˜ฎ๏ธ
• •
the photo looks like a stage props for some real movie. =) or maybe even ads for such a movieโ€ฆ P-)
in reply to lazy cat โ˜ฎ๏ธ

David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
• •
Thanks! Although technically, these wouldn't be allowed on stage - live weapons and all.
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
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David de Groot ๐“†‰
• •
hahaha I mostly make these things just to see if I can. This one in particular was quite a challenge.

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