- Joined
- Feb 15, 2013
- Messages
- 119
Nathan the Machinist any update for us?
This project has seen some technical challenges scaling up our knife build process to a sword scale. Keeping it flat while decking it, keeping it straight in heat treat, tumble finishing a part that is almost 30" long, sharpening a piece on our parallelogram that exceeds the swing capacity of our setup. Nothing insurmountable, just challenges. We knew there would be challenges.
We finally sorted out the heat treat process with new fixturing strategies. We also rebuilt an old tumbler whose tank works with this giant blade and got it back into production for this project. So the current status is: all of the blades are fully machined, half of them are heat treated. Some are tumbled. The fixturing for the scales is complete and the laminating process for the TT is underway.
One aspect of the sword that I didn't anticipate coming into it is the weighted pommels. The material for them is here but I still need to processes it which will require fixtures and setups that I plan to complete this week. With that, the first few swords will be ready to ship, perhaps as early as next week. "Zmbhntr" might see his sword at the end of the month.
That sounds like a lot of work. After figuring out how to deal with the challenges of a longer blade, are you more or less inclined to make another?
CPKatanaBeing 9-10 months behind schedule on this project is stressful to everyone in the shop. I kind of wish I hadn't undertook the project due to the learning curve and related tuition. But, having it under our belt now, I might do another sword some day.
I’m in for one.CPKatana
Edit- Dibs
I’d love to see you take on a gladius!
What would a gladius do that the K18 won’t?I’d love to see you take on a gladius!
Being 9-10 months behind schedule on this project is stressful to everyone in the shop. I kind of wish I hadn't undertook the project due to the learning curve and related tuition. But, having it under our belt now, I might do another sword some day.
Being 9-10 months behind schedule on this project is stressful to everyone in the shop. I kind of wish I hadn't undertook the project due to the learning curve and related tuition. But, having it under our belt now, I might do another sword some day.
We've talked about doing a sword like that. We were thinking maybe calling it a notakatana.
Ninja swords!!!
What would a gladius do that the K18 won’t?
Well I thought it was funny.We were thinking maybe calling it a notakatana.