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Swords, Daggers, and Axes

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Here are just a few of the swords, daggers, and axes i've made over the years. i've always been fascinated by swords and blades of all types. when i was younger i wanted a sword and couldn't afford one so i guess my skills started out with a hacksaw and a file and a piece of steel i found laying around, and have been growing ever since. i'm still working on improving my skills, and would like to learn blacksmithing , and build my own forge one day.

Edit: Molnar Sword instructable is now up here: http://www.instructables.com/id/Sword-Making-by-Stock-Removal/

47 comments

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Dec 4, 2011. 5:42 AMSabinbp says:

Is it me or does those blades look dull?

Dec 11, 2011. 3:24 PMdidgitalpunk says:

no they do look dull

Nov 25, 2011. 4:54 PMcurvy77 says:

great designs. how do you make these and what materials do u use? plz help a fellow scrapsmith!

Nov 17, 2011. 6:36 PMmr.frob says:

That is some really beautiful work.

Jun 29, 2010. 11:51 AMThe Jamalam says:

I really like the sword in slides 4-7, please make instructions :O

Jun 29, 2010. 2:34 PMDeathatsix (author) says:

That is the one i plan on doing the instructable on. and Thanks.

Jul 3, 2010. 4:53 PMthe_burrito_master says:

Awesome i cant wait to see that! I don't have enough steel for it tho :(

Jul 8, 2010. 4:43 PMDeathatsix (author) says:

honestly, i used stuff i had laying around my garage, tho i do keep alot of usefull scrap and steel and stuff i think can be used for fixing or making things.

Jul 8, 2010. 7:10 PMthe_burrito_master says:

Impressive ,do you melt it down or like forge it into a block and then draw out the swords?

Jul 9, 2010. 2:26 PMDeathatsix (author) says:

no, i use pieces that are already to length and shape them, and weld where needed. i havn't learned forging yet but am wanting to learn, and start making blades that way but untill then i make them by stock removal. so i guess i'm not that impressive.

Jul 9, 2010. 5:32 PMthe_burrito_master says:

I see, I don't understand how this steel magically found in your garage lol? Forging is really quite simple, pretty much you heat up the metal red hot and hit it with a hammer.

Jul 10, 2010. 10:22 AMDeathatsix (author) says:

ok, i guess to me, it's stuff laying around because often when i go to a fleamarket or a store that has such things i'll pick up metal pieces that i think i can use for something and just keep them untill i have a use for them. and i work on cars so there are pieces of scrap from junk parts. My grandfather passed away and had built fire trucks, so he had scrap pieces of metal stock laying around. so ok i guess anyone that dosn't have metal stock magically appear in their garage would have to buy some. sorry for the confusion. And i believe there is more to forging then just that. that is the basic idea but i don't have a anvil or anything to heat the metal like that yet.

Jul 10, 2010. 9:58 PMthe_burrito_master says:

Yeah there's definetly more to it than that but it's not ,that complicated... if you just do some research you should figure it out pretty quick, not that I'm any expert. I did a bit of forging on this sword today. I drew out the hilt witch should not haven taken as long as it did but wood just doesn't work with high carbon steel :P

Jul 11, 2010. 7:46 AMDeathatsix (author) says:

yeah, i've been researching it little by little. i'm sure once i find a decient anvil that i can afford, i'll get more motivated. i do Autobody so some of the tools were there. i just started from what i know and am slowly building myself up to where i want to be. wood can sometimes be uncooperating. i've been fighting on and off to make a battle axe that the handle houses a sword. i'm close to getting it but not there yet. nice work by the way.

Jul 11, 2010. 11:11 AMthe_burrito_master says:

Well I meant to say that the wood wasn't making hot enough coals for me to gt the steel past dark red, so it was almost just like hitting the solid steel. My handle was pretty easy to make, because I first cut 2 slats from a 11/2 by 1 and then carved out the inside, to fit over the hilt in the drawing. Then I just smoothed out the wood to fit my liking. when you forge it's kind of important to use high carbon steel i bought mine from http://www.admiralsteel.com/ I'm using the 1095 steel witch is impressively strong.

Aug 23, 2011. 11:38 AMninja of suburbia says:

You couldn't heat it up hot enough because you are using the wrong fuel. Go to the hardware store and buy a big sack of lump charcoal, not mesquite, and that should solve the problem.

Sep 11, 2011. 1:10 AMthe_burrito_master says:

I've been using coal and wood lately, the wood is actually the best fuel I've used yet, only because i have an abundance of it. I'm sure charcoal would burn much hotter.

Jul 11, 2010. 12:36 PMDeathatsix (author) says:

looking at the picture, what secures your handle. i mean no offence when i say it looks as though if you swing that sword the blade could come flying out. though i also have absolutely no experience in katanas

Jul 11, 2010. 12:37 PMthe_burrito_master says:

I'm not gonna secure it in until it's done ll sorry bout that and if I put any tension at all on the handle i cant pull it out for anything.

Jul 11, 2010. 2:37 PMDeathatsix (author) says:

cool. Understandable. wasn't sure from the picture. and i really don't have any experience at katanas but that one looks like it's ganna turn out nice.

Jul 11, 2010. 5:38 PMthe_burrito_master says:

thanks :) i would have liked to start out with a box of steel and forge it out jsut liek the japanese do. but a bar works okay. If i did that then I could give it a bit more of an accurate shape.

Jul 10, 2010. 12:47 AMUnderminer says:

Dude I think you have some mad skills as far as sword making goes.

Jul 10, 2010. 10:30 AMDeathatsix (author) says:

Thanks. There's always room for improvement. but i like what i make.

Jul 10, 2010. 12:08 PMUnderminer says:

Think of the stuff that you'll make when you learn to Blacksmith!

Jul 10, 2010. 1:15 PMDeathatsix (author) says:

It wouldn't be a whole lot different, aside from the fact that it would be alot stronger. i guess there would be some things i could do that are really difficult to do now. but yeah i'm in the planning stages of building a smaller furnace out of fire brick and an old water storage tank. just not sure if i want to use gas or coal. and people want more then i can afford at the moment for a decient anvil. Thanks for the support.

Aug 23, 2011. 11:43 AMninja of suburbia says:

Go to an old scrapyard and look around. Old anvils are everywhere, they're just hard to find. Also, you don't have to use an anvil, per se. My master has an anvil that is merely a length of railroad track secured to a stump. It just needs to be big and very very solid. Even a thick steel plate attached to a solid base would work. On another note, use a coal forge. While it is messier and slower than gas, it produces far better quality blades.

Aug 23, 2011. 3:01 PMDeathatsix (author) says:

i've been watching for auctions and asking around. so far i got one anvil from a friends uncle, then got a little better on at auction and 2 post vices at auction. so with all the other hammers and a couple pair of tongs, and a couple different blowers to try out, all i need now is to build the forge itself. so i'll be trying to get a friend of a friend to help me out with the masonary work. Thanks for the tips tho. and i al planning at the moment to use coal or charcoal.

Aug 23, 2011. 4:12 PMninja of suburbia says:

If you like, I can post an 'Ible about making a good starter forge, no large scale, but good for smaller knives, arrowheads, hooks, etc. just to get your hand in.

Aug 23, 2011. 7:16 PMDeathatsix (author) says:

That would be really cool for anyone on here that has an interest in forging so i would say it would be really cool for you to take the time making. I do know the general idea and how to make a brake drum forge or one made out of a barrel or old grill with a clay/sand liner. but my idea is to make a nice one out of fire brick, brick, and block. but honestly more or different info always is helpfull, and others could use the info as well.

Aug 23, 2011. 11:36 AMninja of suburbia says:

These are some rather well made blades, and even though I believe hand-forging to be superior to stock removal, I congratulate you on work well done.

Aug 23, 2011. 2:57 PMDeathatsix (author) says:

Thanks very much. I agree that forged blades are way stronger. i can only think that this process will help me to achive a better product when i start forging.

Apr 28, 2011. 8:23 PMdamascus freak says:

hey man awsome. i just started pretty much the same as u. i used an old bed rail and a jig saw to make a sword, its pretty lame:(

Apr 28, 2011. 9:18 PMDeathatsix (author) says:

Thanks. Hey steel is steel, as far as making blades, it all starts with one project and you can build skills from there. and it can turn out as good as you want just takes time and patience

Feb 25, 2011. 2:10 PMThat Inventor Dude says:

Duuuude, that i just awesome,

Feb 26, 2011. 10:38 AMDeathatsix (author) says:

Thanks Dude.

Sep 19, 2010. 10:18 AMbillyberserker says:

Interesting...
What did you use to make the axe in the end of the slideshow?

Sep 19, 2010. 11:43 AMDeathatsix (author) says:

For that one I used a cam gear for the innerside, and the outer parts were a regular stock gear (around 25 bucks at Tractor supply) and the mount is a thick piece of pipe squashed down.

Sep 20, 2010. 12:00 PMbillyberserker says:

Nice! Liked the design!

Sep 20, 2010. 2:52 PMDeathatsix (author) says:

Thanks! I had the idea to combine gears into one continuous piece. i plan on doing more in that style.

Sep 21, 2010. 12:04 PMbillyberserker says:

I'm expecting a wonderful weapon then. :)

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