Viking wire inlay

Viking wire inlay
Wherein Ben endeavors to explain one of his methods for inlaying non-ferrous metals into steel for knives and swords.
 
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Step 1Layout

Layout
The first step is to mark the pattern on the steel. I like to do the layout in pencil.
Then I go over it in pen.
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88 comments
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Aug 25, 2011. 5:44 PMzombeastly says:
i would really like to learn this language even if it is dead
Dec 21, 2011. 10:46 AMJar Sqwuid says:
Hehe luckily for you it's not a language. You don't learn how to speak runes, you learn how to transcribe into runes. Kind of like how we spell japanese words out in english, our alphabet is phonetic. Runes are an alphabet, and super easy to learn. I write in them all the time. This is the younger futhark I think, and the most commonly used. I use the elder futhark. This is the website I used to learn runes with :) (Without the spaces.)

ht tp : // runes . info / rune piece 07 . ht m
May 8, 2010. 5:40 PMRaynor35 says:
Ben, at what point in the process did you do the inlay?  I mean in relation to the rough grind, quenching, tempering, final grind/polishing, and sharpening.  It looks like the blade has already been rough-shaped and taken to maybe a 200-grit finish, so I would guess sometime after the rough grind.  And regarding that point, whichever it is, is that a pretty standard process for you, to inlay at that point in the process, or is there sometimes a reason to vary it?  Thanks!
May 11, 2010. 6:46 AMRaynor35 says:
Actually, to simplify, did you do the wire inlays before or after heat-treating?
Apr 30, 2009. 3:39 PMthepelton says:
You could use the runic alphabet from LORD OF THE RINGS.
Apr 15, 2010. 8:58 PMIridium7 says:
 called elvish writing 
Jan 10, 2010. 9:34 AMred-king says:
 you mean the messed up writing stuff, like what is on the ring?
Dec 21, 2011. 11:00 AMthepelton says:
J.R.R. Tolkein was a University Professor, so he probably used the historically correct Futhark.
Feb 24, 2010. 3:38 AMskimmo says:
f,i,r,s, f,r,e,n,d,s first freinds?
Feb 24, 2010. 11:58 AMskimmo says:
hmmmmm i see, what is that letter?
Feb 27, 2010. 11:18 PMskimmo says:
i ment this the sowilo
sowilo.gif
Feb 27, 2010. 7:52 PMMatrixRage says:
Truely amazing man, I'm glad I added you to my favorites. I bought a video on engraving with gravers just a bit ago, and this will be a nice addition to my knowledge base.
Dec 8, 2009. 7:35 PMstrumbot says:
Awesome work Ben, just beautiful.  Now I want to do this on my seaxs.  The broken back design really makes it look better too.  This method will be much better than the chemical etch and leafing I planned to do.  Thanks!

Rob
Apr 30, 2009. 3:16 PMimbignate says:
Are you using Elder Futhark, or a different alphabet? I'm having trouble identifying the fourth rune (sohwilo?). I can read the runes, but not translate. I get:

Fehu, Isa, Raido, (sowilo?) - space- Fehu, Raido, Ehwaz, Nauthiz, Dagaz, and then what looks like a backwards Kenaz.

Fears Frand = Fierce Friend?

If you're trying to write in English, then that's my guess- if not, then I'll be glad ot hear the answer.
Jul 19, 2009. 8:40 AMkelticwonder says:
it says fire friend
Jul 19, 2009. 9:23 AMimbignate says:
you left out the 4th rune, sowilo. It does indeed say Fierce Friend, which is the author's website.
May 3, 2009. 1:13 AMMalachiore says:
It's not Elder Futhark, but it is very simmilar.
May 28, 2009. 6:13 PMjaythedogg says:
I almost yelled "THIEF!" until I saw it was Ben Potter, from the BladeSmith forums. :) Good tutorial though. :)
May 4, 2009. 1:35 PMcava002 says:
The sword says Fire Friend?, what kind of alphabet is that?
May 28, 2009. 5:05 PMmohawk93 says:
that my friend is the elder futhark the same runes used by the vikings themselves
May 18, 2009. 1:25 PMPKTraceur says:
How exactly does it stay in? Other than that, BEAUTIFUL job, it looks amazing. How well would that work on a kukri blade 1/4 thick? -PKT
May 18, 2009. 12:33 PMSixTwelve says:
I just can't get over the braid effect from the twists. So obvious, once thought of. But I doubt I would have thought of it in, say, 1000 years. Another surprise is that trinity knot. I was predicting it would be ungainly at best, and, more likely, dorky. I guess that 15 years honed your vision a little bit. Very pretty. Thanks for this window into the process!
May 8, 2009. 9:25 AMarnivore says:
This is very beautiful. Nice work.
May 4, 2009. 5:53 PMjaysbob says:
how well does this inlay stand up to use and abuse? I'd imagine its fine for a blade that is more of a display piece (what I imagine this is) but it seems that for something that's seeing more wear and tear (someone mentioned a hammer earlier) that such delicate engraving would work its way out over time. although I'd imagine repair work probably isn't too much of an issue. amazing work either way though with a range of decorative uses beyond just those for a seax. well photographed and documented too. cool stuff!
Apr 30, 2009. 9:22 AMyomero says:
thank you for this instructable, it was very helpful to me, i do know how to work with silver, and just recently learnt how to forge a blade, this inlaying just adds up to it. just to be clear, the bottom of the gravers is supposed to be wider than the top, right? and its the spreading of the metal that holds it in place, right?. anyways, great instructable
May 3, 2009. 9:21 PMtheRIAA says:
Amazing metalwork. I would have scratched the blade to hell trying to carve those channels.
May 3, 2009. 3:18 PMstrangebike says:
A really beautiful piece of work fella ! I'm dead jealous. Gonna have to try this now just to find some engravers.
May 3, 2009. 12:56 AMMalachiore says:
I don't really know if this matters, or if any-one cares, but you do know that the trinity knot is Celtic, not Norse right? But that's awesome. I've read other descriptions on how to do it, but here you actually showed the steps instead of showing three or so random pictures.
May 3, 2009. 1:10 AMMalachiore says:
Also, what time period of futhark is that. I can read the older version of futhark, but this looks ever so slightly different, although not much.
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Author:ben potter
I am a full-time bladesmith working in the Celto-Norse style.