The Sword - 4.0

by Sadi789

19K8414

Intro: The Sword - 4.0

This is the LAST TIME I'm making a sword with a wooden core, because they break, and this one did break. But because it's one of the coolest swords I've ever made and it even has a sheath, I'm posting it anyway. It was supposed to be Macbeth's sword in my theater group's production of Macbeth. I was blocking the fight scene, and so I was pretty determined to have the fight scene be really super cool. As it turns out, ALL the wooden-core swords but one (that's broken in other ways) have broken and we have a major shortage of swords. Anyway, Macbeth and Macduff ended up using partly broken swords, but it was an awesome show regardless. Macduff's sword broke in half halfway through the second show, onstage, in front of an audience. But hey, it all worked out.

Long story short, don't fight with this thing. However, if you're looking for a wall hanger that doesn't kill, I think this'll do that pretty well. Instructions can be requested, I took plenty (hundreds) of pictures. If you're looking to bang on some stuff, I've got plans for a new type of sword that will not break (EDIT: it has been accomplished), coming this summer and if it works I'll be posting instructions. Also, I'll probably eventually remake this sword with the new method, and I'll definitely post if I do that.

The pommel glows. It can be turned on and off and kept on for extensive periods of time. I was going to have Macbeth flick it on at "emotional strong points" (eg: And damned be him who first cries, "Hold, enough!"). The on-off mechanism is in a convenient spot on the guard, so it's accessible while fighting. The pommel, and the guard that holds the wiring both are in fine shape, and I'll most certainly be reusing them. The sheath is also still intact and all of it's parts are reusable. The cord wrapped around the handle is also reusable.

Well, I really don't have much to say about this sword since it's permanently broken, other then if you really want, I can post instructions, and also to watch for my new sword design (hopefully coming this summer).


UPDATE: I've moved on from wooden cores, and I now have an I'ble that explains the methods behind my latest weaponry.

14 Comments

DaryoO1 7 years ago

do you think a wooden core would work for a thicker weapon design, lets say Orcish?

GuavChenko 10 years ago

If you made that out of metal it would be epic

Necroid 10 years ago

This sword is amazing, could we please have instructions/a tutorial on how to make one like this? How did you make the scabbard? What did you use to get the pommel to glow? What do you use as padding on cores? This is the perfect answer to my larp sword/dagger dilemma ^_^

Sadi789 10 years ago

Wow, I'm glad you like it but it's been a while since I made this and I'm not sure I remember how I did everything. I have tons of pictures from making this, but my methods for making swords have improved a lot since then and this sword isn't really up for larping. I'm going to post some instructables later on that teach the concept so that you can make anything you want. It may be a while until they're done, though. If you want the pictures from making this, I can give you those, though I don't suggest following them too much.

I made the scabbard by taping together blade-sized strips of card stalk (to give it some strength) and wrapping that in thin craft foam.

Cormaxzyz 10 years ago

(This is a reply to your reply to my previous comment, I can't get it to work)

Oh geez... Well, you kinda had it coming, making a sword out of such a flimsy wood. That said, wood definitely works for high-stress applications like this, you just have to use oak. Or maple. You can beat that stuff against a brick wall for 30 minutes without it breaking. Even poplar would work, but I wouldn't recommend it. I happen to have been a woodworker for 5 years, so I have a fair amount of experience on the subject.

That said, a fiberglassed pine core would work, and a hollow magnesium core would be DA BOMB (and quite literally so, if it gets near a flame).

Sadi789 10 years ago

Oh, I just realized who you are by the way ;P

Yeah, I know. I was totally kidding myself that it would work, the stuff was a quarter inch thick. I'm not even sure that a stronger wood would do the job. Maybe it would, though. You know a lot more about that than I do.

The amount of torque they were putting on the weapons during Macbeth was pretty bad. I kept trying to get them to hit harder and harder, because it was the best way I could find to make the fight look realistic.

For now, though, the fiberglass and carbon fiber cores are working just fine. We'll see how it goes when we do Romeo and Juliet in the fall.

Cormaxzyz 10 years ago

What kind of wood do you use for cores? And please do not say pine.

Sadi789 10 years ago

I think I was using pine *doublesuperfacepalmcombo*, because it was cheapest and none of the other woods were stronger enough that it would be worth using them. I was kind of kidding myself when I actually thought any kind of wood at all would work in the long run. Don't use wood. I'm using carbon fiber and fiberglass for my cores now. I don't suggest wood of any kind.

Sadi789 10 years ago

Hey guys, I just made a sword with a carbon fiber core rod, and I'll try to post pictures this Wednesday. I've started making swords again, guys!

jaffawarrior1 10 years ago

I admire the amount of effort you put into your work your skill is something I have not seen a comparison to except by a professional LARP weapon website

Sadi789 10 years ago

Thanks! I'm hoping maybe I'll set the ball rolling for other people do to this kind of thing too. I'm not a huge boffer fan.