SWORDDUELING.COM » Swords

Crafting a tsuba

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 19:55:27 +0000

Japanese katana can have exquistite handguards or tsubas. Auction catalogues of the most beautiful specimens shows the amazing craftsmanship of their creation, when one uses chisels to “paint metal”. These videos which show a modern recreation of a missing tsuba to pair the existant wakazaki tsuba are fascinating.

Western Sword Anatomy Terminology

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:37:24 +0000

From the American Sword 1775-1945 by Harold L. Peterson

Previously we did katana fittings & blades.

Dao

miles — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:02:27 +0000

Realistic Sparring Weapons – RSW

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:48:10 +0000

These look awesome. They are a bit spendy compared to shinai. I wonder how they feel and how long they last.
Their full armory is amazing. Check it.

Crom’s teeth

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:26:37 +0000

Damascus Wootz Steel

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:32:13 +0000

http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/jom/9809/verhoeven-9809.htm

The art of producing the famous 16-18th century Damascus steel blades found in many museums was lost long ago. Recently, however, research has established strong evidence supporting the theory that the distinct surface patterns on these blades result from a carbide-banding phenomenon produced by the microsegregation of minor amounts of carbide-forming elements present in the wootz ingots from which the blades were forged. Further, it is likely that wootz Damascus blades with damascene patterns may have been produced only from wootz ingots supplied from those regions of India having appropriate impurity-containing ore deposits.

There Is No “Best Sword”

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:46:21 +0000

Here is a very good article outlining the evolution of swords as a response to their historical conditions like the rise and fall of plate. There is also an interesting talk of straight vs. curved cavalry swords
http://www.thehaca.com/essays/nobest.htm

Sword Testing

SWORD — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:52:06 +0000

Want to see how modern commercial swords hold up under strenuous conditions? This guy has a pile of swords and has put them through their paces. Good place to check out Western sword quality.

Here is something on Japanese swords.

Gunswords

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:50:47 +0000

This are totally fake but i sure wish i could buy one.

Western Sword Types

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:34:03 +0000

Just what is the difference between a broadsword and a longsword? A war-sword and a greatsword? A backsword or a falchion? A Schiavona, rapier or estoc?

This ARMA site has a very good synopsis with representative pictures.

Here is ARMA in Portland.

They fought with Mu Ryu once.