Thank you! This clears a lot up in my head, never having done it
In that video it looks like he just glues the pommel on, I don't see any threading or a bump on the end?
The Hobbit - my build of Bilbo's Sting
- Thread starter bookface
- Start date
In that video it looks like he just glues the pommel on, I don't see any threading or a bump on the end?
Yeah I don't know. There must be something else going on, as without a connection to the pommel or a pin through the handle (like a katana) there's nothing to stop the blade simply flying right out of the handle the first time you swing it. or simply staying in the sheath when you draw it. And that would be embarrassing in a fight.
I'll most likely be peening the tang on mine, I'll see if I can remember to shoot a video of the process. Seems like there's a few people interested in blade making.
Had a chance to work on this some more over the weekend.
First of all I cut it down in size and then forged in some bevels.
Now it's mainly work on the grinder to shape it a bit more before heat treatment. I did give a quick dip in some ferric chloride to get a bit of a look at the pattern, although it doesn't show up that well before it's heat treated or with 36 grit scratches on it!
First of all I cut it down in size and then forged in some bevels.
Now it's mainly work on the grinder to shape it a bit more before heat treatment. I did give a quick dip in some ferric chloride to get a bit of a look at the pattern, although it doesn't show up that well before it's heat treated or with 36 grit scratches on it!
Bluewinters21
New Member
Very nice, I really like the pattern of the folded steel.
N2darkness
Sr Member
Awesome work, I've been eyeing a few 2x72 belt grinders. Yet to pull the trigger as I want to be able to grind different size fullers and might have to make a custom arm and roller. What kind do you use?
I have a 2"x72" belt grinder, also called a linnishing machine in some parts of the world. I did the initial bevel grinding on a flat platen, but I'm fairly certain that Sting has a hollow ground edge. That pic would seem to support that. To me, hollow grinds make little sense on swords, but reasonable sense on daggers that might be primarily thrusting weapons.
Stivie I got mine from a guy in Greece, no particular brand. If you're US based then most of the ones you'll see advertised will have options for contact wheels, flat platen, mini wheels. I'll grab you a pic of my setup and the options I have tomorrow.
Stivie I got mine from a guy in Greece, no particular brand. If you're US based then most of the ones you'll see advertised will have options for contact wheels, flat platen, mini wheels. I'll grab you a pic of my setup and the options I have tomorrow.
Stivie here's what I've got for my 2x72. The arms are all quick release and take less than 30 seconds to change round.
Flat platen for grinding flat bevels
Contact wheel arm. I have a 6" wheel and a 14" wheel that I change out as needed. Changing the wheels is a bit more of a pain but still only a couple of minutes.
Third arm with an attachment for small wheels, from 1" to 3/8".
And finally, I heat treated the blade today. Sadly it opened up a crack in the blade and I had to grind about 1.5" off the tip, so it'll be slightly shorter than planned. That said, I almost prefer the shape to this shorter blade. We'll see when I get a handle on it. It just means that I get to make another one. How sad.
Flat platen for grinding flat bevels
Contact wheel arm. I have a 6" wheel and a 14" wheel that I change out as needed. Changing the wheels is a bit more of a pain but still only a couple of minutes.
Third arm with an attachment for small wheels, from 1" to 3/8".
And finally, I heat treated the blade today. Sadly it opened up a crack in the blade and I had to grind about 1.5" off the tip, so it'll be slightly shorter than planned. That said, I almost prefer the shape to this shorter blade. We'll see when I get a handle on it. It just means that I get to make another one. How sad.
N2darkness
Sr Member
Awesome grinder, thanks for the pics! Shame about the crack after heat treat.
It happens. Just the reality of making blades. Thankfully it doesn't happen often, and this was in a non critical place.
Absolutely. So far I have it going from about 5mm at the base to about 3.5mm close to the tip. It shouldn't change much from that now though.
Got the guard and pommel started. They were both forged roughly to shape and then worked further on the grinder. I'm actually really looking forward to starting on the handle and doing the silver inlay. It won't look exactly like the prop, but it will have the same feel.
when i saw the title i thought you where making the lead singer of the police
I was there with you lol
Last edited:
Finally some more progress on this. Everything is fitted up and hilt parts are mostly done. I need to etch the guard and blade with the designs. I'll probably be going with the simpler etching from The Hobbit for this one. Then there's just the minor matter of inlaying the handle...
ScoobiJohn
Active Member
looking amazing!! just ordered up a forge to try blade smithing - hope some day i can produce something that nice
