A couple of new dedicated cutting swords..

We just added two new swords to the current SBG selection, and while they come from different cultural settings and time periods, they both have one thing in common – they are dedicated cutting and slicing swords with curved, single sided blades..

It has been argued many times that a curved sword CUTS better than a straight, double sided sword, but tends not to thrust or stab as effectively. The main reason why a curved sword tend to cut better than a straight one is because less surface area contacts the target when slicing, putting more pounds per square inch of pressure on the surface being cut – resulting in easier entry into the target and reducing friction when passing through the target.

Of course, there are many other variables that effect how well a given sword will cut, such as the hardness of the edge, the amount of vibration in the blade, the weight and balance of the sword, the power of behind the cut, edge alignment and of course actual sharpness (which is less important than many people think) – but all other things being equal, swords that are optimized for the cut are almost always curved and swords optimized for the thrust (or balanced between cut and thrust) almost always straight – and the two new swords we added are firmly in the first category.

The most effective of the two is the Forge Direct Duan Dao – a shorter, more concealable Chinese Broadsword style with the same unique laminated blade as the Muramasa Katana by the same forge.

duan-daoThis particular design ticks all the boxes for a frighteningly effective cutter – weight, balance, curved edge and the hard T10 tool steel edge supported by 1060 carbon steel either side and a softer, impact resistant core of 1045 carbon steel..

duan-dao2The blade itself is complimented by beautifully finished rosewood scabbard and handle and Dragon themed brass fittings.

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While most of the Forge Direct Swords are sold at the $1,000 price point, this sword is an absolute steal at just $700 – especially when you consider the extra effort that goes into making such a complex laminated blade.

The second sword is based on the German ‘War Knife’ – the RK Euro line Kriegsmesser

kriegsmesserWith a two handed grip and made of expertly tempered 1075 carbon steel, this sub $300 sword is an absolute bargain.

Check them out today!

NEW: The Forge Direct “Muramasa” Laminated Katana!

“Science Meets Tradition!”

 

This may well be one of the most revolutionary swords ever made..

A bold statement, but the Muramasa Katana by Forge Direct is truly quite unique.

Here is why:

The hamon, while real, is created through metal extraction and not clay. It’s achieved by grinding through the jacket layer of 1065 steel until the middle layer of T-10 is reached. The color of the steel is the natural unpolished look of the steel.

The five layer composition from side to side is: 1065, T-10, 1045, T-10, 1065.

Because the steel is placed in layers and welded together, they blend differently down both sides of the blade. The entire blade is then given a polish before the extraction on the edge. The reveal of the lamination is going to be different every single time, as the blend of the steels is never going to be the same, resulting in unique waves and patterns.

The process provides an edge hardness of 62-64, a spine in the mid 40’s, and a medium carbon core that is very good at diffusing shock.

The goal was to find a way to get the harder edge of a differentially hardened blade, but with the resilience of being through hardened.

The overall theme and design of this sword may be a little sinister (after all, Muramasa was an infamous sword smith with a very dark reputation – a reputation shared by his blades) and may not appeal to everyone, but to those of you who is “speaks” to, you are in for a real treat…

As with all the swords in the Forge Direct line up, the sword is made to order and ships within 4-6 weeks. At $700 (with free shipping in North America) it may not be the cheapest sword on the market, but for such a revolutionary design, it is actually quite a bargain (following industry standard pricing forumlas, it should sell for a LOT more)..

Check it out here

Hollow Ground Blades – Rare, sharp and hard to do right..

One of the least common types of medieval swords, both historically and also with modern functional reproductions, was the Hollow Ground blade – which is essentially a blade with a concave grind either side of the central ridge that swoops up slightly and terminates with a secondary bevel..

Below are some examples of typical medieval sword cross sections from Wikipedia – the Hollow Ground blade is not exactly right, but gives you some general idea..

2000px-Sword_cross_section.svgA hollow ground blade was primarily used against lightly armored (leather) or unarmored opponents and the main advantage was, sharpness and viscous cutting ability. These were the kind of swords that would quite easily lop off and arm or a leg with a casual swipe, while the other types of edge geometry were designed to withstand chain and heavier armors, so lose some raw slicing ability in the process..

To make it all work properly, a hollow ground sword needs to avoid tapering off to a thin edge but instead MUST end in a secondary bevel, something some collectors think is ahistorical, but the reality is that EVERY historical hollow ground sword had a secondary bevel to ensure the edge was strong enough to asborb the power of the cut.

In many ways, I am surprised hollow ground swords are not more commonly available – as they are, by their very design, the kind of swords best designed for cutting common backyard targets such as water filled bottles, pool noodles, tatami mats, etc (after all, most backyard cutters do not need a sword able to withstand chain armor).

But these days, there are essentially only 2 swords on the market with this geometry, the $1570 Albion Regent and – very recently – the $499 Kingston Arms Crecy Sword

crecy-closeAbove is a picture of the Kingston Arms version – and even from this pic, the hollow ground design – swooping in on both sides from the central ridge, then scooping upwards and ending in a viscous secondary bevel – is very clear to see.

I think that the main reason these swords are not more commonly seen on the market is simply due to the extra difficulty involved in doing it well (the hollow ground geometry is NOT easy to do correctly, and takes nearly twice as long as a standard edge) and the fact that, well, not that many collectors understand the benefits of this kind of geometry and the fact that it needs to be done differently than a hollow ground knife.

As these are so rare, and yet so suitable to the desires and needs of many a backyard cutter, if you do have a chance to try one out – you will not be disappointed. That much I am certain of..

 

Coming Soon – Gus Trim Joins Kingston Arms!

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Angus “Gus” Trim from Atrim fame is a name that needs no introduction in the world of medieval swords. His swords have been uniformly praised for their sturdiness, craftsmanship and authentic handling and cutting ability – but for years have been almost impossible to source and out of production..

But at the Blade Show 2016, Cas Iberia – the official distributor for Kingston Arms – unveiled their latest collaboration with Gus Trim and showed off a prototype of his competition cutting Longsword as well as some Gus Trim designed Atrim swords to be produced by the Dragon King Forge under the Kingston Arms banner..

Here is a video from the show introducing the prototypes (including some sneak previews of other swords coming down the line)..

And here is the Competition Cutter coming down the line.

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Angus (Gus) Trim has partnered with us to make a longsword designed specifically for HEMA longsword cutting practice.

Across the globe practitioners of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) are participating in taking their training regimen to the next level, incorporating cutting practice and competition into their routines. Similar to the test cutting practice used in Japanese Martial Arts (Tameshigiri), cutting using medieval style longswords validates the techniques learned through sparring as effective martial techniques.

However this sword is far from being a one trick pony, perfectly acceptable as a typical cruciform style longsword (well, as typical as you could call any sword made by Gus). Gus has simply taken those historical parameters and put together a sword he feels incorporates elements geared to making it an exceptional cutting sword. The blade geometry is hexagonal with a complex distal taper for rigidity in the cut. The edge is a well tuned appleseed geometry, providing enough steel behind the edge for durability while allowing for smooth cutting of softer targets. Most anyone can touch up the edge using a leather strop and a steady hand.

Individually made by Gus himself, these swords will be available in limited quantities. 

Overall: 47 1/4″
Blade Length: 36″
Handle Length: 9″
Weight: 2lb 13oz
Point of Balance: 5″
Blade Steel: 5160

Keep your eye out for them, this new collaboration looks exciting and it will be great to see some of Gus’s swords and designs available on the market again.