Africanised Sabre..any ideas as to the blade ?

katana · 25th January 2010, 01:13 PM

Hi Jim,
found this on the 'net' .....with regards US sabres

http://armscollectors.com/mgs/four_big_black_swords.htm

If the blade on my sword has been modified, IMHO only the tip may have been altered. If the blade curvature had been changed, it would involve extensive heat treatments. Firstly to 'soften' the blade it would be heated to a red colour (or even hotter) and then allowed to cool very slowly. The blade then worked on the anvil, (during this process the blade would be normalised several times, another heat treatment to relieve stresses in the re-worked blade). Finally the heat to 'red', the quench to harden ....and finally a lower temperature heat and slow cool....for the final 'temper'. Looking at the blade ...I can see no evidence of a re-work (you could argue that the 'craft' of the bladesmith was so good ....that the evidence is not obvious....but I cannot see such a blade receiving such 'attention to detail'.)

The point of the sword is nicely inline with the hilt, allowing the 'thrust'. Perhaps facilitated with the reprofiling of the point ?

Still searching for the donor blade .........

Kind Regards David

25th January 2010, 01:13 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Jim, found this on the 'net' .....with regards US sabres http://armscollectors.com/mgs/four_big_black_swords.htm If the blade on my sword has been modified, IMHO only the tip may have been altered. If the blade curvature had been changed, it would involve extensive heat treatments. Firstly to 'soften' the blade it would be heated to a red colour (or even hotter) and then allowed to cool very slowly. The blade then worked on the anvil, (during this process the blade would be normalised several times, another heat treatment to relieve stresses in the re-worked blade). Finally the heat to 'red', the quench to harden ....and finally a lower temperature heat and slow cool....for the final 'temper'. Looking at the blade ...I can see no evidence of a re-work (you could argue that the 'craft' of the bladesmith was so good ....that the evidence is not obvious....but I cannot see such a blade receiving such 'attention to detail'.) The point of the sword is nicely inline with the hilt, allowing the 'thrust'. Perhaps facilitated with the reprofiling of the point ? Still searching for the donor blade ......... Kind Regards David