Roman sword: Help needed.

Osage Orange

Dave Thompson


>Osage Orange would be my first domestic choice for a dense hard wood reasonably priced. I believe at 2040 janka it's the hardestic North American wood, and it has a relatively dense specific gravity of .85. If you're lucky you can find a local source, else, it's pretty easy to find staves of appropriate length for a sword sold on e-bay. People tend to sell it for making primitive bows or walking staffs.

some more thoughts on weight distribution

Dave Thompson


>Specific gravity of iron (steel) is around 7.7. As I mentioned, the osage orange is around .85, so that means, the sword will need to be 9 times larger by volume to equal weight. One of the densest woods is lignum vitae at 1.28, which would still be 6 times larger.

I suppose if you use a dowel of wood (cylinder) for your blade, that extra volume to match weight distribution would be best concealed.

I know nothing about sword dimensions, but say there is a 1"x1/4"x36" iron blade. If I do my math correctly, a 36" long 1.7" diameter dowel rod of osage orange would be the same weight. That sounds like a skinny baseball bat ;-)

Re: some more thoughts on weight distribution

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away


>John,

I certainlt can't do the math like Dave can, but I'll tell you an idea that popped into my head anyhow. How about using a steel rod surrounded by wood for the blade, or for that matter the entire thing. Sort of along the idea of knives that simply have wooden scales riveted to the sides of the tang.

How 'bout some pics of the ones you made for karate class.

I once shaped out a sword out of a strip of oak for a mini speech I had to give while I was in the Navy, and the instructor liked it so much that after the class was done he asked me if he could have it, so I gave it too him. I had all of 10 minutes in it, but it was a nice piece. Should of kept it, but I fiqured I'd just make another one, but I never have.--yet

Todd O.

Re: some more thoughts on weight distribution

John Hoffman


>Hi Dave, thanks for the posts. The idea the guy had was to have something that could be used in

practice, ie smashed against things. I fear that a metal rod in a dowel will bust apart? Ideas?

Also, if I used osage orange then I could make a round-ish stick that could be 4-5" in diameter.

That would give the weight but what about holding up when used to hit things?

Thanks

JH

Re: Roman sword: Help needed. *LINK*

briarbrow


>Greetings:

A dandy link of nice well researched replicas for accurate weight comparison and modelling


http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion/swords-albion-mark-nextgen.htm#Roman

Re: some more thoughts on weight distribution

Dave Thompson


>4-5" diameter sounds like swinging a log. FWIW, a 4" diameter x 36" of osage orange would be 14 lbs. A 5" diameter x 36" would be almost 22 lbs.

It sounds like a plate male bashing two handed sword rather than something I would associate with martial arts practice.

good luck,

Dave