kevin - the professor
Well-Known Member
Hello Everyone,
I am really intrigued by the flowing curves and overall shapes of the many types of dao.
There are not many people making these in the custom bladesmith world despite the long history and the huge range of geometries, methods of construction, methods of welding/assembly, and the use of regular and clay heat treatment.
Sure, many of the examples were made fast to give to a soldier who was not expected to live through many battles with it. But, a number of European "arming" swords were also shoddy.
But, there are a lot of really beautiful ones. The fittings of the best ones are out of my league.
I plan to spend some time studying and making various dao - it is a rich area with a ton of room for creativity and interpretation.
This is the blade for my first one. Let me know what you think. I have never made a single-edged blade with such a complex geometry before.
17" working length (18" of steel from guard to point, but curve beginning at center of percussion makes working length shorter)
Just over .25" at ridge at forte, just under .125" at thickest part of "lens" near point.
The blade has a ridged construction, with the fuller ground just above the ridge. This changes to "egg-" or "lens-" shaped just after fuller ends. The back edge is sligthly sharpened (could scrape but not cut).
Acute point, good for stabbing and cutting.
Convex edge much like a katana or wak.
let me know what you think about my plan in general and this blade in particular. This is my first in what I hope to be several daos.
thanks for looking,
kevin
I am really intrigued by the flowing curves and overall shapes of the many types of dao.
There are not many people making these in the custom bladesmith world despite the long history and the huge range of geometries, methods of construction, methods of welding/assembly, and the use of regular and clay heat treatment.
Sure, many of the examples were made fast to give to a soldier who was not expected to live through many battles with it. But, a number of European "arming" swords were also shoddy.
But, there are a lot of really beautiful ones. The fittings of the best ones are out of my league.
I plan to spend some time studying and making various dao - it is a rich area with a ton of room for creativity and interpretation.
This is the blade for my first one. Let me know what you think. I have never made a single-edged blade with such a complex geometry before.
17" working length (18" of steel from guard to point, but curve beginning at center of percussion makes working length shorter)
Just over .25" at ridge at forte, just under .125" at thickest part of "lens" near point.
The blade has a ridged construction, with the fuller ground just above the ridge. This changes to "egg-" or "lens-" shaped just after fuller ends. The back edge is sligthly sharpened (could scrape but not cut).
Acute point, good for stabbing and cutting.
Convex edge much like a katana or wak.
let me know what you think about my plan in general and this blade in particular. This is my first in what I hope to be several daos.
thanks for looking,
kevin