Sword from Space! Blacksmith Forges Blade from Meteorite

Discussion in 'Blades' started by Quigley_Sharps, Apr 8, 2015.


  1. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

  2. 3M-TA3

    3M-TA3 Cold Wet Monkey

    Nice that he picked a Viking style sword.
     
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  3. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    It is a beautiful sword. I thought you were supposed to turn stuff like meteors and space stuff into the space people.
     
    Bear likes this.
  4. 3M-TA3

    3M-TA3 Cold Wet Monkey

    Nope, I watched a documentary about a guy who flies an ultralight over Bonneville Salt Flats looking for them. He sells to collectors, museums, and jewelry makers
     
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  5. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Here's the video

     
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  6. Bear

    Bear Monkey+++ Founding Member Iron Monkey

    Far out man! (Now I'm really dating myself :) )
    Seriously. ... forging meteorite is very cool stuff... I have a few and just holding them in my hand and imagining where it's been and what it's seen is awesome. ... I will forge a "Meteor Blade someday. .. it's on the bucket list ;)
     
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  7. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    The tale is that Jim Bowie's knife was from a meteorite.
     
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  8. DarkLight

    DarkLight Live Long and Prosper - On Hiatus

    Okay, if they will be for sale then put me on the list!
     
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  9. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    If only, if only.
     
    Bear likes this.
  10. 3M-TA3

    3M-TA3 Cold Wet Monkey

    Bear likes this.
  11. tedrow42

    tedrow42 Monkey+

    wow i want to do this! to be able to take a rock and make a beautifull weapon is amazing
     
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  12. gunbunny

    gunbunny Never Trust A Bunny

    @Bear
    How big of a piece of meteorite is needed for a small (3-4") blade? The tang can be a different metal and welded on at the guard. What other metals would you be forging it with to make a really nice demascis? What pattern?

    I've seen pieces of meteorite around the 25-30 grams in weight go for less than $100. Is that enough to stretch it out for a small dagger?

    Too bad the noncrystalline structure of the iron is lost in the forging process; it seems that the metal is more of a novelty than anything else. Anyway, it's a novelty I wouldn't mind paying for if I had the cash to drop on it.
     
    Bear likes this.
  13. Georgia_Boy

    Georgia_Boy Monkey+++

    What a labor of love! Three months of hard labor and artistry. It would be a fearsome weapon in the hands of a skilled swordsman. I'm tired just thinking about lifting it above my head. I imagine it sold for a small fortune.
    GB
     
    Bear likes this.
  14. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    Careful Bear, if you forge it your island may become over run with an influx of mainland monkeys;)
     
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  15. Bear

    Bear Monkey+++ Founding Member Iron Monkey

    Aloha Monkeys,

    Sorry for the long absence ... I have been reading... just been a busy 3-4 weeks...

    @gunbunny good question... I was talking with @Hanzo over lunch about this...
    The Monkeys that know me... know that I have definite opinions on things and put a lot of thought into things I make and forge...
    This sword is just an amazing work of craftsmanship and art... note the flex in the sword after the heat treat...
    There was an amazing amount of time and effort put into creating it...
    Much like the Japanese smiths that use tamahagane... that itself looks like certain pieces of meteorite might look... we all know the end result of their skilled hammering of a piece of tamahagane...
    The war was also tough on those smiths as all the iron and steel went to Japan's war efforts... still I read an interesting article of one Sword smith that went around collecting old broken iron tea pots... and use them for forge his swords...
    They forge with an abundance of carbon... from the burnt rice straw that coats each forging of the billet... to the carefully selected pine charcoal used in their forges... even the carefully guarded secret clay coating that they use to produce that beautiful hamon... contains carbon.... from one form, tamahagane... to another, katana... the transformation is like a caterpillar to a butterfly... there is very little left in the beautiful end product that hints of its humble beginnings...

    So this is where I would dramatically deviate from the beautiful sword in the first post and the caterpillar / butterfly analogy, when I do forge my meteorite blade...

    If you are familiar with the san mai process... it is layered steel... hardened steel sandwiched between a different steel on either side... common is a high carbon core sandwiched between a patterned steel like damascus... I'll post a pic below so you know what I am talking about.... the pic below is Cold Steel example ...

    While I truly admire and appreciate what is represented above... there is no evidence that the sword actually has any meteorite in it... you take the word of the maker... or when you own that sword... others will have to take your word for it...

    Iron meteorites have a distinct pattern when sliced open... much like the layered pattern of "damascus" steel... it is called Widmanstatten pattern... I'll also post a pic below and you can google it to see all the variations...

    I would want to acquire a large enough slice with the right pattern to forge weld a san mail blade... and then etch the blade to bring out the Widmanstatten pattern....

    Now that in my opinion is a blade from outer space that both I and you will know by looking at it... that it was made from a particular meteorite... you won't have to take my word for it... nor will anyone doubt you when you say what it is... long after you are gone... your generations of kin... will all know what it is and be able to actually test and etch it...

    Imagine... a san mai blade with a meteorite casing showing the distinctive Widmanstatten pattern....

    That IMHO... is a worthy Bear Blade.... ahhh.... someday.... meteorites are pricey.... slices are even more pricey... yup... that one is definitely on the bucket list of this Iron Monkey ;)

    Thanks for asking...

    I'll be back to posting soon... just a few things to tidy up ... but wanted to answer your question...

    How big a piece?... 3-4 inch blade... a slice with enough thickness and surface area to cover both sides.....

    Hope that helps... let me know if you have any other questions... Thanks again... this is fun to think about ;)

    Have great week all!

    Take Care and God Bless,

    Bear

    img_0017.

    e4ce30714ee8942879517f53f4f15e5c.

    The-strange-Meteorites-Widmanstatten-Pattern.
     
  16. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    I HATE "flex" in a sword. Most swords are supposed to be stiff, so that they can penetrate armor. Flex will get you killed.
     
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  17. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    Swords need to flex to a certain extent so they do not brake. Swords used against armor were designed to seek out the weak point of armor's joints or overlapping plates and penetrate to the flesh.
     
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  18. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Actually Swords and Knives are designed to be "less than Ridged" in Temper. As part of the Master, and JourneyMan, BladeSmith Qualifications, One MUST demonstrate that their KnIves and Swords, can be BENT Sideways, to a Spec, and then return to the Original Shape, without damaging the Cutting Edge or Edges, or being deformed. This requires the Smith to understand Tempering of the Metal, and Hardening of the Blade, Body, and Cutting Edge, or Edges.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2015
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  19. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    There are historical references to Damascus blades being sold with small hooks on hilt and sword tip hooked together, to prove the flexibility of the blade.
    Without flex, a blade can shatter when struck. The flex transfer force laterally through the blade, much like chainmail works, pulling sideways on impact and absorbing impact.
     
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  20. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    I am currently lacking the words to make my case...my apologies, but there is a lot going on here. Haha.
     
    Bear likes this.
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