Making a sword is a demanding job which requires both artistic and crafting skills. In addition to the skills required in developing sword, the information in metallurgy to make it durable is a must. It should feel great when being used but that’s hardly an objective measure. Various types of
swords from straight blade katana to battle ready sword need different parameters to qualify as a good quality sword. For instance, a constructed using the parameters of a longsword can make a poor weapon. Though with most swords, you can check the below-listed pointers to see if it’s the right sword worth your money.
The use of steel
Normally, most swords are built with mid-carbon steels with carbon percentage ranging from 0.40%-0.95%. You won’t find it hard to recognize as steels are usually marked in this way: XYZ. X represents the pure carbon steel or an alloy, Y is the percentage of other alloy components and ZZ shows the proportion of carbon content. Usually, the popular swords such as
Triple Hollyhock Traditional Japanese Katana are 1060 which truly serves well in the long run.
Heat treatment
Heat treatment makes the sword durable and long lasting. It is one of the most critical parts of sword making. The hardness is typically given in Rockwells and we suggest you aim for hardness ranging 48-54 HRC.
Length
Length of a sword is an important parameter where you will find a lot of variations both in modern-day productions and historical ones. For instance, long swords can be as short as 100 cm/ 40a inches. If you are using a single-handed sword, remember length as one of the most crucial aspects for selection as it must suit your hand.
Weight
Similar to length, there is a lot of variation in weight as well even in the single sword category. An appropriate weight for a long sword is somewhere between under 3 pounds and above 4.5 pounds for the really big ones. On the other hand, rapiers can be anywhere between 2 to 3 pounds. Considering the historical swords, you will find many examples of rapiers with more than 3-pound weight and long swords of above 4.5 pounds. Also, remember that weight is linked to length. The long sword will probably be heavy as per the rule of thumb.
Point of balance
Here we have another variable which is an important one. The PoB is significantly responsible for making a sword feel heavy or light than it is. Every weapon type comes with a certain range of acceptable PoB. For example, a longsword should have PoB 2-3.5 inches from the cross guard so it shouldn’t strike hard. On the contrary, a sharp sword can have PoB up to 5.5 inches from the cross guard whereas a military saber has 4-5 inches PoB. While choosing a specific weapon, make sure to find its PoB range.
Vibrational nodes
While you are holding up a sword and slap its pommel, it will begin to vibrate. The sword doesn’t vibrate only on vibrational nodes. These come in two positions, one along the blade while the other in the handle. The vibrational nodes in the handle should be around where you hold the sword and it protects your wrist from suffering the hardest vibrations. The vibrational nodes o the blade is from where the blade should cut. If you are using a longsword, it’s at the final third of the blade. Though this feature is not important for non-cutting weapons.
Forward rotational point
When you hold your sword with the thumb and index finger on the grip just by the cross guard and move it to left and right, the point where the blade is static is known as the forward rotational point. Though it primarily depends on the type of sword. Medieval Rapiers typically have it where the blade meets the blade of the opponent which makes it easier to get around it. Longswords typically have it at the point which keeps it stays in place when switching guards. However, this parameter is less important for cutting tools.
Conclusion
A sword is more than merely an iron bar. Though it helps you know whether a sword is well-made by practically using it, still considering the above points will assist you in making a wise decision. You will get to know why a sword is functional and evaluate the features by considering the above information.
