Forging a bronze sword with modern equipment

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

I think the general rule is that it's easy to make cheap blades. But that it's not so easy for laymen to tell the difference between garbage cheap, regular cheap, and properly made items.

For a sword, you really need to bang it against stuff - hard stuff - repeatedly, to find out whether it's good or not. People rarely do that with decorative swords.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

For a sword, you really need to bang it against stuff - hard stuff - repeatedly, to find out whether it's good or not. People rarely do that with decorative swords.

There is a memorable scene in Barrayar where Cordelia is trying to buy a sword as a present. . . .

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

For a sword, you really need to bang it against stuff - hard stuff - repeatedly, to find out whether it's good or not.

This is only partially true. While you won't know if a weapon is good until it's been tested under realistic conditions, there are plenty of ways it could be bad that will be obvious with much simpler tests.

[tshiggins]

Since we're talking about modern-day technology used to produce bronze items, would this make any difference?

http://www.greenalloys.com/green_all...num_bronze.asp

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by tshiggins

Since we're talking about modern-day technology used to produce bronze items, would this make any difference?

http://www.greenalloys.com/green_all...num_bronze.asp

I don't think that fits what most consider bronze. Even though bronze sort of means copper with improving "crap" in it the way that steel sort of means iron with improving crap in it.

[DanHoward]

Originally Posted by tshiggins

Since we're talking about modern-day technology used to produce bronze items, would this make any difference?

http://www.greenalloys.com/green_all...num_bronze.asp

It is possible that this kind of alloy could produce a fine or maybe a very fine quality bronze blade.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

For a sword, you really need to bang it against stuff - hard stuff - repeatedly, to find out whether it's good or not. People rarely do that with decorative swords.

I hear that a good rule of thumb is that it should be able to cleave an anvil and cut the head of a homicidal dwarf.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by DanHoward

It is possible that this kind of alloy could produce a fine or maybe a very fine quality bronze blade.

Orichalcum. Not possible to produce aluminum at low techs? Bah, we can work with the legend of the chinese alchemist who made a silvery bowl that could be banged back into shape.

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Orichalcum. Not possible to produce aluminum at low techs? Bah, we can work with the legend of the chinese alchemist who made a silvery bowl that could be banged back into shape.

According to Fantasy Tech 1, that was a Roman alchemist.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

According to Fantasy Tech 1, that was a Roman alchemist.

Interesting. I remember the story as in ancient China. At least emperors killing intellectuals on bizarre whims is a hint more in character for them than Romans.