Basket Hilt Broadsword Project

**Taygrd** · 3rd October 10, 01:48 PM

I am excited on how well this has turned out so far and I wanted to share it. I purchased this basket from Scotland and it looks to be from about the very late 1800's to the early 1900's. A hilt without a sword is a very sad thing indeed so I decided to rectify it. I have been making knives for about 13 years and this was my first attempt at a blade longer than 12 inches. I used 1095 tool steel and ground the blade. The pommel is a Martha Stewart cabinet knob from Home Depot and I plan to wrap the grip in stingray and sterling silver wire. I completed the blade up to the last picture and decided that it was time to take a break before I messed something up. Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed working on it.

Thanks!

**Ryan Ross** · 3rd October 10, 02:46 PM

Looking very good, sir! Keep up the excelent work.

...I think "backsword" is the word to use, though, as you appear to have produced a single edged blade.

**Taygrd** · 3rd October 10, 05:26 PM

Thanks for the compliment! Yes, I was a little excited and put broad instead of back

. I will post a completed picture once it is finished and my thumb heals up(note to self-safetys on equipment are there for a reason).

**Ryan Ross** · 3rd October 10, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Taygrd

Thanks for the compliment! Yes, I was a little excited and put broad instead of back

. I will post a completed picture once it is finished and my thumb heals up(note to self-safetys on equipment are there for a reason).

Hah That'll happen.

Please do post the finished pix. I'm looking forward to seeing them!

Out of curiosity, how did you heat treat the blade, if you did? It would take a sizeable forge to do so, I would think.

And do take care of that digit, as well!

**artificer** · 3rd October 10, 06:16 PM

That's fantastic! I can't wait to see the finished pix. Are you going to pad the basket with the red velvet so often seen?

Originally Posted by Taygrd

I will post a completed picture once it is finished and my thumb heals up(note to self-safetys on equipment are there for a reason).

Ouch! What did you goof your thumb in?

I stuck my right index finger into a router blade about 7 months ago. It basically pulped a 1/4" divot out of the tip.

There wasn't enough to stitch, so I basically put it back together as best I could and wrapped it tight. There's no real noticeable damage to look at it now (just a crescent shaped scar) but I managed to sever the nerve, so it's basically numb on the tip and pad of the finger.

Guards are there, as you say, for a reason.

**Dale Seago** · 3rd October 10, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by Ryan Ross

Out of curiosity, how did you heat treat the blade, if you did? It would take a sizeable forge to do so, I would think.

I was wondering the same thing. And yes, it would be a backsword from the looks of it.

And BTW, the looks of it are very nice indeed!!

**shawhighlander** · 3rd October 10, 08:36 PM

Absolutely top notch, well done! Brilliant combination the way you intertwined a bit of history with your own handiwork. I would love to see this in person.

Cheers,

**Taygrd** · 3rd October 10, 09:16 PM

Thanks for the compliments. It is heat treated and the forge I used was a 20" coal forge that I moved the blade back and forth till it reached decalesense then quinched it in brine. I have the original buckskin basket liner, however I plan it leave it off since I am going for the Jacobite era look.
I managed to get the top of my thumb and nail with a cut-off wheel, not terrible I have done worse. Managed to cut both thumbs into the bone two separate times, once with a bandsaw and once with a knife I was working on. After that I decided not to sharpen the blades till I finished them and my wife is happen since that means fewer ER visits. I fixed the title of this thread to Backsword. Thanks

**Micric** · 4th October 10, 05:04 AM

Taygrd,

Very nice work!
but maybe you shouldn't sharpen it at all, if a knife can bite you to the bone! (:-)

Re basket liner, I believe most old baskets had liners at one time, and just lost them through age/wear and tear. There definitley are baskets from the Jackobite era that still retain their leather liners.

**Dale Seago** · 4th October 10, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by Micric

Re basket liner, I believe most old baskets had liners at one time, and just lost them through age/wear and tear. There definitley are baskets from the Jackobite era that still retain their leather liners.

This is correct.