As Halloween was approaching, my daughter was in search of a pirate costume. She was determined to be a pirate, and I thought it would be fun to make her a sword to complete the look. In my search for inspiration, I stumbled upon a wooden Orcrist project by Paul Jenkins which inspired me to make my own pirate sword.
My first step was to gather materials for the project. I collected red oak and mahogany, which I knew would be perfect for the sword. I began by drawing out the design of the sword on the oak, and I used a bandsaw to cut out the blade. I then used a belt sander to sand the blade and give it a smooth finish.
Next, I focused on creating the handle guard. I made a template out of cardboard, and I traced it onto the mahogany. I then used a jigsaw to cut out the shape of the guard, and I used a combination of sanders to smooth out the edges.
Once the blade and handle guard were complete, I used a router to create a groove on the handle for the blade to fit into. I carefully measured and cut the groove to ensure a snug fit for the blade. I then glued the handle guard onto the blade, and clamped it until the glue dried.
With the handle guard in place, I was ready to add the handle. I opted for a rope-wrapped handle, which I created by first drilling a hole through the center of the handle. I then used a rope to create the wrap, and I secured the ends with glue.
To add a personal touch to the sword, I decided to burn my daughter’s initials into the handle. I used a wood burning tool to carefully etch the letters into the wood. The finished product was a beautiful, handcrafted pirate sword.
Overall, the project was a success, and my daughter loved her new sword. The process of creating the sword was both challenging and rewarding. I am grateful for the inspiration I found in Paul Jenkins’ wooden Orcrist project, and I would highly recommend this project to anyone looking for a fun and rewarding woodworking challenge.
Posted by supermonkee on 2014-11-10 02:02:51