I didn't know who Owen was until 15 minutes ago, but if I ever have the mind to drop an enormous amount of money on a custom sword I would want him to make it.
@@Baronstone If that Kyle Rogers saw your comment pissing on the workmanship of another master blacksmith on his behalf, he'd probably make you choke on your own words if he has any honour himself.
Thats also because they copied it from Indian and the Middle East. Do some research and you’ll find that ancient Greeks and romans have text about magical steel from the lands of India and Persia.Pliny the Elder in Natural History talks about steel from Parthia modern northeast Iraq. Soooo the silence of masters makes ignorant lambs to follow.
@@zacharyradford5552 Indian “Wootz” steel is the classic Damascus Steel blades of the medieval period, made from meteoric irons in India, crucible forged, and slowly exported to the Near East. By this point the blades would have been reforged into more regional styles of blades. These Near Eastern blades would be traded to rich centres in Europe, reforged again, which the Norse and Vikings would come into contact with and gain ownership through more or less honourable means. Then these blades were reforged again into the legendary crucible steel, “Ulfberhts” of the mid-to-late Viking period. If not for the master smiths along each step of this saga a “Wootz” steel sword would not become inherently famous. Similar to any art form, these smiths built upon the previous works to create beautifully deadly blades.
@@Baronstone Two things: 1.) That is not just a simple sword. 2.) The labor of forging by hand DOES change a person physically so it is correct, even if poetic, to say the swords have shaped him.
Sorry but exactly which part of the sword qualifies for that statement? I see nothing extraordinary about it, after all, it looks about like what we have come to expect from sword makers on TH-cam these days.
@@Baronstone Well, maybe you should make your own video showing this blacksmith, and other blacksmiths at Y.T., how to make a blade like this one properly.. Btw, My mother always said to me and my brothers " If you have nothing to say, don`t say it"..
@@Baronstone it’s made partly from celestial iron! When did that become standard? Not to mention the wonderful materials used in the scabbard and hilt, AND the pattern welding.
Tod, you've got to get this man on again. His every pronouncement is like a laundered boiler suit around a steel core of hard-won expertise. Failing that, coax him into starting a channel of his own.
Tod in my opinion is one of the best content creators on TH-cam. Sine he actually creates “things” and hosts like minded creators. I absolutely love his videos. Also thank you Owen for sharing you experience with us. Great video
I still get it out and play with it on a regular basis and I've owned it for over a year. The detail is just superb. as you say, so much work has gone into the details, particularly the pattern welding and the carving on the hilt.
@@scottirving4183 Yeah not every inch of it made it into the video, loads of footage and limited time! but you will find loads more detail shots and stuff here: Instagram dot com/j.c.duncan/ I've just put up a new post with more of the details. or on my twitter in the video description.
Seeing the plasticine and twisting process was fascinating. Quite a lot of material I've seen doesn't talk at all about intentional patterns or symbolism in the welds. Also, so it turns out "thousand fold" is inferior to "thousand twist", huh?
It is wonderful to watch craftsmen discuss their art and share their skill with the rest of us. The Light of The North is a truly beautiful piece and a remarkable testimony to Owen and Petr's skill. Thankyou for sharing it.
from 2:25 on, i laughed hard when I saw that Tod is so impatient to get his hands on it! Like a child waiting for his christmas persent! I can absolutely understand! :D
Heh, what a coincidence. Just two days ago I was looking up any planned courses Owen was planning to give somewhere later this year (or next year). And now he turns up here...
@@j.c.duncan5478 Even if he weren't the best, he'd certainly among the best currently still working. (I myself have blacksmithing as "main" work, but still intend to learn armouring and bladesmithing for the occasional customer who would like anything in that direction. In fact, I intend to make a round through England once I finally am able to cross the channel again, first to Owen, then to Graham (Armourer), then to a colleague up in Shropshire (via a brief stay in Hereford with my former landlord & lady, and former housemate and friend). From Shropshire, I'd head to the Royal armouries (Leeds) to observe some items and return home across the channel again.)
The skill, knowledge and craft that went in to the making of the sword is undeniable, as is its ecstatic beauty. In this modern era it is just a curiosity, even if highly valued and appreciated. If this sword could be transported back in time to a worthy Viking sword master, how would it compare to the best available then. Would it be battle worthy and practical and favoured as a sword of choice to carry into combat. At the end of a Viking day, before the visual fawning, would it be the weapon that surpasses others; or be just very nice craft.
That is an exquisite sword, plain and simple. I would love to have one like that. I love, appreciate how you delved into the crafting of the blade itself. Well done!
15:35 Fair point. The cultural side is often missed. Vikings did chop people up in pieces but it is often missed that some did it with beautifully pattern welded swords. People do tend to be insensitive to the cultural side of it... on a more serious note: Beautiful, stunningly beautiful sword, thank you for allowing us to see it and to witness the dedication that is committed to make that possible.
Impressive work. Charming, talented guest. Interesting about the pattern welding being a proof of good construction. I hope some close-up pics of the sword are posted.
Very refreshing to hear someone calling it what it is. Pattern welded steel. Not Damascus which every other sword/knife maker on TH-cam call it. Damascus steel is steel that came from Damascus, Syria and just happened to have a pattern to it (Woots Damascus).
@@JorgTheElder whilst no-one would think that the steel comes from Damascus people who know no better, brought up on TH-cam videos and social media believe that Damascus steel is made by banging different steels together, distorting and changing the structure of the layers. This cheapens the meaning of the true Damascus steel and the items made from it as kids these days believe that “TH-cam blacksmiths/blade smiths” are able to knock some out in a day or two.
I have seen swords made back in Denmark by old school really excellent old blacksmiths in coal forges. Doing it as close as possible to the Viking age principles. I must say, that is beautifully work. A sword was not just made for war back then, it was a thing of beauty that could be passed down many generations and the story and pride about it was retold time and time again. Really a nice sword.
No, I just cried out in awe. Japanese swords may be my favourite aesthetically but Viking swords are a close second. This is a magnificient looking sword, and I want it!
Sorry but why were they silenced? A simple Viking sword isn't enough to change anyone's opinion about the swords they prefer the look of. Yes, this is still a simple Viking sword even though it has a nice pattern welded blade and some effort put into it to get the copper/bronze look they were going for.
@@Baronstone it was a joke. Also, it wasn't the looks that was contentious, but he quality of the blade. There is a long running pop culture myth that katanas were the best crafted blades, made of legendary steel, and capable of nearly supernatural feats. The truth is they were ceremonial weapons made with very limited amounts of iron, by smith's who did put legendary amounts of time in making the most of poor quality materials. The design is very good, but the materials were only so-so most of the time and the methods of construction were more dependant on tradition and dogma than the best techniques. They are really cool, but they are not what the katana fan boys think they are, and for many years if you said otherwise the fan boys would go crazy.
I think a big difference in how swords are viewed in the west compared to Japan specifically is based less in the forging and manipulation of the metals themselves but rather in polishing. In Japan polishing has been turned into an artform highlighting the steels really well. Over in the west on the other hand a fair number of very high status medieval blades have immaculate fittings and probably rather complex blade constructions but often show actual file marks on the steel itself and a lack of additional polish. Ilya from that works also made a whole video regarding this topic in which he said that most western blades also are differentially hardened simply by the steels of that time being shallow hardening steels due to the chemical composition.
Fabulous, fabulous piece of work. Truly stunning pattern welding in the blade, and a lovely, extra-ordinary shape. The hilt fittings are also superb, and beautifully shaped and worked. When can you make mine?😂 I just wish I could afford one of your seax blades Owen. Not that they are expensive, but....
"The Vikings and Saxons are doing a much more complicated version than you ever see on the Japanese swords." Ilya from That Works ears burning. All of us: "Fight. Fight. Fight!"
I imagine something like a forged in fire, each guy making one weapon and then talking about it and evaluating it. One round would make content for at least four seasons.
Also Chinese laughing because they were making pattern welded swords hundreds of years before the Vikings and Saxons... BTW not trying to make a claim here that China is better or did it first like that means something, but just it's a dumb waste of time to try to make it a contest. Can't we just appreciate art without this dumb sense of competition. Do these people go to a art museum and see a work by da Vinci and start with "well actually so and so did it better first!" or claim a piece of art is "more complicated" like that means it's better?
@@-Zevin- they were just in general making steel on an industrialized capacity for longer. Mind you by modern standards said steel would be horrid (heck even by late medieval) but it is still impressive. Never mind that China is bigger than Europe anyways.
@@allengordon6929 Yes it's honestly criminal how underrepresented China is historically in the west. There is a major tendency to teach as if there was Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome, and that's "world history" Completely neglecting the most populous and most technologically sophisticated region on earth for centuries. The steel quality would certainly be bad by modern standards, however I'm sure the pattern welding techniques provided a substantial upgrade materially at the time compared to low quality mono steels. It's only in modern times that pattern welding offers virtually no benefit in strength or toughness because the quality of modern mono steels is so pure; Still looks nice though.
Can you imagine what an ordinary peasant person would have made of someone back then creating such a beautiful sword out of rocks and fire? We are in complete awe. So just think what the peasant would have made of it. It really would be magic to them.
It is a great looking sword. I feel sure it will not do a lot of striking, if any, but the hilt appears a bit short for a person with even a moderately large hand. I could be wrong, but that was the first thing I noticed.
Forging and talking about and showing a BEAUTIFUL sword..... in a dimly, quite frankly BARELY, lit garage. Here's a beautiful sword... . that you can't see at all, because we're filming underground in a cave with literally zero light, in true pitch blackness, a la "The Descent", where blind bat human hybrid monster creatures are probably getting a great sonar view of this sword by clicking and hearing the echo of it's shape... but we certainly don't get to see a glimpse of it. Great, thanks Todd. LMAO
This is a beautiful piece of art and craft! Thanks for showing it and the discussion. I wouldn't guess that armourers practice with plasticine :) I'm afraid though that I still don't understand how different bits (with different patterns) are welded or hammered together in the end. Isn't the process destructive to the patterns? Of course the layering would prevail, but the shapes could change, couldn't they? And I guess the process have to be a bit more gentle and careful - doesn't it weaken the blade?
Absolutely things change, but as you saw in the press, the actual forge welding (even done under a hammer) can be quite gentle, so predictably disruptive and that is part of the skill. Getting two bits of steel to weld is not that hard, getting them to appear as you want after is the real skill
14:38 I'm too much paranoid to deep carve runes at the fuller, being thin as it is, it's a weak point now. Encasing copper into those looks great though. Not Judging, when I made damascus only 50% of it was usable at all. So now I'm avoiding it, no customers to "gain" (by hand forging, shaping, planing, grinding, smoothing, beveling, quenching, tempering, sharpening, it's never a gain) with it and too fuel/time costing to make items for a "showroom" for myself. I envy you that you got some customers for works like that. My great achievement as far as complication was creating damascus with tool steel and soft stainless, a damn pain :D, but fusion points where close so the only big issue was the perpetual instant oxidation of stainless.
I know this video is more about the blade as a whole, but that hilt is the sexiest thing ive ever seen. Its more beautiful than beer and a model in a mustang, a tear came to my eye.
“This is a beautiful sword. I would expect the man who made it to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life.”
Have you seen how he dresses?
I understood that reference 😎
That line really makes that character. It's too bad he didn't get to really show off those traits very much in the later movies.
@@CowCommando i wouldn't say that. Will is pretty consistent throughout the trilogy
@@noraye2500 I think he meant Norrington.
You know they have superior skill because they don't brag about it. The silent confidence of masters.
I didn't know who Owen was until 15 minutes ago, but if I ever have the mind to drop an enormous amount of money on a custom sword I would want him to make it.
@@xanedan4565 Yeah before you go there, check out the work done by people like Kyle Royer. His work absolutely blows this out of the water.
@@Baronstone If that Kyle Rogers saw your comment pissing on the workmanship of another master blacksmith on his behalf, he'd probably make you choke on your own words if he has any honour himself.
Thats also because they copied it from Indian and the Middle East. Do some research and you’ll find that ancient Greeks and romans have text about magical steel from the lands of India and Persia.Pliny the Elder in Natural History talks about steel from Parthia modern northeast Iraq. Soooo the silence of masters makes ignorant lambs to follow.
@@zacharyradford5552 Indian “Wootz” steel is the classic Damascus Steel blades of the medieval period, made from meteoric irons in India, crucible forged, and slowly exported to the Near East. By this point the blades would have been reforged into more regional styles of blades. These Near Eastern blades would be traded to rich centres in Europe, reforged again, which the Norse and Vikings would come into contact with and gain ownership through more or less honourable means. Then these blades were reforged again into the legendary crucible steel, “Ulfberhts” of the mid-to-late Viking period. If not for the master smiths along each step of this saga a “Wootz” steel sword would not become inherently famous. Similar to any art form, these smiths built upon the previous works to create beautifully deadly blades.
As a physiotherapist I love the fact that Owen has made these blades and at the same time these blades have made Owen.
You mean have made Owens wrist hurt 😂🤣
A nice thought Kim and largely true
Yeah you're reading way too much into a simple sword
@@Baronstone Two things: 1.) That is not just a simple sword. 2.) The labor of forging by hand DOES change a person physically so it is correct, even if poetic, to say the swords have shaped him.
Simulating the fold/twist work on plasticine was very cool to see demonstrated!
If you look at Owen's website you can see that his nice swords sell for 2500 to about 8000 pounds. I have no doubt this one would be past 10000
I always love to see that and when you look at any dark corner of his workshop there are always loops of plasticine....
@@Kim-the-Dane-1952 And for good reason! It's just sad that I can't afford one...
Having a sword with celestial iron in it would have been an enormous status symbol.
Even now, in these strange times owning a sword containing celestial iron is something very special.
@@PurityVendetta ⁹9
I do love British understatement: “It’s a grand old undertaking...”
Sorry but exactly which part of the sword qualifies for that statement? I see nothing extraordinary about it, after all, it looks about like what we have come to expect from sword makers on TH-cam these days.
@@Baronstone you know where the door is...
@@Baronstone Don't be a jaded prick, makes you look like a spoiled 13 year old.
@@Baronstone Well, maybe you should make your own video showing this blacksmith, and other blacksmiths at Y.T., how to make a blade like this one properly..
Btw, My mother always said to me and my brothers " If you have nothing to say, don`t say it"..
@@Baronstone it’s made partly from celestial iron! When did that become standard? Not to mention the wonderful materials used in the scabbard and hilt, AND the pattern welding.
That is, without a doubt, the most beautiful sword I've ever seen!
I know
Then you haven't seen many swords. Yes, it is a nice looking sword, but it's just nice looking.
@@Baronstone beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is not for us to judge what others like.
Search "making a mosaic longsword with ABS master" that should show you an incredible undertaking for a piece of art.
This would put a tear in old Roland's eye
For a moment I forgot about that Roland and could only remember the headless Thompson gunner
I'm so happy channels like this exist. A perfect fusion of History lessons with practical application of weapons of the period. Thanks Tod!
Absolutely epic blade! A work of art and totally lethal. I'm a little jealous.
I know it's just because it's darker than its surroundings, but that sword seems to absorb light. Absolutely gorgeous. Fantastic patterns.
Tod, you've got to get this man on again. His every pronouncement is like a laundered boiler suit around a steel core of hard-won expertise. Failing that, coax him into starting a channel of his own.
He does have his own channel, it's got 5 vids and 1.8k subs. th-cam.com/video/j_s_FU9z6bE/w-d-xo.html
@@netherpixel3541 Subscribed! Thank you.
@@pj_mckenna Welcome, his channel is crimminally under subbed. I'm going to one of his workshops in March, super excited.
yess we want to see more owen bush.
Tod in my opinion is one of the best content creators on TH-cam. Sine he actually creates “things” and hosts like minded creators. I absolutely love his videos.
Also thank you Owen for sharing you experience with us. Great video
2:27 - 'Let me... Let me... Let me have a look!'
I would have been chomping at the bit too.
Haha, he was like a kid at Christmas.
Seething with anticipation, as he should be.
Seemed a little rude actually
@@jeremymcadam7400 They're buddies, so it's likely jocular nonsense between pals.
It's absolutely blowing my mind that pattern welds can be planned out like that.
and that those pattern welds were planned, and hammered by hand in a snow covered forge shed 600+ years ago.
You do something daily for 25 years you get really good at knowing what is going to happen next.
unbelievably detailed and professional work, I would have issues not just holding it for a whole day admiring all the work and talent put into it.
I still get it out and play with it on a regular basis and I've owned it for over a year.
The detail is just superb. as you say, so much work has gone into the details, particularly the pattern welding and the carving on the hilt.
@@j.c.duncan5478 I didn't get to see the beasties on the back side, Wondering why not?
@@scottirving4183 Yeah not every inch of it made it into the video, loads of footage and limited time! but you will find loads more detail shots and stuff here:
Instagram dot com/j.c.duncan/
I've just put up a new post with more of the details.
or on my twitter in the video description.
That is simply the most beautiful blade I've ever seen. Wonderful piece of work.
Pattern welding as proof of the quality of the iron and forgework is a functional purpose I hadn't appreciated. Neat!
Annoyingly nor had I; but now I know
@@tods_workshop Live and learn!
@@tods_workshop never stop learning for when we stop learning, we stop growing
Seeing the plasticine and twisting process was fascinating. Quite a lot of material I've seen doesn't talk at all about intentional patterns or symbolism in the welds.
Also, so it turns out "thousand fold" is inferior to "thousand twist", huh?
15:52 "I'd love to take but I can't, because you've got a sword in your hands and I don't'"
I could listen to both of you for hours. What a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.
Thanks
It is wonderful to watch craftsmen discuss their art and share their skill with the rest of us. The Light of The North is a truly beautiful piece and a remarkable testimony to Owen and Petr's skill. Thankyou for sharing it.
Easily one of the most beautiful swords I've ever seen. Amazing craftsmanship.
Absolutely stunning work on that sword!
Can we also appreciate the great camera work and editing?
Could've done with better lighting though
@@UPTHETOWN MUCH better. We barely got to see anything since it was kind of dark. I still have no clue what the scabbard looks like.
That demo with the plasticine was great. Very illustrative with the distinct colours.
from 2:25 on, i laughed hard when I saw that Tod is so impatient to get his hands on it! Like a child waiting for his christmas persent! I can absolutely understand! :D
And the other guys reluctance to hand it over.
@@CowCommando Todd kept putting his hands on the blade and the maker very carefully tried not to
Owen is a really good man, good to see him. He deserves recognition.
That sword its by far the best looking I've seen... Bless the forger..
Heh, what a coincidence. Just two days ago I was looking up any planned courses Owen was planning to give somewhere later this year (or next year). And now he turns up here...
I highly recommend Owen's courses, It's where I started bladesmithing. he is the best.
@@j.c.duncan5478 Even if he weren't the best, he'd certainly among the best currently still working.
(I myself have blacksmithing as "main" work, but still intend to learn armouring and bladesmithing for the occasional customer who would like anything in that direction. In fact, I intend to make a round through England once I finally am able to cross the channel again, first to Owen, then to Graham (Armourer), then to a colleague up in Shropshire (via a brief stay in Hereford with my former landlord & lady, and former housemate and friend). From Shropshire, I'd head to the Royal armouries (Leeds) to observe some items and return home across the channel again.)
Amazing as usual Tod! Every time you post a new video it just makes my day!
Good to see you grew back your beard! Suits you so much better. :)
Greetings from Germany.
What an absolutely fascinating video. Thank you so very much!
The skill, knowledge and craft that went in to the making of the sword is undeniable, as is its ecstatic beauty. In this modern era it is just a curiosity, even if highly valued and appreciated. If this sword could be transported back in time to a worthy Viking sword master, how would it compare to the best available then. Would it be battle worthy and practical and favoured as a sword of choice to carry into combat. At the end of a Viking day, before the visual fawning, would it be the weapon that surpasses others; or be just very nice craft.
That is an exquisite sword, plain and simple. I would love to have one like that. I love, appreciate how you delved into the crafting of the blade itself. Well done!
Absolutely bloody gorgeous blade. Love it's proportions, too.
Great video. I wish Owen was more active on his channel!
Such a wealth of information about such a beautiful sword.
Just gorgeous workmanship. even the scabbard is lovely
That sword is a work of art
what a man Owen Bush is. You sir have my respect and admiration!
edit* get your youtube channel going! I will support you as will many others!
6:41 hears sigil pronounced "siggle"
*Matthew Mercer activated*
Seems logical that there would be a HUGE overlap between those two fanbases
Hears sigil pronounced "seagull"
*Steven Seagal activated*
2:25 Tods hands - come on, come on! I want to play with it now!
The handle and hilt remind me of the "Suontaka -sword" that was found in Finland.
Beautiful sword and fascinating video. Thank you.
How the hell did I miss this video?
That sword is a true work of amazing skill and art.
It looks amazing
Wow .... just wow! Now THAT'S a sword!!
15:35 Fair point. The cultural side is often missed. Vikings did chop people up in pieces but it is often missed that some did it with beautifully pattern welded swords. People do tend to be insensitive to the cultural side of it... on a more serious note: Beautiful, stunningly beautiful sword, thank you for allowing us to see it and to witness the dedication that is committed to make that possible.
Real life Master Godo , fantastic craftsmanship
Dam that’s nice work. Feeling like words are inadequate for this.
An amazing sword, with a slight twist.
I see what you did there.
Good grief, that sword is glorious.
My word. What a beautiful blade!
Omg you got Petr to do the pommels and engraving?!?! He does beautiful work!!!!!
Truly a thing of beauty. Excellent work, well done!
Impressive work. Charming, talented guest. Interesting about the pattern welding being a proof of good construction. I hope some close-up pics of the sword are posted.
Very refreshing to hear someone calling it what it is. Pattern welded steel. Not Damascus which every other sword/knife maker on TH-cam call it. Damascus steel is steel that came from Damascus, Syria and just happened to have a pattern to it (Woots Damascus).
@@JorgTheElder whilst no-one would think that the steel comes from Damascus people who know no better, brought up on TH-cam videos and social media believe that Damascus steel is made by banging different steels together, distorting and changing the structure of the layers. This cheapens the meaning of the true Damascus steel and the items made from it as kids these days believe that “TH-cam blacksmiths/blade smiths” are able to knock some out in a day or two.
I have seen swords made back in Denmark by old school really excellent old blacksmiths in coal forges. Doing it as close as possible to the Viking age principles. I must say, that is beautifully work. A sword was not just made for war back then, it was a thing of beauty that could be passed down many generations and the story and pride about it was retold time and time again.
Really a nice sword.
Really, really, really interesting. Thankyou so much for sharing.
I can only imagine how utterly gorgeous it would be to actually hold and examine
Thanks for sharing this. It's an amazing piece.
Glad you like it!
WHAT A BEAUTY
So THAT's how pattern welding works. Fascinating. The thing about a real expert is, they make it look easy.
So absolutely cool, crazy cool! That is a once in a world end sword. May it serve you well
There was a great disturbance in the force, when millions of Katana Fans Boys cried out.
And were silenced.
@David Nash they grew up and started bloody breeding. Theres "faasands of em".
@David Nash they still exist but they mostly hang out at cosplay conventions.
No, I just cried out in awe. Japanese swords may be my favourite aesthetically but Viking swords are a close second. This is a magnificient looking sword, and I want it!
Sorry but why were they silenced? A simple Viking sword isn't enough to change anyone's opinion about the swords they prefer the look of. Yes, this is still a simple Viking sword even though it has a nice pattern welded blade and some effort put into it to get the copper/bronze look they were going for.
@@Baronstone it was a joke. Also, it wasn't the looks that was contentious, but he quality of the blade. There is a long running pop culture myth that katanas were the best crafted blades, made of legendary steel, and capable of nearly supernatural feats. The truth is they were ceremonial weapons made with very limited amounts of iron, by smith's who did put legendary amounts of time in making the most of poor quality materials. The design is very good, but the materials were only so-so most of the time and the methods of construction were more dependant on tradition and dogma than the best techniques. They are really cool, but they are not what the katana fan boys think they are, and for many years if you said otherwise the fan boys would go crazy.
An object that is pure poetry!
This guy should have his own channel...
beautiful viking sword
Beautiful sword.
Now, it's time for the strength test. *In walks j neilson with a giant block of ice*
Excellent video! Thanks for bringing this to us.
If only movie and television producers could show the to Vikings the same level of cultural respect they do to the Samurai's.
I think a big difference in how swords are viewed in the west compared to Japan specifically is based less in the forging and manipulation of the metals themselves but rather in polishing.
In Japan polishing has been turned into an artform highlighting the steels really well.
Over in the west on the other hand a fair number of very high status medieval blades have immaculate fittings and probably rather complex blade constructions but often show actual file marks on the steel itself and a lack of additional polish.
Ilya from that works also made a whole video regarding this topic in which he said that most western blades also are differentially hardened simply by the steels of that time being shallow hardening steels due to the chemical composition.
Absolutely amazing work!
Fabulous, fabulous piece of work. Truly stunning pattern welding in the blade, and a lovely, extra-ordinary shape. The hilt fittings are also superb, and beautifully shaped and worked. When can you make mine?😂
I just wish I could afford one of your seax blades Owen. Not that they are expensive, but....
It really does look fantastic. Outstanding job!
Beautiful beautiful sword! The blade was really awesome!
I want one!!! It’s beautiful, tactile, sensual. I WANT one!
Bloody hell that is beautiful.
It really says that the sword is great, when I see it in the hands of it's maker and still can't believe it's real
"The Vikings and Saxons are doing a much more complicated version than you ever see on the Japanese swords."
Ilya from That Works ears burning.
All of us: "Fight. Fight. Fight!"
I imagine something like a forged in fire, each guy making one weapon and then talking about it and evaluating it.
One round would make content for at least four seasons.
Also Chinese laughing because they were making pattern welded swords hundreds of years before the Vikings and Saxons... BTW not trying to make a claim here that China is better or did it first like that means something, but just it's a dumb waste of time to try to make it a contest. Can't we just appreciate art without this dumb sense of competition. Do these people go to a art museum and see a work by da Vinci and start with "well actually so and so did it better first!" or claim a piece of art is "more complicated" like that means it's better?
@@-Zevin- they were just in general making steel on an industrialized capacity for longer. Mind you by modern standards said steel would be horrid (heck even by late medieval) but it is still impressive. Never mind that China is bigger than Europe anyways.
@@allengordon6929 Yes it's honestly criminal how underrepresented China is historically in the west. There is a major tendency to teach as if there was Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome, and that's "world history" Completely neglecting the most populous and most technologically sophisticated region on earth for centuries.
The steel quality would certainly be bad by modern standards, however I'm sure the pattern welding techniques provided a substantial upgrade materially at the time compared to low quality mono steels. It's only in modern times that pattern welding offers virtually no benefit in strength or toughness because the quality of modern mono steels is so pure; Still looks nice though.
I mean. He's right. Japanese craftsmanship favors simplicity in aesthetics, so they flex with the polish while European smiths flex with the pattern.
Gorgeous
Crazy beautiful.
Beautiful object, and excellently produced video!
Can you imagine what an ordinary peasant person would have made of someone back then creating such a beautiful sword out of rocks and fire? We are in complete awe. So just think what the peasant would have made of it. It really would be magic to them.
Beautiful work!
Very nice!
What a beautiful sword, well done.
Oh yes, that was nice, short introduction.
Now please, please more details.
A series of videos perhaps?
I bet no-one minds...
Cheers!
I.
It is a great looking sword. I feel sure it will not do a lot of striking, if any, but the hilt appears a bit short for a person with even a moderately large hand. I could be wrong, but that was the first thing I noticed.
Forging and talking about and showing a BEAUTIFUL sword..... in a dimly, quite frankly BARELY, lit garage. Here's a beautiful sword... . that you can't see at all, because we're filming underground in a cave with literally zero light, in true pitch blackness, a la "The Descent", where blind bat human hybrid monster creatures are probably getting a great sonar view of this sword by clicking and hearing the echo of it's shape... but we certainly don't get to see a glimpse of it. Great, thanks Todd. LMAO
oh sod it im going down the pattern welding rabbit hole again.
I think this is the most incredible sword I've ever seen...
That is a beautiful work of art
Gorgeous sword. Really amazing work of art.
This is a beautiful piece of art and craft! Thanks for showing it and the discussion. I wouldn't guess that armourers practice with plasticine :)
I'm afraid though that I still don't understand how different bits (with different patterns) are welded or hammered together in the end. Isn't the process destructive to the patterns? Of course the layering would prevail, but the shapes could change, couldn't they? And I guess the process have to be a bit more gentle and careful - doesn't it weaken the blade?
Absolutely things change, but as you saw in the press, the actual forge welding (even done under a hammer) can be quite gentle, so predictably disruptive and that is part of the skill. Getting two bits of steel to weld is not that hard, getting them to appear as you want after is the real skill
beautiful craftsmanship
14:38 I'm too much paranoid to deep carve runes at the fuller, being thin as it is, it's a weak point now. Encasing copper into those looks great though. Not Judging, when I made damascus only 50% of it was usable at all. So now I'm avoiding it, no customers to "gain" (by hand forging, shaping, planing, grinding, smoothing, beveling, quenching, tempering, sharpening, it's never a gain) with it and too fuel/time costing to make items for a "showroom" for myself.
I envy you that you got some customers for works like that.
My great achievement as far as complication was creating damascus with tool steel and soft stainless, a damn pain :D, but fusion points where close so the only big issue was the perpetual instant oxidation of stainless.
I know this video is more about the blade as a whole, but that hilt is the sexiest thing ive ever seen. Its more beautiful than beer and a model in a mustang, a tear came to my eye.
That was beautiful. I'll look up James Duncan's book/ Thanks.
God damn that's a gorgeous piece of work!
Благодарю вас за ваш труд, спасибо за видео, коммент для продвижения