Marshland House
Middle Drove
Wisbech
Cambridgeshire
PE14 8JT

Tel: 01945 430515

E-mail:

info@paul-binns-swords.co.uk

Technical Information

Introduction.

This page has been kept to a concise overview of the technical processes involved in weapon manufacture. To go into the full details of weapon manufacture would be a major subject in it's own right and take a web site of it's own. For most people the technical processes only become an issue if a weapon fails to perform or is being used in the wrong fashion. As with all other features of this site please contact me if you need more information or are interested in specific technical details

Bladed Weapons for Re-Enactment.

Swords and other bladed weapons can be found throughout most of recorded history, across a vast span of times and cultures. They come in many shapes and sizes-as do their users. A sword has therefore always needed to reflect the qualities of it's owner, in size, weight, form and construction, and also in the usage intended for his or her weapon. In this way it may best become an extension of the owner's will on the battlefield, a servant to their cause.

For these reasons, and because I am a craftsman producing articles by hand from scratch, I am able to offer a custom service.

All bladed weapons are made to the highest specifications. The swords and knives you see illustrated are fully combat ready and are backed by a one year guarantee against breakage, excessive notching and loose (rattling) fittings. They may be supplied sharp or blunt for re-enactment purposes. A typical sword blade is between 66-76 cm long, and 5 cm wide at the top. All of my sword blades are fullered - narrowed along the inside of the blade.

For combat purposes please specify the exact use you wish the swords to be applied to. as different steels offer different properties. For example, with regard to combat safety I would not recommend a hard EN45 blade for inside or stage use.

As a re-enactor myself I am always concerned that a sword should be:

* Not over heavy

* Well balanced

* Made of only suitable high grade materials

* Be properly treated using heat processes so that the blade is flexible and is resistant to notching

* Have full radius tangs, not under built, nor have square corners and bolted on pommels.

* Well finished.

The pommels on standard swords are made from cast steel and the hilt, or crossguard, is made from a steel strip. Alternatively custom pommels and hilts can be created as one offs from solid steel. All these items can be inlaid. I also offer a range of lost wax bronze fittings from a variety of different periods amd all are copies of specific finds.

Swords should have the feel that they are not overtly products of the 21st Century. A point worth bearing in mind is that sword smithing has as much to do with pleasing aesthetics as it has to do with sound engineering. For the living history enthusiast and the sword collector this is especially worth considering.