Viking Style Blade

This project was a taster session into blacksmithing, where I learnt some of the basics of working with steel. We used 1075 high carbon steel which is commonly used to hand tools and blades because of its strength, and wear resistance.

Process

Practice skewers to learn basic skills
Practice skewers to learn basic skills
The forge and anvil
The forge and anvil
Rough design sketch to decide size
Rough design sketch to decide size
Angle grinding off excess metal once the handle is formed
Angle grinding off excess metal once the handle is formed
Heating the blade in the furnace, which can reach up to 1200°C
Heating the blade in the furnace, which can reach up to 1200°C
Top colour of the blade is a good colour to start working with
Top colour of the blade is a good colour to start working with
Finished blade (before grinding the edge down) with a stamped J
Finished blade (before grinding the edge down) with a stamped J
Tempering the blades at home in the oven
Tempering the blades at home in the oven

Hammering out a tail to turn into the handle curve 

Heating the blade in the forge

Quenching the blade in oil. This cools it down slower than water would which, ensures that the metal doesn’t crack

Finished Prop

Final photos coming soon! 

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