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Post by kemp on Sept 12, 2018 22:53:00 GMT -5
The use of meteoric iron ( aka iron-nickel steel ) in the making of tools and blades goes back to a time when smelting processes were not fully developed, or used in conjunction with early smelting techniques for creating tool ware. Of course, much would depend on the quality of the meteoric iron involved, its concentration of iron, uniformity and any inclusions as to whether it was suitable for fashioning into the intended objects. Smiths that were skilled in forging larger objects from meteoric iron, such as the famous King Tut’s dagger, most likely had a good working knowledge, or at least familiarity with some of the early iron smelting processes involved There is the further complication of certain ancient pieces made of iron, and now exhibited in museums being declared by curators as meteoric iron from an era in which smelted iron didn’t officially exist. ‘Assuming that every iron object made before 1200 BC consists of meteoric iron is definitely wrong. That does not exclude that some iron objects were made from the heavenly stuff.’ www.tf.uni-kiel.de/matwis/amat/iss/kap_a/advanced/aa_2_4.html |
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Post by kemp on Sept 13, 2018 7:13:10 GMT -5
James Sowerby a noted illustrator and historian, had the Cape of Good Hope meteorite on display in his museum forged into a sword as a gift for Czar Alexander I.  |
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Sept 13, 2018 7:59:50 GMT -5
James Sowerby a noted illustrator and historian, had the Cape of Good Hope meteorite on display in his museum forged into a sword as a gift for Czar Alexander I. That's a real beauty. |
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Post by kemp on Sept 15, 2018 9:08:05 GMT -5
Here is a good video on constructing the great bellows, a type of bellows used in the west ( and elsewhere ) for centuries.  |
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Post by deuce on Sept 29, 2018 15:48:05 GMT -5
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Oct 4, 2018 9:11:30 GMT -5
This new show might be interesting. Granted -- it's a reality show. So expect the expected (hyped-up drama, etc). But, I'd be curious to see what they build, and to see it in action. I've watched historical recreations in use before - scorpions, trebuchets, etc, so this should certainly prove fascinating (so long as the drama doesn't get in the way!).
"Each episode of the planned series will pit three builders against each other in two historical challenges, in which they will re-create era-specific weaponry, from the firearms of the frontier to the blades of the Vikings." Master of Arms on IMDBMaster of Arms on Fox
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Post by kemp on Oct 4, 2018 9:51:13 GMT -5
This new show might be interesting. Granted -- it's a reality show. So expect the expected (hyped-up drama, etc). But, I'd be curious to see what they build, and to see it in action. I've watched historical recreations in use before - scorpions, trebuchets, etc, so this should certainly prove fascinating (so long as the drama doesn't get in the way!).
"Each episode of the planned series will pit three builders against each other in two historical challenges, in which they will re-create era-specific weaponry, from the firearms of the frontier to the blades of the Vikings." Master of Arms on IMDBMaster of Arms on Fox
This has piqued my interest. I am a fan of Forged in Fire, watched all four seasons and now onto Season 5. There is also a spin off series, Forged in Fire Knife or Death, but I haven't watched it yet.  'The contestants in each episode run two obstacle courses individually. A 25-second penalty is added to a contestant's time for each failure to complete an obstacle properly, and a catastrophic weapon failure (defined as damage that renders a weapon unsafe or ineffective for further use) results in disqualification.' |
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Oct 4, 2018 9:56:14 GMT -5
This has piqued my interest. I am a fan of Forged in Fire, watched all four seasons and now onto Season 5. There is also a spin off series, Forged in Fire Knife or Death, but I haven't watched it yet. 'The contestants in each episode run two obstacle courses individually. A 25-second penalty is added to a contestant's time for each failure to complete an obstacle properly, and a catastrophic weapon failure (defined as damage that renders a weapon unsafe or ineffective for further use) results in disqualification.' I haven't heard of Forged in Fire - where are you watching it? I enjoy shows like that. I used to watch one where they would face-off two historically potent foes (like KGB vs CIA) that was interesting. They'd set up mock-up scenes, and use the actual weapons of the period. Very interesting stuff, there, kemp! |
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Post by kemp on Oct 4, 2018 10:15:39 GMT -5
This has piqued my interest. I am a fan of Forged in Fire, watched all four seasons and now onto Season 5. There is also a spin off series, Forged in Fire Knife or Death, but I haven't watched it yet. 'The contestants in each episode run two obstacle courses individually. A 25-second penalty is added to a contestant's time for each failure to complete an obstacle properly, and a catastrophic weapon failure (defined as damage that renders a weapon unsafe or ineffective for further use) results in disqualification.' I haven't heard of Forged in Fire - where are you watching it? I enjoy shows like that. I used to watch one where they would face-off two historically potent foes (like KGB vs CIA) that was interesting. They'd set up mock-up scenes, and use the actual weapons of the period. Very interesting stuff, there, kemp! You haven't heard of History Channel' s Forged in Fire !?!, now that just stumped me Chris. |
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Oct 4, 2018 10:24:45 GMT -5
I haven't heard of Forged in Fire - where are you watching it? I enjoy shows like that. I used to watch one where they would face-off two historically potent foes (like KGB vs CIA) that was interesting. They'd set up mock-up scenes, and use the actual weapons of the period. Very interesting stuff, there, kemp! You haven't heard of History Channel' s Forged in Fire !?!, now that just stumped me Chris. Haha! I'm sorry I stumped you! Unfortunately haven't had History Channel in years - we dumped satellite in favor of NetFlix and saved a ton/month. Alas, I've obviously missed out on this gem. I also have Amazon Prime, I wonder if it's available anywhere else? |
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Post by kemp on Oct 4, 2018 10:26:31 GMT -5
You haven't heard of History Channel' s Forged in Fire !?!, now that just stumped me Chris. Haha! I'm sorry I stumped you! Unfortunately haven't had History Channel in years - we dumped satellite in favor of NetFlix and saved a ton/month. Alas, I've obviously missed out on this gem. I also have Amazon Prime, I wonder if it's available anywhere else? I am sure you will find it in the daily motion of life  |
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Oct 4, 2018 10:31:30 GMT -5
Haha! I'm sorry I stumped you! Unfortunately haven't had History Channel in years - we dumped satellite in favor of NetFlix and saved a ton/month. Alas, I've obviously missed out on this gem. I also have Amazon Prime, I wonder if it's available anywhere else? I am sure you will find it in the daily motion of life That does look awesome. It's available on Amazon, but only in a pay/episode offering it appears. Drats. Wish it was Prime! |
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Post by deuce on Oct 5, 2018 3:04:38 GMT -5
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Oct 5, 2018 11:13:44 GMT -5
Browsing Amazon last night, I came across an older film called Reclaiming the Blade: History of the Sword and watched most of it before bedtime. I hope to finish it soon. Very interesting, and quite a lot of big names involved in the documentary. Of interest are the modern-day version of the medieval blacksmith's shop where swords are cut out by machines and engraved with lasers or what not, and the many intriguing interviews, especially swordplay master Bob Anderson who has choreographed many famous sword bouts such as (according to Wiki) Highlander, The Princess Bride, The Mask of Zorro, The Lord of the Rings & etc, and his playing Darth Vader during the saber duels. From Wiki: The show goes into the history of the sword, the development of maneuvers, the need for the sword, it's decline, it's popular revival by the movie industry -- and that's all just in the first half that I've seen thus far. Looking forward to finishing this one. |
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Post by kemp on Oct 6, 2018 3:03:33 GMT -5
Browsing Amazon last night, I came across an older film called Reclaiming the Blade: History of the Sword and watched most of it before bedtime. I hope to finish it soon. Very interesting, and quite a lot of big names involved in the documentary. Of interest are the modern-day version of the medieval blacksmith's shop where swords are cut out by machines and engraved with lasers or what not, and the many intriguing interviews, especially swordplay master Bob Anderson who has choreographed many famous sword bouts such as (according to Wiki) Highlander, The Princess Bride, The Mask of Zorro, The Lord of the Rings & etc, and his playing Darth Vader during the saber duels. From Wiki: The show goes into the history of the sword, the development of maneuvers, the need for the sword, it's decline, it's popular revival by the movie industry -- and that's all just in the first half that I've seen thus far. Looking forward to finishing this one. Reclaiming the Blade is an above par general run down of the culture and craft of swords, as well as modern fight choreography. For awhile they were planning on a Reclaiming the Blade 2 which would have concentrated a little more into western martial arts swordplay, but unfortunately it never eventuated. You might also like National Geographic Medieval Fight Book which looks into western martial arts in more detail. A documentary on the illustrated medieval book (Fechtbuch) on weapons and fighting, written in 1459 by Hans Talhoffer, which is kept in the Royal Library of Denmark, and has been used as one of the main guides for those who practise European style sword play. |
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