Kataphractos' Claymore Restoration Project

[Kataphractos]

So while at a Renaissance Fair over Memorial Weekend, I found a rusted claymore in a weapons shop and decided to try restoring it. It's going a lot better than I thought it would, and I've already completed one side of the blade and am working on the other.

I'm not going for a complete restoration, since I do want the blade to retain something of a "used" look, and eventually I plan to etch it with designs and patterns of some kind...probably going to go the fantastical route, though I haven't decided what motif(s) to use yet. Maybe I'll make it a demon hunter's blade or something.

Anyway, here's pics of the progress so far[/size]:

Unfinished...

...vs finished

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/7382/sword3.jpg


http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/2347/sword4y.jpg
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6942/sword5.jpg
Two full shots depicting the contrast between the rusted and cleaned sides. The cleaned side was slightly worse, and the rust shown on the unworked side is darker than what the lighting of the photo shows.

Closeup of the unfinished side. The blade is almost completely obscured by rust here...
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1129/sword6.jpg

...and this is what it'll look like when gone.
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/8421/sword7.jpg


More pics to follow (maybe). Now discuss!

 

[Masson]

Nice job there , I'd go with some runes on the blade and wrap the handle in leather. Demon hunter blade sounds awesome if its the kind I'm thinking of , I really want to see where your going with this. Keep it up!

 

[Adrolak]

Don't forget to name the blade! I dabble in blade forging myself, and once you finish a piece, even if it's a restoration, it's customary to name it.

 

[Kataphractos]

I've thought about some names, but none are really standing out. And unfortunately the Franks and Vikings nabbed most of the cool sword names. This is probably going to be a blade that will name itself.

Other than that, I finished cleaning the other side, and now I'm letting it sit with a heavy coat of oil to draw out any last loose particles. Along with etching, I'll need to get a scabbard made for it. I'd rather go with a leather-wrapped wooden one (they look better IMO), but in keeping with the aged appearance of the blade, I might just go with an all-leather one.

 

[Minus]

Oh, from the title i thought you were restoring one of these.

 

[SophiaGrace]

Sweet.

 

[Doubt The Rabbit]

That's really ******* cool. Show us when you're done with it.

 

[Badjedidude]

LOL Minus. Nice.