Singing Swords
 

Yesterday, I was cleaning a group of blades which I kept close-by, stored vertically within a bucket. When I removed one, I was surprised to hear this very pleasant melodous tone, that lasted about 3-4 seconds.

The blade was a sword bayonet, yataghan shaped, a Swedish m/1867 to be more exact. It, and to a lessser degree, a similar yet longer Danish m/1859, very nicely rang whenever their blades were lightly beaten....

Most other blades simply respond with a dull, short-lived clang. Now, these two scandinavian blades sounded _remarkably_ different.

Prince Valiant and the legend of the Singing Sword inmediately came to mind...

: )

I have a Philippine Mandaya short sword that also sings nicely...........

i have a moro kris that 'sings' when it is removed from it's wooden home.
my italian artillery sword also sings as it's unscabbarded.

there is a video on youtube by a somewhat eccentric englishman who insists swords do not sing. he is wrong.

Youtube re: Drawing a sword.

My fencing saber originally rang like a bell. First time I blocked with it, all action in the studio stopped, it was so loud. Just like a tuning fork.

Fun stuff!

F

Fearn,

You say your fencing saber Originally rang like a bell. Has it stopped singing now?

Re. Swedish and Danish steel, I have an old Swedish gun barrel, messed about with and useless, but it rings like a glass wind-chime!

Richard.