Blade-smithing skills and comparing blade quality (across all cultures and periods)

kai · 11th June 2019, 01:03 AM

Hello Michael,

Quote:

Unfortunately one of the best ways to determine the skill of the smith is to examine the granularity of the steel. The only way to do that is cut a section off and examine it.

Polishing the blade (or at least a window) should usually suffice to get a glimpse of the microstructure of the steel.

Polishing will also yield an impression of the hardness of the edge and blade in general; tough to quantify/compare between different people though!

Regards,
Kai

Bob A · 11th June 2019, 02:11 AM

Thank you for your reply, Kai.

I mentioned metaphysical influences merely in passing; the main thrust of my post was intended to consider the definition of quality, and to note the distinction between pure function and the additional artisanal input of the smith, in working metal to achieve a higher state of embellishment.

Until we determine what parameters are embodied by "quality" we are left with a very broad field in which to search for answers.

A. G. Maisey · 11th June 2019, 04:39 AM

I do have some experience in blade smithing, so I'm perhaps thinking in different terms to some other people.

To me, a good quality blade is a blade that does the intended job well.

So my approach is objective driven:-

identify the objective, if that is well satisfied, the blade is of good or better quality.

This approach can be applied to bladed tools, such as wood chisels or reaping hooks, just as it can be applied to a bladed weapon that has been made as a work of art.

Thus, before declaring that something is superb compared to something else, first identify the objective of the item and then demonstrate that it either does, or does not do what it was made to do, and how well, or how badly it does that job.

mross · 11th June 2019, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Hello Michael,

Polishing the blade (or at least a window) should usually suffice to get a glimpse of the microstructure of the steel.

Polishing will also yield an impression of the hardness of the edge and blade in general; tough to quantify/compare between different people though!

Regards,
Kai

Somewhat, but the observed cross section granularity has to do with the proper heat treat for the specific steel. The blade can be hard but if the grains are wrong it will snap instead of flex. The flip side is it can still show hard in a polish but bend. I'm looking at this from a metallurgical point of view.

MitsuWa. · 15th June 2019, 01:16 AM

It has been observed African smiths were very skilled also, considering they were working with stone hammers and anvils and goat skin bellows. Yet they produced elaborate bladed shapes formed almost entirely with forging and minimal grinding.

11th June 2019, 02:11 AM	#2
Bob A Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 415	Thank you for your reply, Kai. I mentioned metaphysical influences merely in passing; the main thrust of my post was intended to consider the definition of quality, and to note the distinction between pure function and the additional artisanal input of the smith, in working metal to achieve a higher state of embellishment. Until we determine what parameters are embodied by "quality" we are left with a very broad field in which to search for answers.

11th June 2019, 04:39 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,736	I do have some experience in blade smithing, so I'm perhaps thinking in different terms to some other people. To me, a good quality blade is a blade that does the intended job well. So my approach is objective driven:- identify the objective, if that is well satisfied, the blade is of good or better quality. This approach can be applied to bladed tools, such as wood chisels or reaping hooks, just as it can be applied to a bladed weapon that has been made as a work of art. Thus, before declaring that something is superb compared to something else, first identify the objective of the item and then demonstrate that it either does, or does not do what it was made to do, and how well, or how badly it does that job.

15th June 2019, 01:16 AM	#5
MitsuWa. Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 22	It has been observed African smiths were very skilled also, considering they were working with stone hammers and anvils and goat skin bellows. Yet they produced elaborate bladed shapes formed almost entirely with forging and minimal grinding.