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Ryu-Gi — My Sword, Solitaire

Published: 2006-11-01 08:21:22 +0000 UTC; Views: 8427; Favourites: 29; Downloads: 28
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Description SPECS:
Overall length: 3ft 4inch
Blade length: about 30 inches
Hilt length: 9.5 inches
Weight: Possibly half a pound to a pound
Metal: Aluminum
Sharpness: Not sharpened for saftey reasons
Other materials: Wood, Gold Spray Paint, Gorilla Glue, Electrical Tape, Tough Thread

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This is my home-made sword, Which I christened "Solitaire", because It was created under a full moon, and in my story "Legion of Eternity", the capital of the Lunarian Empire is named Solitaire. Plus I think it sounds cool.

The blade is aluminum, making it light, but also makes it only for practice. It is unsharpened, for saftey reasons. It was cut from an existing metal plate I bought at a hardware store. Since the plate is not pure alumminum, there are a few small blotches of other metals here and there which discolor it in certain areas. Handle and Hand Gaurd are both wooden. The blade and handle are held together by Gorilla Glue, Which is an ultra-powerful super glue. The Hand Gaurd is also Gorilla-Glued, but also has tough string wrapped around it to ensure it stays in place. (So that if it DOES break, it'll still remain attached.) The hand gaurd is spray-painted Gold, and the handle is wrapped with Electric Tape, which resembles black leather.

When I made it my idea was that it was a Falchion, (Broadsword with a curved tip) but I discovered that it's actually closer to a Gross Messer. Falcions are one-handed weapons, while this one has an elongated handle for two-handed use, much like a Gross Messer. Essentially, the Gross Messer is the european equivlent of the Japanese katana in its overall design.

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One of the old legends about swords is that in order for a warrior to truly be able to trust in his weapon, he must be the one who forged it himself. I think that despite the fact that the weapons I make are all props, I do feel a special bond with them. I created them with my own hands, and that makes them unique. This blade is no exception. The first time I raised it up, i immediently felt a connection with it...

As it turns out, the Fillipinos are well known throughout the weapons community for their sword-making talents. I like to think that making my own weapons is a way of connecting with my heritage.

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If you remember my poll I made, I asked if anyone would buy a prop sword made by me. Well, this is what it would look like if you got one. I plan to eventually make another sword, that time as a replica of the Master Sword from Zelda.
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Comments: 36

icewolfknight36 [2013-01-19 18:37:42 +0000 UTC]

This is truly beautiful! I completely agree with you that a true warrior must craft his own blade, maybe I'll try this myself.

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kelfrik [2012-12-05 21:23:40 +0000 UTC]

very very interesting sword!! nice work!

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OmnimonhasaMasamune [2011-08-15 02:37:09 +0000 UTC]

That is a nice sword. Some reasons it's not perfect:
The blade isn't a pure metal.
The handle's been wrapped in tape and the guard is messy. Overall 7/10
If you dislike what I say please forgive me. I did not mean to sound like I was insulting you. I was just giving constructive criticism.
Suggestions: Re wrap the handle with nice black leather and clean up the guard. If you haven't done this then weld a long piece of metal (or attach in any way possible) to the bottom of the blade after taking off the guard and handle. Attach the guard to the handle with thin sheets of metal and gorilla glue. plate the guard piece facing the blade with metal. Then drill a hole that piece of metal can fit in into the handle. rub a bunch of epoxy or gorilla glue on the metal piece attached to the handle. Get some metal plates and glue on the end of the blade where it meets the guard. Then polish and oil everything. Then I will give your sword a perfect 10/10.
Again, if you are insulted in any way, please forgive me.

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tiny5th [2007-10-02 18:45:22 +0000 UTC]

nice work, i did almost the same thing when i made mine, but i thing it was a scrap aluminium L plate from the corner of a building.

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Adella [2007-04-27 19:19:12 +0000 UTC]

I love crafty people!! This sword looks beautiful and you did a fantastic job!! It would be awesome to see a replica of the master sword made!!!

Is this your first sword? I'm trying to make a shield right now out of foam--hopefully it'll work.

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Ryu-Gi In reply to Adella [2007-04-28 19:14:47 +0000 UTC]

I already made it, I just have never got around to taking a picture of it and posting it.

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Lord-Cudgel [2006-11-28 02:13:15 +0000 UTC]

not bad for your first attempt. Although I wouldnt call it a messer of anysort. its too katana-esque. A messer would more correctly have slab scales riveted to the tang with a mor proportional cross and a ring or nail sticking out over the knuckles of the lead hand.

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Ryu-Gi In reply to Lord-Cudgel [2006-11-28 03:32:07 +0000 UTC]

So more like a Messer-Katana Hybrid?

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Lord-Cudgel In reply to Ryu-Gi [2006-11-28 04:12:28 +0000 UTC]

no...more like a.......fantasy katana...thing....
What are the specs on it?

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Ryu-Gi In reply to Lord-Cudgel [2006-11-28 06:31:12 +0000 UTC]

Specs?

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Lord-Cudgel In reply to Ryu-Gi [2006-11-28 21:17:40 +0000 UTC]

specifcations.
overall length
blade length
hilt length
weight
and so and so forth.
To actually break into the business of making and selling prop weapons to serious people you need to post basic info about said props.

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Ryu-Gi In reply to Lord-Cudgel [2006-11-29 01:23:15 +0000 UTC]

Ah, right. I didn't think of that...I'll add those to the description.

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Lord-Cudgel In reply to Ryu-Gi [2006-11-30 01:06:41 +0000 UTC]

and just how much were you planning on selling your swords for?
Not that I am personally interested, but just curious.

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Ryu-Gi In reply to Lord-Cudgel [2006-11-30 01:58:27 +0000 UTC]

I dunno, $50 a sword?

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Lord-Cudgel In reply to Ryu-Gi [2006-11-30 02:55:28 +0000 UTC]

Too be honest that is a little optimistic for what you have done. You have to take into account any and all other sources of similar products and make your prices either match or be of a superior quality.
I know I probably sound like an ass but your craftsmanship needs to improve a great deal beofre you shold consider marketing swords, whether as props, for training or what ever. And I truly only wishing to help you further yourself as a craftsman.

And wnat kind of aluminum is it made from? That is a big deal amongst the Aluminum blunt business.

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Ryu-Gi In reply to Lord-Cudgel [2006-11-30 03:21:35 +0000 UTC]

The aluminum I got from a Home Depot, apperently they're used for roofing. I dunno any other specifics other then that...

And thanks for the constructive criticism.

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Lord-Cudgel In reply to Ryu-Gi [2006-11-30 03:47:15 +0000 UTC]

WEll it may ore may not be important. it depends on who exactly you are intending to sell to.

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Lord-Cudgel In reply to Ryu-Gi [2006-11-28 21:17:35 +0000 UTC]

specifcations.
overall length
blade length
hilt length
weight
and so and so forth.
To actually break into the business of making and selling prop weapons to serious people you need to post basic info about said props.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

KosmicDragon [2006-11-15 04:21:47 +0000 UTC]

Cool! I love swords. Check out my scraps to see weapons like that. .... and me in a very funny shirt.

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Ryu-Gi In reply to KosmicDragon [2006-11-15 04:49:09 +0000 UTC]

You ever try making one?

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KosmicDragon In reply to Ryu-Gi [2006-11-15 10:56:33 +0000 UTC]

Out of clay and painted it. It broke by a friend who thought it was real.

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Ryu-Gi In reply to KosmicDragon [2006-11-15 23:17:32 +0000 UTC]

Oops.

Most of the ones I've made have been made of wood. Relatively good, but the balance is terrible and they break easily. Which is why I'm trying to move towards using metal, as you can see. Of course that means making prop swords is going to become more expensive for me...

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Corny182003 In reply to Ryu-Gi [2009-02-02 10:31:49 +0000 UTC]

bah what type of wood are you using? and wood actually has a long history of practice weapons so it can be balanced extremely well and not break all that easily

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Ryu-Gi In reply to Corny182003 [2009-02-02 16:47:57 +0000 UTC]

I don't know what type of wood it is, I do know that it used to be part of a bar to hang clothes on, though.

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FilledWithWin In reply to Ryu-Gi [2009-11-22 10:52:34 +0000 UTC]

That is cheep stuff. I have heard maple or oak does not break that easily. (poplar dents if you want something softer.

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Ryu-Gi In reply to FilledWithWin [2009-11-22 11:23:52 +0000 UTC]

Well, it was just for fun.

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FilledWithWin In reply to Ryu-Gi [2009-11-23 15:57:56 +0000 UTC]

Yeah. I have a friend who did something similar. His wood ended up breaking, so he got another piece of the same kind of wood,and pretty much assumed that if he did the same thing to it again,it wouldnot break.
I like this swordthough, looks awesome.

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KosmicDragon In reply to Ryu-Gi [2006-11-16 00:21:23 +0000 UTC]

Thats cool.

*thinks*

I believe a friend of mine might be intersted in your art work and making of the swords. He sells art and diffrent swords at convetions he goes to all the time.

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Omega-Kun [2006-11-03 04:48:34 +0000 UTC]

Looks nifty. Too bad it's only for practice and show.

I have a Knife that was made from a Railroad spike that's fully functional, it's been affectionatlly dubbed "Soulstriker".

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Ryu-Gi In reply to Omega-Kun [2006-11-03 06:34:55 +0000 UTC]

Is it made of carbon?

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Omega-Kun In reply to Ryu-Gi [2006-11-03 06:39:25 +0000 UTC]

Steel, with either black paint or very tough carbon on it in assorted places.

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Ryu-Gi In reply to Omega-Kun [2006-11-03 06:50:23 +0000 UTC]

Assorted places?

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Omega-Kun In reply to Ryu-Gi [2006-11-08 03:46:59 +0000 UTC]

Random, non-sanded parts of the knife. You'd have to see pictures to actually get it.

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no-named-fairy [2006-11-02 00:12:59 +0000 UTC]

cool

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Ryu-Gi In reply to no-named-fairy [2006-11-02 06:46:47 +0000 UTC]

thanks!

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hollow-welt [2006-11-01 12:52:47 +0000 UTC]

nice work, if you are interested in filipino sword smithing look for batangas on google. there used to be heaps of pictures from a guy who travelled there and met with the knifemakers. the basketball team there is called the batangas blades.
make a kampilan!
mabuhay ng escrima!

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