Indians For Guns

Hi All,
I had been contemplating a stick sword or "gupti" project for some time and finally had a go at it using HT carbon steel rebars. Also cobbled up a rudimentary rapier short sword using some leftover steel.
here are a few pics of the blades ( I guess they look more like skewers from a "tandoor" )
have a look and share comments/suggestions/experiences...


cheers

> Good work bro!
> May be a little more flattening could make it look like a Gupti aka Rapier
Briha

Quite interesting ! what did you grind with?

I have a 50 year old Gupti that my grandad gave me. Still sharp enough.

for some reason the photo is not getting attached.. will try later.

~chandan

Nice Work, indeed astronomy.domaine for a DIY project!

May be a little more flattening could make it look like a Gupti aka Rapier
Briha

Thanks Briha sir, ckkalyan!
well.. I had the flat blade profile in mind when I started, however, while working on initial shaping I realised that with the given proportion of blade length to a very narrow width, a uniform flat profile would render the blade extremely frail and succeptible to bending on slightest impact.
Did some quick research on the net and learned that structurally, rapier blades consist of atleast 3(or multiples of 3) segments of varying crossections, roughly in a ratio of 1:4:2 and this structural variation tends to provide a balance between blade strength and its usability as a stabbing weapon.
seg. a (1) - starting from the hilt...shortest but thickest part of blade with circular crossection...gives strength and weight distribution.
seg. b (4)- longest segment of triang or diamond shaped crossection..may be fluted.. gives stiffness, resists bending of the blade on impact..may have a pseudo nonsharp edge.
seg. c (2)- topmost, flattest and only segment with a true edge with usually a sabre point tip.. crossection similar to a double edged convex ground dagger. has about 3-5 inch of sharp edge just below the tip which prowides some basic slicing capability .

I have tried to replicate the above format in both blades.

cheers

Sorry for the hijack for a moment astronomy.domaine.... couldn't stop myself..

Hello Ckkalyan,

Are you a Sudden fan? Your image has his book cover on it.
I love the series, and have tried to buy them but never found a couple.. do you have a set? better still any electronic version???

~Chandan

Chandan22 wrote:Sorry for the hijack for a moment astronomy.domaine.... couldn't stop myself..

Hello Ckkalyan,
Are you a Sudden fan? Your image has his book cover on it.
I love the series, and have tried to buy them but never found a couple.. do you have a set? better still any electronic version???
~Chandan

Hey Ckkalyan / Chandan,
> How did I miss that?????
> I grew up on "Sudden"....The name made me do a quick re-wind to those visits to my neighborhood 'Radhiwala' to pick up copies of the 'Sudden Series'
> Good Ol' days
Briha

Chandan22 wrote:Sorry for the hijack for a moment astronomy.domaine.... couldn't stop myself..

Hello Ckkalyan,
Are you a Sudden fan? Your image has his book cover on it.
I love the series, and have tried to buy them but never found a couple.. do you have a set? better still any electronic version???
~Chandan

Hey Ckkalyan / Chandan,
> How did I miss that?????
> I grew up on "Sudden"....The name made me do a quick re-wind to those visits to my neighborhood 'Radhiwala' to pick up copies of the 'Sudden Series'
> Good Ol' days
Briha

Chandan22 wrote:Sorry for the hijack for a moment astronomy.domaine.... couldn't stop myself..

No worries mate... James 'Sudden' Green is indeed a blast from the past..! One of the handfull of illustrated characters with a cult following..!

Nice creation indeed!

seg. a (1) - starting from the hilt...shortest but thickest part of blade with circular crossection...gives strength and weight distribution.
seg. b (4)- longest segment of triang or diamond shaped crossection..may be fluted.. gives stiffness, resists bending of the blade on impact..may have a pseudo nonsharp edge.
seg. c (2)- topmost, flattest and only segment with a true edge with usually a sabre point tip.. crossection similar to a double edged convex ground dagger. has about 3-5 inch of sharp edge just below the tip which prowides some basic slicing capability .

Many years ago had seen a rapier of Warren Hastings in a museum. Unable to recall the segments a and c of that rapier. But clearly remember that segment b had triangular fluted cross section and all the three edges appeared pretty sharp.

super!

is it legal to keep?

goodboy_mentor wrote: Unable to recall the segments a and c of that rapier. But clearly remember that segment b had triangular fluted cross section and all the three edges appeared pretty sharp.

Thanks goodboy_mentor...
And yes there are innumerable variations in the design and functionality of rapiers based on factors like place of origin, time period, intended use even down to individual swordsmiths.
The approach I mentioned was probably the simplest and most 'doable' from a DIY point of view.

supershaji wrote:super!
is it legal to keep?

Thanks Shahji
...and a very pertinent question, to which I dont have a concrete answer...!

As per my understanding (which may well be incorrect), to be classified as an edged weapon and come under the purview of restrictions or bans the object has to be commercially manufactured/procured/sold with the sole intended purpose of offence or defence.
As neurotic as it may sound, we have all seen 5foot broadswords, katanas and what not being sold at curio or antique shops under the classification of decorative or ornamental objects.
Similarly a mail order machete listed as a sword has a tough time gtting through customs; whereas the very same object listed as an agricultural tool sails through without a hitch..!
So appearantly, till the time you are not calling a weapon a weapon, you're all good...!

So appearantly, till the time you are not calling a weapon a weapon, you're all good...!

Till there is no notification for your area under Section 4 of Arms Act 1959, no matter what you call it, no matter what the number or shape or size is, you are good. Troubles begin the moment notification is issued and notified in the Official Gazette.

Risky, but interesting.