Jeremy is an engineer with 10 years experience at his full-time profession, and has a BSME from Clemson University. Outside of work heโs an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind!
View more articles by Jeremy S CookIf one thinks of an ancient weapon, swords have to be at the top of the list. Sure, the bow and arrow is interesting, but itโs hard to beat the creativity and craftsmanship that went to swords of various eras.
Naturally, hobbyists make very interesting replicas of these weapons. Some on this list would probably be useful on an ancient field of battle. Some, like the tiny nail sword, are better used as cute decorations, and at least one is, well, โginormous.โ Read on for more info!
Sword from Nails
On the tiny side, this โswordโ is literally made out of nails. As Derek Zoolander might say, โWhat is this, a sword for ants?โ Even if it was three times bigger, it would be quite difficult for humans to use effectively.
Cast Pewter Miniature Sword
Although much larger than the โnail sword,โ this cast pewter sword would only be marginally better in battle. On the other hand, it is large enough to grip as a sort of pointy club, so a user wouldnโt be entirely defenseless!
The Gladius
Although still on the smaller side of swords found here, the gladius replica shown in the GIF above is obviously quite useful, at least against large fruit. Unlike the earlier cast or beaten โswords,โ this gladius was actually cut and ground into shape. Additionally, it went through an impressive heat-treat process to improve its properties.
Meteorite Sword
If a sword made of meteorite sounds like something out of Final Fantasy to you, keep reading for something even more โepic.โ This sword is, however, quite impressive, literally formed with a meteorite and supplemental iron to complete the blade. I didnโt see it finished with a wooden hilt, but the blade itself is pretty โlegendary.โ
Sword Made from a Leaf Spring
Motor vehicles and swords are somewhat of an anachronism, especially if weโre talking about Viking warriors. If, however, you would like to see a leaf spring forged into a sword, this is the sword for you.
Final Fantasy VII Buster Sword
If you ever saw a giant sword in a video game and wondered if it could actually be built, hereโs your answer. Go to 49:30 in the below video if you would like to skip the process and go straight to watching the results of this giant in use. As to whether it is practical for anything other than destroying stumps, thatโs still an open question. Iโd also like to know why a game with โFinalโ in its name has so many sequels. Maybe the meaning is lost in translation.
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Jeremy is an engineer with 10 years experience at his full-time profession, and has a BSME from Clemson University. Outside of work heโs an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind!
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