Sword grinding the ancient european way

Grinding a sword with a medieval style grindstone in a late medieval forge, in the same place where swords for the venetian republic were made .

The forge is a traditional brescian maglio, already attested in the 12th century as a system to industrially produce steel artifacts: maglio is actually the name of the hydraulic power hammer, which is still totally original in its design of wood and marble shoulders.

Only the belt and grindstone stall are modern, in the medieval age until the early twentieth century grinders were working laying down with the whole body on a wooden trestle, with their arms bent downward towards the grindstone. Probably trestles were spanning the outside river, being supported by the forges' walls. Some testles still do exist in magli being transformed in museums.

This place is an historical place, now it is a museum staffed by volunteer smiths, mostly reeenactors and researchers

Ancient grindstones are to be found in the small channel, as well as on the floors of the building, or encased in walls as decorative items sometimes in nearby farms.

Notice: no sharp items are produced by our reenactor smiths, items are only used in reenactment and WMA fencing.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• maglio
• magli
• swords
• daggers
• middle
• age
• renaissance
• venice
• venetian
• republic
• Brescia
• brescian
• method
• smith
• reenactment

[Deathanas]

Do you have a working maglio (the water powered hammer)? It would be cool to see a video of using one.

[winniler]

Indeed there is a maglio besides the wheel, simply it was grinding day.

we have already reactivated the maglio as well i will post a video when we will be using it ASAP

[Eso1]

What kind of grind did this produce? a convex?

[Riscet4ever]

@richibalza riki va a cagà in di urtiich ta vedareet quand che a la sarà prunta la smita quantu fadigà

[richibalza]

@Riscet4ever gnurant!!

[chillagoekid]

great setting love the water wheel

[Railriderchris]

Now that's hilarious! I worked on several blades from a swordsmith i know. My goal was to have the best possible finish because i'm a very meticulous person. So, to have an exactly even blade i used a rule, looking towards light to see where the shining showed a bump... But, maybe my mind is too much one of an industrialised person who wants perfect workpieces... Should try it your way, could be more relaxing ;-)

[TheFoundersWereRight]

@fralab9 While slow, it does have it's merits. THe slow speed with the water constantly being applied did not allow for heat to be built up rapidly, giving it time to cool off in a few seconds when the blade is lifted for inspection. This would mean that after a blade is tempered, that termper would not change, but would remain fairly uniform throughout the blade body and edge profile.

[fralab9]

Damn...I take my Bader 3 belt grinder way too for granted...I think I will rather fall on my own sword than grind at that speed. :-( I am happy for electricity, contact wheels, aluminum oxide belts and Bader :-)

[shadelcassian66]

It is time for me to start my sword collection.

[talon115]

Awesome set up you have there!