Replacement spears and steel swords? (1 Viewer)

Gribeauval

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Has anyone produced spears and sword blades to replace broken ones? With all the sets out there now, it would seem like a reasonable development in the hobby. Especially steel sword blades.
 
What I do when I need replacement blades is make my own!

I use wire, flatten it by hammering on an anvil, then filing the point and then drilling into the hand and glueing the blade into the hilt.

For spears I only hammer one end of the wire, if it only a small tip, otherwise I use some flat lead to make the shape of the spearhead, file the edges to sharpen it, and fit it to a piece of wire ....easy :)

John
 
In this tread I recently posted, note that the Carabineer Officer was missing his sabre blade, and you can see the blade I fabricated for him in the next picture:


Hope that helps,
John
 
John...this is the sword you fabricated with a piece of wire? If so...that's fantastic...could you show a pic of the wire you started with and a pic of the finished product before installing please?
 

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Mike,

the wire is 1mm size, and I have taken pics of another similar project I did to replace a sword for a K&C Cuirassier about 10 years ago.

I'll have to search my archives today and then post images so you can see the stages I used.

John
 
Mike,

found the old pics, taken in 2009!!!!!

1. This shows a cast sword in scabbard, hammered 1mm wire, (sharpened edge and point and pin left to join) and the original broken sword as a sizing/shape guide.
Sword1.jpg

2. Drill into hilt of sword with 1mm drill.
Sword2.jpg

3. Insert blade and Supa Glue into position.
Sword3.jpg

4. As the arms was loose, it is attached.
Sword4.jpg

5. Finished with silver paint and red 'blood' to match original.
Sword5.jpg

I hope this helps and this has technique has enabled me to do many repairs on broken/damaged figures.

John
 
John...

This is some top notch repair tutorial stuff...

if you collect toy soldiers...losing a sword has probably happened to us all...especially with the earlier stuff...
when a sword gets bent 2-3 times...and then re-straightened...
you can feel the integrity of the metal is compromised and will break off if you bend it back just once more...

thanks for indulging me and taking the time to post pictures and explanation...
In the past I was fortunate to obtain some stainless steel swords with hand pins to fix repairs...

Do you create (trim) the pin on the sword for the drilled out hole with a grinder?
 
John...

This is some top notch repair tutorial stuff...

Do you create (trim) the pin on the sword for the drilled out hole with a grinder?

Glad to pass on my technique to anyone that can use this to do repairs, it sure helps.

No, I don't use a grinder to shorten the pin, just a wire cutter, its only 1mm thick!

i also find that these blades are stronger that cast ones, so less change of bending.

John
 
Oop, I thought you meant to cut the length for the pin, that is using a wire cutter, but I file off the edge to narrow of the flattened wire blade to get the part I insert using a fine file.

file.jpg

John
 
I make my own from wire stock, and even bobby pins (cut to length, filed thin, with a pin to attach). There is a company called G&G Miniatures, or GEG, that makes weapons in scale, though, for those who don't want to forge their own from scratch. They use a Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/p/GG-Miniatures-100068018567288/, but can be contacted directly via their email, gegminiatures@gmail.com. Their catalog is here: mondogag.it/geg_cataologo.html. They are regular posters at Planet Figure as well.

I paint a lot of Staddens, and the cast swords are usually too thick, out of scale.

Tradition also sells replacement parts, for 54mm figures, at least. I've bought some things from them, like sabretaches, when I didn't want to scratch the pieces.

Prost!
Brad
 
Oop, I thought you meant to cut the length for the pin, that is using a wire cutter, but I file off the edge to narrow of the flattened wire blade to get the part I insert using a fine file.

View attachment 351883

John
John...yes...this is the question I was asking to be addressed...you use a file to create the "male" plug to hold the sword...you have taught me an easy fix...this sounds like a simple...inexpensive...quick fix to replace lost spears and broken swords...thanks for your time, the detailed explanation and pictures...these tutorials help all collectors...Michael
 

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