One of the enjoyable things about the new tintype work is I get to create props for the characters being photographed. Crossing Swords allowed me to fabricate miniature weapons, to the scale of a fetal skeleton. The Hoplite sword was chosen for its graceful leaf shaped blade and Greek origins. Greece, being the cradle of democracy. The props were made during July and August of 2021. It was necessary the miniature swords be constructed like a real sword, using materials that would reflect light realistically.
The blanks were roughed out of sword grade steel, the same as a full sized sword would be made out of.
After the blades were shaped and polished, the tang was rounded and threaded to accept the pommel.
Aluminum was used for the pommels and guards. Here, one of the pommels is finished on my metal lathe right before being cut off.
The hilt wood was glued over the tang, shaped, then painted.
