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Fabrication of a Bronze Age Sword using Ancient Techniques

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Abstract

A khopesh was cast and forged for the TMS 2016 Bladesmithing Symposium. The khopesh was the first sword style, originating during the Bronze Age in the Near East. The manufacturing process used in this study closely followed Bronze Age techniques to determine the plausibility of open mold casting coupled with cold work and annealing cycles. Forging and annealing cycles substantially increased blade strength and diminished intergranular δ-phase inclusions. While a functional blade was not completed due to casting defects, the process gives valuable insight into the effort required to fabricate a khopesh during the Bronze Age. Forging and annealing cycles following casting were necessary to produce the mechanical properties desired in a sword.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University for the use of characterization equipment and partial funding, Mary Story for assistance with metallography, and the TMS Bladesmithing Symposium Committee.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    David Sapiro & Bryan Webler

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  1. David Sapiro
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  2. Bryan Webler
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Correspondence to David Sapiro.

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Sapiro, D., Webler, B. Fabrication of a Bronze Age Sword using Ancient Techniques. JOM 68, 3180–3185 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-016-2105-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-016-2105-9

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