A fuller on a knife serves to lighten and stiffen the blade. This effect is made possible by a blacksmithing tool called a fuller, a form of a swage.
When a fuller is used properly it can make a blade 20 to 30% lighter. It can also strengthen the blade by creating two reinforcing ridges.
1. Use a hammer
Putting a fuller on your blade is a good way to lighten it without making it weaker. It also makes it feel more balanced.
A fuller is a groove cut or forged into the length of a blade. It can be on one side or multiple sides. It can also be a different fuller amount on each side.
They can also be used to cover mistakes in welded steel, as well as to give the blade more of a distinctive look. Some popular fuller styles are the short rounded top groove, two parallel grooves on the same blade, and two thin grooves, among others.
A fuller can be made using several different methods, including forging and grinding. However, the best method is likely to be forging. Forging a fuller is a complex process that requires the use of hardy tools and power hammer sets. The resulting fuller will be sturdy and look fantastic! It’s a great addition to any sword or knife.
2. Place the blade on the anvil
In bladesmithing, a fuller is a long tool that is used to make grooves in the edge of a knife. The blade is then hammered through the fuller, which displaces material and creates grooves on either side of the blade.
This can help lower the weight of a knife without affecting its structural integrity, and can also increase its cutting ability. However, a fuller can be tricky to make.
The smith needs to carefully place the blade on the anvil so that the tip of the blade sits at about a 10deg to 12deg angle. This is referred to as the “cheek line.”
After a complete pass from the choil to tip on the right side of the blade, flip it over and forge down the left side at the 1/2 line.
Using repeated overlapping blows, the hammering process will gradually thin and widen the bevel on the spine as it stretches upward. The hammering will form a cheek line on the edge, which runs about halfway between the blade’s spine and its cutting edge.
3. Place the fuller on the blade
A fuller is a groove that is forged or carved into a blade’s length. These grooves serve a variety of functions and are used to both lighten and stiffen the blade.
They can be placed on both sides of a blade, or just on one side. In either case, they can help hide welded-steel flaws and also make the blade look more stylish.
When added properly, a fuller can be 20% to 35% lighter than a non-fullered blade without sacrificing strength or blade integrity. This is because the shape of the fuller widens the blade, which requires less material to create the required width.
However, adding a fuller to a sword can be challenging. The fuller must be placed correctly and the grinding equipment needs to be set up correctly.
4. Hammer the fuller into the blade
Fullers are an important tool for the modern knifemaker, and can make a difference in your blade’s strength and performance. They can also enhance your knife’s aesthetics.
One of the most common uses of a fuller is to widen the blade during smithing or forging. This can help improve the strength of your blade, and can make it more comfortable to use.
You can also hammer the fuller into the blade to create a groove or channel in it. This can be used to make a sword more durable and stronger, but it’s not necessary.
A fuller is a great tool for the modern knifemaker, and can be found in most forging sets. However, you should know what it’s used for before you try to apply it to your blade. The most important thing to remember is that a fuller makes a blade more resistant to being pierced or slashed. It’s also a good way to widen the blade for better control when cutting.