Post by LongBlade on Jun 30, 2007 20:55:33 GMT -5
Sharp-witted swordsmith is on the cutting edge
By Vicki Botta
The Chronicle
Goshen, NY
May 4, 2007
www.strausnews.com/articles/2007/05/04/the_chronicle/news/26.txt
Goshen — John Lundemo once turned down an art scholarship to pursue a career in rock and roll. But then an even more eccentric path beckoned his creative spirit.
An avid reader, Lundemo found inspiration in such books as “The Martian Chronicles” by Edger Rice Burroughs, “Warlord of Mars,” and “The Synthetic Men of Mars.” Then there were the movies he loved, like “Conan the Barbarian,” “Captain Kronos 25,” “Vampire Hunter,” and the Star Wars series. His passion for swords began.
Swordsmith John Lundemo at work. (Photo by Vicki Botta)
He started out with wooden swords. Through the Society of Creative Anachronism, an international organization dedicated to researching and recreating pre-17th-century European history, he was able to participate in tournaments. But once he started using steel swords, he had to start his own group.
At this point (no pun in tended), Lundemo started making his own steel swords. Because he had no opportunity to work as an apprentice, he learned through trial and error, and broke a lot of swords. As his technique improved, he began to bring his wares to trade shows and advertise in magazines. But it was the Internet that put him on the map.
He laughs when he tells how he came up with the name of his shop. A business expert at a chamber of commerce seminar asked him, “What kind of name is Lundemo?” When he answered that he was Norwegian, the expert suggested he might have some Viking blood. Lundemo did some research and was immediately attracted to the Norse god Odin, pictured wearing a winged helmet and surrounded by ravens. Odinblades was born.
After 25 years as a swordmaker, Lundemo has acquired an international reputation. He sells his swords to collectors, re-enactors, and people who compete in slicing or cutting tournaments. It is a very specialized field.
He said he has paid his dues among his peers, who are quick to chide him for styling swords after something he’s seen in a movie. But films like “Lord of the Rings” have brought a resurgence in the interest in swords. His latest are modeled after historical European broadswords, Chinese jian blades, double-edged zwiehander swords and Japanese samarai swords.
Sam Salvati, a blacksmith and apprentice, with John Lundemo.
Sam Salvati, a blacksmith and apprentice, with John Lundemo.
“It’s a really tough business with lots of competition,” says the dry-witted, youthful 50-year-old. With other swordmakers using mass production and cheap labor, it is hard for artists to compete.
He said, “You can get a nice-looking sword anywhere in Chinatown, but....”
He recalled a man demonstrating a sword that was part of set of 10 you could get for $59 on QVC, the shopping network. He was banging the sword to show how strong it was. The sword broke and struck him, and the news was soon was all over the Internet. “Stainless steel swords are pretty but don’t try to cut with them,” he said. “They stick.”
Lundemo’s workshop is in a garage separate from his house. It includes the “disco room,” complete with a hanging disco ball and drums tucked in the corner. It is decorated with statues of Jesus and posters of the Spice Girls, Arnold Swarzenegger, and Ricky Martin. On a large work table in the center he stains the leather used to create braided sheathes for his swords.
In the next room is a kiln-like chamber where he heat-treats his steel blades to the temperatures needed to make them workable. Cooling chambers of water slowly lower the temperature so as not to crack the steel.
Lundemo is proud that nothing on his swords is welded. The tang, or section inside the handle, is one piece with the blade. The decorative ornament on the end of the handle is carved from a solid block of steel and comes right up through the center. One of his handles features entwined cobras with ruby eyes.
No part of his swords is cast from a mold, making his blades “second to none,” he said. He uses both high-carbon steel and low-carbon steel for strength, weight balance, cutting ability, and spring. He goes by historical specifications, allowing his swords to handle like the originals.
Only the wealthiest knights had swords of this caliber, he said; they were well taken care of, much like a valued automobile today. They were oiled daily. If a sword was nicked, it was immediately filed. There were swords for cutting through chain mail and swords meant to twist through breaks in armor.
He has made two “Buster” swords for video game fanatics, but hopes to do less custom work in the future where he has to undercut his price making. With a year’s worth of work ahead, and orders coming in from as far away as Singapore, the Philippines, the Netherlands, France and Canada, he can be choosy about his orders.
Lundemo’s shop is in New Hampton, just over the border from Goshen. For more information, call 355-2968 or visit www.odinblades.com.
By Vicki Botta
The Chronicle
Goshen, NY
May 4, 2007
www.strausnews.com/articles/2007/05/04/the_chronicle/news/26.txt
Goshen — John Lundemo once turned down an art scholarship to pursue a career in rock and roll. But then an even more eccentric path beckoned his creative spirit.
An avid reader, Lundemo found inspiration in such books as “The Martian Chronicles” by Edger Rice Burroughs, “Warlord of Mars,” and “The Synthetic Men of Mars.” Then there were the movies he loved, like “Conan the Barbarian,” “Captain Kronos 25,” “Vampire Hunter,” and the Star Wars series. His passion for swords began.
Swordsmith John Lundemo at work. (Photo by Vicki Botta)
He started out with wooden swords. Through the Society of Creative Anachronism, an international organization dedicated to researching and recreating pre-17th-century European history, he was able to participate in tournaments. But once he started using steel swords, he had to start his own group.
At this point (no pun in tended), Lundemo started making his own steel swords. Because he had no opportunity to work as an apprentice, he learned through trial and error, and broke a lot of swords. As his technique improved, he began to bring his wares to trade shows and advertise in magazines. But it was the Internet that put him on the map.
He laughs when he tells how he came up with the name of his shop. A business expert at a chamber of commerce seminar asked him, “What kind of name is Lundemo?” When he answered that he was Norwegian, the expert suggested he might have some Viking blood. Lundemo did some research and was immediately attracted to the Norse god Odin, pictured wearing a winged helmet and surrounded by ravens. Odinblades was born.
After 25 years as a swordmaker, Lundemo has acquired an international reputation. He sells his swords to collectors, re-enactors, and people who compete in slicing or cutting tournaments. It is a very specialized field.
He said he has paid his dues among his peers, who are quick to chide him for styling swords after something he’s seen in a movie. But films like “Lord of the Rings” have brought a resurgence in the interest in swords. His latest are modeled after historical European broadswords, Chinese jian blades, double-edged zwiehander swords and Japanese samarai swords.
Sam Salvati, a blacksmith and apprentice, with John Lundemo.
Sam Salvati, a blacksmith and apprentice, with John Lundemo.
“It’s a really tough business with lots of competition,” says the dry-witted, youthful 50-year-old. With other swordmakers using mass production and cheap labor, it is hard for artists to compete.
He said, “You can get a nice-looking sword anywhere in Chinatown, but....”
He recalled a man demonstrating a sword that was part of set of 10 you could get for $59 on QVC, the shopping network. He was banging the sword to show how strong it was. The sword broke and struck him, and the news was soon was all over the Internet. “Stainless steel swords are pretty but don’t try to cut with them,” he said. “They stick.”
Lundemo’s workshop is in a garage separate from his house. It includes the “disco room,” complete with a hanging disco ball and drums tucked in the corner. It is decorated with statues of Jesus and posters of the Spice Girls, Arnold Swarzenegger, and Ricky Martin. On a large work table in the center he stains the leather used to create braided sheathes for his swords.
In the next room is a kiln-like chamber where he heat-treats his steel blades to the temperatures needed to make them workable. Cooling chambers of water slowly lower the temperature so as not to crack the steel.
Lundemo is proud that nothing on his swords is welded. The tang, or section inside the handle, is one piece with the blade. The decorative ornament on the end of the handle is carved from a solid block of steel and comes right up through the center. One of his handles features entwined cobras with ruby eyes.
No part of his swords is cast from a mold, making his blades “second to none,” he said. He uses both high-carbon steel and low-carbon steel for strength, weight balance, cutting ability, and spring. He goes by historical specifications, allowing his swords to handle like the originals.
Only the wealthiest knights had swords of this caliber, he said; they were well taken care of, much like a valued automobile today. They were oiled daily. If a sword was nicked, it was immediately filed. There were swords for cutting through chain mail and swords meant to twist through breaks in armor.
He has made two “Buster” swords for video game fanatics, but hopes to do less custom work in the future where he has to undercut his price making. With a year’s worth of work ahead, and orders coming in from as far away as Singapore, the Philippines, the Netherlands, France and Canada, he can be choosy about his orders.
Lundemo’s shop is in New Hampton, just over the border from Goshen. For more information, call 355-2968 or visit www.odinblades.com.