Have you tried forging a medieval weapon? The flanged mace is one of the medieval weapons that can be forged by blacksmith. It is a type of club that has a heavy head at the end of a handle.
Some military personnel shape the blade’s head to deliver great damage and powerful strikes against an opponent. It is best used when delivering multiple strikes. The use of this weapon is slightly faster than that of the broadsword but it has a shorter reach.
When forging a flanged mace, you should have some laid down principles and steps to follow. These steps will be a guide for you when forging the flanged mace.
Instructions on How to Forge a Flanged Mace
Step 1: Get a Steel Pipe
You are going to make use of a steel pipe to forge your flanged mace. You can get the steel pipe from a local store. The diameter of the hollow in the pipe should be about 3 to 4 cm.
It is easier to forge with a small diameter than forging with a large diameter. The steel pipe can be of a different color, but silver and black are preferable to use.
Step 2: Cut Out Your Size and Grind
After getting the steel pipe, you should cut out the size of the pipe you need. You can make use of a hacksaw or wheel cutter to cut the steel pipe.
After cutting the needed size, you should grind the pipe to make it smoother. You can make use of a belt grinder or any kind of grinder that suits you best.
Step 3: Mark Out Your Handle
The handle of the flanged mace helps to have a grip on the mace. So, it requires special attention when learning how to forge a flanged mace You should forge the handle of the mace in a way that improves grip on it. Follow these steps to forge the handle.
Quick Steps
- Get a design for the handle. There are many handle designs; some are strip designs, grid designs, check designs, etc. Among numerous lists of designs, choose the one that best suits you.
- Divide your steel into three segments. A segment for the handle, another for the shaft, and the last segment for the head. The segments and the ends of the pipe will be for the handle and the head while the one in the middle is for the shaft.
- Place your marking according to the design on the segment meant for the handle. The marking should depict the design of the handle.
- Make a shallow cut on the markings. It would be best if you did this accurately. You should make use of a hacksaw to make the shallow cut.
- Grind the grid to make it smooth. You can use a grinder or sandpaper to grind it.
You can also make designs for the handle. All of it will increase the grip on it.
Step 4: Cut Out and Grind the Shape of Blades
The head of the mace has different blades attached to it. So, you have to cut out the shape of various blades. You should cut the blade from flat steel.
You should cut the blade so that it has a flat and straight side while the other side becomes the sharp and thronging side.
Pro Tip
After cutting the blades, you should grind them with a grinding tool. The flat and straight sides should be blunt while the thronging side should be sharp.
Step 5: Make a Shallow Cut to the Head Segment
Make a shallow cut into the head segment of the pipe. The cut should run along the length of the pipe (should not run across the pipe). The length of the cut should be equivalent to the length of the blade.
Pro Tip
Make multiple cuts around the pipe as much as you have the blades. You will insert each blade into a cut.
Step 6: Insert the Blade
You should insert the blade into the cut. After inserting the blade, you should make it rigid by adding strong glue to join them together. You can also weld them together to ensure its rigidity.
Now, you have a typical flanged mace. You can add other designs to make them unique. Don’t forget to forge lids for the opening of the pipes.
FAQs on How to Forge a Flanged Mace
Question
Can I forge my flanged mace from the steel rod?
You can forge your mace from a steel rod as long as it is large enough to do it. Once you are making use of a large steel rod to forge the mace, the mace will be heavy, causing difficulty in the carriage, so it is advisable to use hollow steel to make it light.
Question
Are maces useful in modern wars?
Maces are still in use. You might not be able to use them to fight modern wars due to civilization, but it is still very useful for local fights.
Question
Can I forge a flanged mace from aluminum to reduce the weight?
It is good to forge your mace from aluminum to reduce the weight, but aluminum has some defects. These defects might tell on the mace after forging. Hollow steels are very good to forge, but you can as well try out the aluminum.
Video on How to Forge a Flanged Mace
Warnings and Precautions
There are safety precautions that you should follow when forging a flanged mace. Some of the safety rules include;
- Always put on safety wear.
- Run a routine check on your tools and machine before use.
- Remove every harmful substance from the environment of work.
- Clean and tidy your work environment.
- Do not make use of damaged tools.
