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Tempers Flare Over Ill-Tempered Sword Remarks

Posted by timothy on from the say-is-that-edge-sharp dept.

msaulters writes "The Austin American Statesman is reporting on Daniel Watson, a Hays County swordsmith who is suing a group of San Francisco-based techies, charging that they extorted him by posting negative comments regarding his sword-making business on the discussion forums they host and then offering to clamp down on such comments if he bought advertising with them. On the one hand, this sounds very chilling, as the defendants, Sword Forum International, are very well-known and respected in the world of sword-making, and abuse of that position would be very un-cool. On the other hand, they make some valid points in the article, and historically, the ability to express your opinions freely online is one aspect of the internet that arguably should never be curtailed."

2 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. I have a Daniel Watson sword by LordNimon · · Score: 3, Informative
    It wasn't cheap ($1,500), but it's an excellent piece of workmanship. I haven't figured out how to do it myself, but Daniel (or any of his staff members) can shave (that's right, shave) a 3x5 index card with my sword.

    Daniel is a cool guy, and as far as I'm concerned, anyone who would say bad things about his work is just a complete asshole. If you want to meet Daniel, just go to any major Texas renaissance festival.

    --
    And the men who hold high places must be the ones who start
    To mold a new reality... closer to the heart
  2. "Living Steel" - yeah, right by Animats · · Score: 4, Informative
    • Living Steel also gathers, focuses and transmits a low frequency electromagnetic energy similar to that which our bodies run on, similar perhaps to the way in which a ruby focuses a laser. This is a measurable phenomenon that can also be felt by the human body. In ancient times there was no explanation for this other than magic. It is still magic today.

    Yeah, right.

    Back in my SCA days, one local sword maker described how he did it. He started with blanks intended for use as auto leaf springs. After suitable grinding, he had them heat treated. This was Cleveland when it had steel mills. He went to a heat treating shop, handed over the sword blade, said "ASTM Process 50, 4 hours". They said "It'll be ready Thursday". The result was far better than anything in period; you could cut through logs with those blades without damaging them.