HEMA easy build indoor longsword trainer

A simple to build two-handed longsword trainer. Similar in size/design to a Regenyei spiky longsword tournament feder, but the handle has been shortened a few millimeters to fit a 250mm print height. Requires only the printed parts, one 36" length of 1/4-20 threaded rod (cut into 3 sections), one rod coupling nut, and one furniture connecting nut.

Inspired by this longsword trainer and this short sword, but all parts of the model were designed from scratch.

I recommend printing the blade and crossguard parts at 100% infill to keep the weight balance forward of the crossguard. For the grip and pommel, 3-4 walls and 30-40% works fine. Fuzzy skin works great on the grip! Outside brim helps keep everything upright when printing.

To assemble:

1. Spin the connecting nut (Hillman #881671) onto one end of the threaded rod.

2. Slip the pommel, grip, cross, and blade parts over the rod, stacking snugly together. The sword should appear fully assembled with extra rod sticking out of the blade tip.

3. Mark the threaded rod just below the tip of the blade, inside the blade pocket for the hex coupling nut (Hillman #881650).

4. Remove the printed parts from the rod and cut at the mark. You may need to clean up the threads, depending on what tool you used to cut the rod. This will be your center connecting rod.

5. Measure and mark the center of the remaining rod section. Cut into two equal length pieces. These will be your extra weights, inserted between the blade sections. These should come out just about the correct length, but you might need to trim a bit after test fitting. (You can leave these out if you prefer. Check the balance with & without.)

6. Spin the hex coupling nut on one end of the center rod. Slip the rod through the first section of the blade. The coupling nut should sit snugly into the pocket.

7. Insert the two short sections of rod into the extra blade holes on the blade tip.

8. Slide the second blade section, cross, grip, and pommel back into the center rod and seat everything together.

9. Insert the connecting nut into the pommel and tighten onto the free end of the center rod.

10. Check tightness and slice away!

If the assembly is loose, check your center rod length. It's probably just a bit too long. You can either trim it a bit, or spin it farther into the hex nut if you have some room left there. Once you're confident that the center rod is trimmed to the correct length, I'd recommend a dab of Loctite on the threads at the hex nut end. If the extra rod sections rattle, try sticking a small rolled up paper ball into the hole before assembling.

Alternatively, if it's just going to be a costume prop, you can probably skip the hardware and just glue the parts together. I wouldn't suggest using it as a trainer without the extra security of the connecting rod though. Have fun and slice safely!