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Your interest in Salamander Armoury is greatly appreciated and we thank you for visiting. First a little background information on us, who we are, and what we do.
Salamander Armoury is owned and operated by Jim Hrisoulas, a full time bladesmith with over 50 years experience in hand forging finely crafted blades. All of the work pictured here on this site (and custom work as well) is 100% hand-crafted by Jim. From steel and material selection, to forging, heat treating, finishing and leather work, it is all done by hand with no mechanical set-ups or jigs. We feel this hand forging coupled with proper thermal treatment makes for a superior blade, one that will out perform any blade that is just ground out of a bar of steel.
Our Pattern-Welded and laminated steel blades (often mistakenly referred to as "Damascus") are all welded and built here, one at a time, forged from only the finest materials. Unlike a lot of other makers we do not use recycled leaf springs or any other material that we are not 100% certain as to what it is. No "Mystery Metal" is ever used. All welding is done by hand using a hand hammer. Pattern-Welding is the welding of dissimilar metals into a single blade. By stacking, bending, and folding this "Laminate" an unlimited number of patterns can be created. This process creates a blade, if done properly, which is much stronger and flexible than other blades. The techniques and methods used at Salamander Armoury have been used in dozens of cultures around the world for well over 15 centuries to create the finest One-Of-A-Kind blades fit for Royalty and Nobility.
We are now at the point where we can offer true "Crucible Damascus" blades from time to time.. The first pieces we made were received exceedingly well, so as time permits we will be offering these for sale. This process involves a LOT of heat and some time held at elevated temperatures but the blades that come from this process are GORGEOUS and no two are the same!
Our Owner, Dr. Jim Hrisoulas has been referred to as one of the "Last of the Old School Bladesmiths" on numerous occasions in various publications world wide. It is a "title" that Jim takes seriously as he feels that although there is "always something new on the horizon" it is equally important to understand and preserve the "old ways" of doing things and we here are dedicated to both the old as well as the new. In doing so we are helping preserve this ancient craft
It is Jim's dedication to the art of hand forging blades that lead to the writing of his books. These works are now considered the "Standard Reference Material" for hand forging blades, something that not many other makers can say. He is currently working on book IV which hopefully will be done later this year.
We have finally completed our Japanese series of blades and unless there is a need for any more "work in progress" photographs there will be no more made as Jim is finally completing that section of his fourth book. This frees him up to get back to what other pieces that need to be done..
On book IV, it has been a long time coming and it is nearing completion. Jim still needs to finish up some odds and ends on a few sections however we do need a graphic artist to do the line drawings from sketches done by Jim for the book. IF any graphic artist types would like to know more, by all means feel free to contact us for more information. Book IV has been a real labour to get out onto paper however its completion is near. More as it's release approaches...
Thank you for visiting.
JP Hrisoulas
Jim can be reached at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
727-857-7784 (afternoons are best times to call...)
*This sword is Jim's personal sword. It has a 31 1/2" long blade, welded in his "Quetzalcoatl" pattern which is a wavy feather pattern. It is welded from a mix of meteoric iron and high carbon steel with twin fullers and a file worked spine, the grip is made of copal and the fittings are forged mild steel
UPDATES:
08/23/2024: New Items Posted and an Update!
08/13/24 New Items Coming and a Price Reductrion!
Update!! News and all....Graphic Artist Needed!
Update: New Items and Emergency Flash Sale!
Update: New Kogarasu Maru Sword Posted!
Update on Sue and Other Things
Update of Sue and Other Things
Update: News on Sue and New Pieces are added !
Update: Memorial Day Sale and Other News.
Update and Merry Christmas Sale
Update!! Surgery, New Items and PayPal:
UPDATE! Sword posted and NEWS!!
Update!! New Sword on the Way!!
Last Swords in Series POSTED!!
UPDATE: 1/20/12: The Sword is UP!!
UPDATE!! 2020 Christmas Sale is On!!
Update! New Japanese Swords Coming!
UPDATE!! Finally that new Sword is Posted
New Items for the Covid Sale Posted
Update! Cyber Monday 2019 Sale!!
October Update! New pieces up!
UPDATE, I was Laid Low and a SALE!!
Update! New Pieces and a Teaser!
UPDATE!! 50 YEARS of Bladesmithing and NEW ITEMS
Update! Back from Nevada..and not so good news
Update! On the Road and Sale Info!
Update!! IMPORTANT NEWS and a Memorial Day Sale!!
Update..Merry Christmas and we are MOVING!!
Sale Update! More Pioeces Added!!
Update: 7/26/17 New Items and a SALE