3D Model of the Hilt of the California Sword

2/9/2016

I've uploaded a processed and simplified 3D model of the hilt of the California sword (Sword 3) to Sketchfab. I cut the model off where the blade meets the guard so I could calculate the volume of just the hilt. Processing the model down to a size that I could upload (less than 50 MB) resulted in some loss of detail and probably the introduction of some minor "errors" (I was in a hurry and haven't yet had time to do a close comparison of the model with the original). But overall the model looks pretty good.

Models of the Italian eBay (Sword 4) and Design Toscano (Sword 5) swords will be coming soon.

I've started a separate Fake Hercules Swords page (under construction) to organize everything.

California Sword Hilt by aawhite on Sketchfab

6 Comments

Peter Geuzen

2/9/2016 03:21:44 pm

Clearly the sword is now confirmed as a map. Not a marine navigational or terrestrial map, but a map of the interior of 10X and the tunnel system to the Money Pit. It was purposely designed by aliens disguised as Romans who possessed the knowledge that someday a 3D scan would be made and an interior flythrough of the model would be possible. Upon that discovery in the 21st century, it can be used to unlock the secret passages, the tombs of some dudes, the ancient artifacts of those dudes, and at least two more seasons of the Curse of Oak Island. Andy is clearly part of the reverse secret double agent conspiracy and we must now all switch sides and obey.

Behold the underground chamber system, 10X leading to the Money Pit:

http://imgur.com/EUrWjmR (no frame)
http://imgur.com/qFyGoNN (with frame)

Andy White

2/10/2016 05:55:49 am

Does any other explanation really make sense?

Ken Lentz

2/10/2016 10:24:29 am

Andy- apparently Sketchfab has exporters to Solidworks. SW has very easy to use features for measuring 3D volume, cross-sectional areas, FE analysis, etc. It also appears that USC has Solidworks in use on campus, most likely mechanical engineering.

I will be happy to perform any kind of analyses (measurements, stress, etc) you need on your sword or point models on SW. Unfortunately I am in Florida until the middle of March and my Solidworks is in New Hampshire. If you are still interested then, send me some models and whatever analysis you need.

Andy White

2/11/2016 12:51:09 pm

Thanks Ken. I'm still working my way up the learning curve of 3D model analysis. I'm more interested in figuring out what I can do with my projectile point models, but there are interesting things to be learned from the sword models as well. As I wrote today, one thing I'd like to do if possible is "subtract" the Italian eBay sword from the California sword and see what and where the differences are. It would be useful if you could give me advice on doing that.

http://www.andywhiteanthropology.com/blog/3d-model-of-the-hilt-of-the-italian-ebay-sword

Ken Lentz

2/11/2016 01:27:33 pm

As a retired ME myself, I am only familiar with CAD 3-D modeling. That usually means dealing with machinery rather than irregular, hand fabricated surfaces like points. When I get home, though, I will try to download Sketchfab, learn how to use it and see if any sense can be made of irregular models with the modelling software I have access to.

As far as points go, I think it would be interesting to see how the strength of different styles of points varies due to the body types (thinner, thicker, more rounded, etc.) , shapes of binding slots, etc.

Hopefully the design evolved over time from weaker, less efficient styles to stronger, more impact resistant designs - showing that native Americans were more technologically savvy than usually given credit for.

Andy White

2/12/2016 06:40:29 am

Sketchfab is just for online viewing and transfer of files rather than manipulation of the meshes. It allows you to upload files in a common format (I'm using STL) so they can be viewed and downloaded. There is a lot of free mesh-manipulation and analysis software out there and I've only just started experimenting with it (Meshmix, Meshlab, and GOM Inspect are the ones I've opened files with so far).

Points vary for a lot of reasons, including both functional ones (what the tools were designed to do) and stylistic ones (what things are "supposed to look like"). On the functional side, these tools were often multi-functional, serving as tools for cutting, sawing, and scraping in addition to being the tips of projectile weapons. So there are potentially a lot of different feedbacks and constraints on design, and it's probably a bad assumption that Early Archaic points like Kirks were optimized for any particular task to the exclusion of all others. As settlement patterns and subsistence strategies change, constraints and feedbacks on the design of stone tools change also. It's a complicated problem. Generally, though, I'd say it doesn't have a whole lot to do changes in "technological savvy." That's present in all humans. What was under constant pressure was the interplay between the way tools were made and the functions (economic, social, etc.) that they served.

3D Model of the Hilt of the California Sword

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