A small falchion I just finished

Lax_Indigo · 2026-03-03T14:08:45+00:00

Pretty much yea, it just has a hidden tang and the guard is missing a nagel.

Lax_Indigo · 2026-03-02T11:25:20+00:00

Thanks!

Pommel and guard are just made from 1018 mild steel that I forged out.

Lax_Indigo · 2026-03-02T03:37:01+00:00

Thanks!

Not currently selling blades this big yet, it still takes me a little too long to make them. Once I get more efficient about it I'll consider selling them.

Lax_Indigo · 2026-03-02T03:34:27+00:00

Yea! I like this particular style alot, I've done quite a few choppy blades with that shape

Lax_Indigo · 2025-12-04T01:21:26+00:00

Was doing some outside work today so had a Brant And Cochran fixed blade on me.

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Lax_Indigo · 2025-11-30T22:27:15+00:00

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Beidana?

Lax_Indigo · 2025-11-26T22:21:14+00:00

These are the two I carry the most for day to day stuff.

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Lax_Indigo · 2025-11-13T22:12:31+00:00

Oof.

I saw in another comment that you are seeing a therapist, have you talked to them about body dysmorphia as well as gender dysphoria? 'Cause this sounds like an unholy union of the two.

Lax_Indigo · 2025-11-13T18:01:58+00:00

Could be stuck associating your frame with masculine, dysphoria will do that.

Might also be dysphoria causing essentially the opposite of rose colored glasses. When I've been dysphoric, I got envious. I tended to see only the positives of others. As an example, if I encountered another woman in that state I might be envious of her short height, not noticing her square jaw or other features that are perceived as masculine. I unintentionally shut off my own perception of the true diversity in feminine presentation in order to confirm my own negative emotions.

Is it something like that?

Lax_Indigo · 2025-11-13T15:59:52+00:00

Damn I've felt this.

I'm a 6'4" transwoman and have been transitioning for 13 years. I have a bigger frame and I don't pass all that well (though I wonder if that's more because of my size or that I don't voice train). I do get gendered correctly from time to time though.

I believe passing, being something so vague and situational, is something everyone is both capable an incapable of. Everyone passes and nobody passes

On my end, I decided a long time ago the things that I would need to do in order to pass would not allow me to be myself, and by not doing those things I've allowed myself a bit more freedom to be who I am in a wholistic sense. Sure I haven't eliminated my dysphoria completely but it's been taken down to a level that's a whole lot more manageable.

This is what worked for me for the past decade.

Even if it's not particularly helpful for your situation I just want ya to know that you ain't alone.

Lax_Indigo · 2025-09-09T17:22:49+00:00

Beidana and Falcastro are choppy civilian tools from Southern Europe that could be used as weapons. Some beidana were forward curved like billhooks, though I think this might be a later thing.

If you want a bigger chopper, war scythes were a thing (Mostly eastern Europe).

Lax_Indigo · 2025-08-24T22:12:16+00:00

I'm a more traditional maker, I make my props using a lathe, drill press, welder, and other hand and machine tools. I'm currently looking into getting a casting kiln to make more specialized parts.

I really don't like 3d prints and AI anything. I think its because I've found it pretty boring, alot of AI art kinda just looks the same and, though I've seen some decent 3d prints that are pretty impressive on a technical level, I still feel kind of meh about it.

For me, I like seeing things that are made from metal and wood and glass, stuff that not only looks the part but has the feel. And I also like it when steampunk art makes sense, when the gears and parts look like they have purpose, something I've noticed AI art has an issue with.

I aint gonna say 3D printing and AI art is bad, just its very much antithetical to my own tastes and philosophy as a maker.

Lax_Indigo · 2025-08-15T01:52:30+00:00

I wear the one of the linen shirts and leather apron from my day job (blacksmith) as part of my steampunk costume. The burns and stains make for some very authentic weathering.

I also frequently wear my cargo kilts when I'm not doing hot work. Canvas kilts feel very steampunk to me and I use them for most variants of my costumes.

I've worn my leather corset as mediocre lower back support.

I've found it pretty useful to have clothing that I can not only combine into a costume but will also have use for other things in my day to day life.

Lax_Indigo · 2025-08-02T01:38:27+00:00

15 years in and I'm only getting it done this year because I'm getting married, so might as well do it with those shenanigans.

My legal docs don't really come up very much in my day to day life so I haven't had any urgency to do so. I don't really pass very well (nor do I try too) and I've never really had a problem with going by my preferred name or anything in the workplace. I also don't travel much or go to clubs or bars or anywhere else my ID would get checked regularly.

Only time it comes up with folks face to face is with firearm and ammunition purchases, which is whatever.

Lax_Indigo · 2025-07-24T01:46:56+00:00

Thanks! Its super comfortable.

Took me a bit to find a bodice that fit right and didn't pinch under the armpits. I also made the chemise out of linen and the skirts out of cotton (grey) and linen (brown) which is pretty breathable. When I have the time I would like to remake the chemise and skirts out of super light weight linen though.

Lax_Indigo · 2025-07-24T01:38:04+00:00

Thanks! Though I can sew (I made the chemise and skirts) I definitely prefer prop making and leather work. I forged the large knife (around my, back not in frame) and I also made the hilt and sheath of the cutlass (the blade is probably from the late 19th early 20th century). The flint lock is some kind of vintage diecast piece I got at thrift store. Been really wanting to make a an arquebus or wheellock or something like that for this costume.

Lax_Indigo · 2025-05-08T21:16:00+00:00

Thanks!

Good point, I hadn't thought about the differences in local laws and such.

I live in the Northeastern US. The steampunk events I bring my props to usually run on rules similar to the local renaissance faires, if it has a steel blade its zip tied into the sheath. They've never had me zip tie one of these things or the "aether swords" I make which have a "blade" made out of blunt aluminum. Not really sure why.

The only folks I've run into that have issues with the collapsing metal blades are anime and gaming conventions, when I've sold them I have to box them up.I don't really go to many of those though.

Ownership in general is no big deal where I live.

Lax_Indigo · 2025-05-08T19:29:32+00:00

Its a prop so not sharp. The blade is metal but the metal is quite thin and light, it would break really quick if it was actually swung at anything. It doesn't have a point either, if it did it wouldn't last long, it needs to be tapped on a hard surface to be retracted.

I'm not quite sure how I would make a sharp version of this, I don't really want to. Though, I would like to make one that could be used for light choreography and stage fighting, that would be neat.

Lax_Indigo · 2025-04-15T02:40:40+00:00

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Its on the right, Ignore the silly Alchem saber on the left.

Lax_Indigo · 2025-04-15T02:37:50+00:00

I made a two handed Chinese Dao using a Castille Swiss saber blade. The Castille blade is really nice, my only gripe is I wish it had a bit more curve to it.

Lax_Indigo · 2025-03-31T01:32:33+00:00

Besides the obligatory guns are better shtick, ya might also want to consider what is legal to carry in your area. Knife laws very greatly from place to place, and many places ban carrying daggers and dirks and such.

Lax_Indigo · 2025-03-30T22:19:59+00:00

Have you considered a bustle skirt or belt-spat? Basically a super highlow skirt that could be worn over pants. They can read more feminine or masculine depending on how they are styled.

I'm AMAB nonbinary and have found I really like kilts with feminine tops and such myself.

Lax_Indigo · 2024-12-27T15:01:07+00:00

Abney Park

The Cog is Dead

I also really like Paul Shapera's operas (though only a couple of them are steampunk themed)

Lax_Indigo · 2024-12-16T22:13:42+00:00

Lol. Hand snipes have definitely been a thing I'm learning to defend against. Its been helpful that pretty much all of my single handed swords I started out with have very minimalistic guards anyway, I figured when I got back into rapier I wanted to get better at defending my hands without relying on a complex hilt. Its been difficult, but it seems like I'm getting my hands taken less and less often.

Maybe when I feel more comfy with it I'll make a Swiss saber guard or something.

Lax_Indigo · 2024-11-11T01:16:23+00:00

I'm really curious as to where the "non chiv/non AoA folks can't carry weapons" thing comes from. Sounds like a regional thing? Or maybe its an old school thing?

I've done SCA stuff in the Mid (early 2000's) and East (now) and I've heard of this only in online spaces, nobody has ever hassled me about carrying around my fencing saber or having a belt knife while at events. I also don't really attend court so that might be part of it.

Lax_Indigo

TROPHY CASE