Ancient Iranian Bronze Dagger: Recreating a 3,200-Year-Old Artifact

Join me in my workshop as I try to replicate this 3200 year old dagger from Iran. But before I can start the casting process I will need to prepare a wooden model. Join me. So I finished the outline of the dagger and I'm going to add the middle rib here by cutting out two strips from this three millimeter sheet of plywood. And then I'll sand it down together to sort of get the exact shape on both sides. That's where that came from. I think I melted the plastic. It warped. It got so hot it actually melted the tip off. I'll go ahead and glue these down now and then work on the crescent moon. That's what I need to make now. Yes. I finally completed my wooden model and I'm really happy with the result. It looks very similar to the original and I'm quite optimistic the casting is going to work out all right. This is what I'm in for. Let's put in some parts on the board so that one stops getting sticky around here. I have to press that in but I'm scared. Don't break. Don't break on me. Did you hear that crack? It just cracked. Why did it crack? It's already sticking in there. I'm so worried about that crescent. I'll end up with everything being wedged in there and then I won't be able to lift the mold without ripping everything. Now what I like to do is use a sieve for the surface to make it much more detailed and smooth. It's like sprinkling powdered sugar on a cake. And then I just go ahead and put everything on there. Just like that. Wait. I might be able to patch that up. Oh come on. I said that's going to work. Did it. I have to do some more cheating after I finish casting. Starting at the tip. I've got a nice and wide vent on the sides. And another one on this side. Now just along the blade. Oh come on. This thing is so heavy. Brass. I'll put on this beautiful bronzing aid because that's what the original MacBagger was made from. It basically consists of around 10% tin and 90% copper. You know when you get a coffee can and you try to pour into the cup and everything spills at the bottom? That's what happened to me. So I'm hoping it filled up everything and it didn't end up creating air bubbles in the mold. In the cast. Are you ready? Ultimate reveal. And that looks okay. I can see the edge. Ouch. and some on the handle on the sides. But I did have a little trouble getting into the crescent moon just around here. Made it really hard with the tools I had and I couldn't even get my finger in there. So if you have any ideas or suggestions on how to solve my problem drop it down in the comments below. I'd really appreciate it. Other than that I hope you enjoyed my project. So yeah, this is it.