Easy kids Historical sword craft

Learn all about swords and their history while making this super easy historical sword craft from just a paper towel roll and toilet paper roll. Making this easy historical sword craft will be super fun! You’ll get to paint your very own sword and learn about a few super cool historical swords! Making your very own sword from a paper towel roll is super easy and accessible to kids of all ages. Its perfect for at home or in the classroom! You can use it in a costume, while playing pretend, or as a cool wall decoration!

Find out more about some super cool swords at the end of this article! 

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Supplies needed to make your own sword

• Paper towel roll
• toilet paper roll
• Washable paint
• Glue or tape 
• Paint brushes 
• Paint markers

HOW TO EASILY MAKE YOUR OWN SWORD

Step 1

Gather your materials together. Flatten paper towel roll.

At the top, draw two lines that meet at the top edge to form a point. Cut along these lines to make a point.

Step 2

Glue or tape the tube together at the point and at the base so it doesn’t have any gaps.

Step 3

Flatten your toilet paper roll and cut it in half so you have two flattened pieces. Tape or glue these pieces together.

Step 4

About 1 inch up the bottom of the sword, opposite the point, take your toilet paper roll piece and glue it on.

Step 5

Once the glue has dried use some gray paint and paint the body of the sword. After the paint on the blade has died, use brown, gray, or orange/yellow paint (the choice is yours) paint the handle and the hilt of the sword.

I chose orange to look like gold for mine because I enjoy painting metallic textures! Which will you choose?

Step 7

Once all you paint has dried you can use a fine bristle brush or paint markers to add details and shading onto the handle and hilt.

Get creative and add any designs or words that you think looks cool! I added some ancient Greek letters and patterns.

Step 8

After the hilt has dried, take darker shades of gray and shade the blade of your sword to make it look extra sharp and shiny! Let the paint dry, then you’re all done!

FINISHED EASY KIDS SWORD CRAFT

Look at how awesome our sword turned out! Isn’t it so cool? What will you use your sword for? Let us know in the comments!

TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR OWN SWORD

• Mix some paints together to get interesting shades and colors that you can use for shading.
• Use a hair dryer to help the paint dry faster.
• Use a smaller paint brush for details and a larger paint brush to block in the main colors.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CRAFT

Making this craft was pretty fun for me, but I was a bit stumped on how to execute it. I wasn’t sure exactly how I wanted to go about making a sword from a paper towel roll, but after typing out a few drafts and reviewing the processes in my head, I settled on the method in this article! It’s not a perfect execution, but I think that it is a super easy and accessible way of making a sword for kids.

When it comes to the history aspect, I have so many options I wanted to pick from but I decided to go for the three detailed below. I figured that the long sword and the Roman glades would be good since they most resembled the sword in this craft, but I chose the scimitar because it is one of my favorite sword types. I think that they are one of the coolest types of swords! I even have one my own that is made out of wood, I think its one of the coolest things that I have in my room. I hope that after you make your own sword, you feel the same way about yours!

Learn about a few super cool swords

Learn about three interesting swords that I have done a little bit of research on! Sources will be at the end of this section.

Roman Gladius

The Roman Gladius was not originally Roman, rather it was a sword used by various tribes in the Iberian Peninsula, which we know as modern-day Spain. The Romans adopted the sword during the First and Second Punic wars. The sword was much more effect in battle than other Roman weapons since it was a lot easier to control and not as heavy as other weapons.

The was primarily used for cutting and thrusting, which allowed for easier movement. The Roman Gladius was generally around eight-teen to twenty-five inches long and the blade was about two inches wide. On the end of the handle, called a hilt, was a pommel which was used as a counterweight, making the sword easier to use.

Medieval Long Sword

The long sword was primarily used in Medieval Europe from about 1250 to 1550 BCE, it was mostly used during the 100 Years War in medieval England and France.

Long swords were primarily used for slicing and stabbing and they were often worn will the classic full plate armor medieval knights and soldiers wore. It was primarily used offensively with its pommel, cross guard, and its double edged blade.

Scimitar

The word scimitar is derived from the Persian Word shamshir, meaning “paw claw” due to its curved design.

The scimitar was primarily used used all across Central Asia up until the end of the Ottoman Empire, now modern day Turkey, in 1908. It was primarily used for combat during the Medieval era up until the early 1900s at the fall of the Ottomans.

The sword was unique for it’s thin curved blade, which allowed for it to be easily wielded with an even balance. It was highly mobile due to its curve and lighter weight compared to other swords of the time.

Sources (Chicago style)

Cartwright, Mark. “Gladius Hispaniensis.” World History Encyclopedia, July 25, 2023. www.worldhistory.org/Gladius_Hispaniensis/. 

“Roman Gladius.” Ancient Rome History at UNRV.com. Accessed July 26, 2023. www.unrv.com/military/gladius.php. 

“Scimitar Sword: Collector’s Guide from the Middle East • Sword Encyclopedia.” Sword Encyclopedia, June 2, 2023. swordencyclopedia.com/scimitar-sword/. 

Yiselaat. “Medieval Weapons: Longsword. Types of Longswords, Facts and History.” Medieval Britain, June 7, 2023. medievalbritain.com/type/medieval-life/weapons/medieval-longsword/. 

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How did your easy sword craft turn out? Let us know in the comments!