Vince Evans Diamond Basket-hilt
Original: 18th century Scotland
The antique sword that inspired this replica was constructed by Walter Allan of Stirling in the mid-18th century Scotland and is on display at The Museum of Scotland. The blade of this reproduction by Vince Evans is of 5160 mild steel and is wedge-shaped, having a back edge, measuring 0.23" at the guard, tapering to 0.18" at a point 18" from the guard, then tapering sharply to the tip. The distal 12" of the blade is sharpened on both sides. There are two fullers positioned close to the wedged back edge with the upper fuller running to within 2" of the tip and the lower fuller running to 3.5" from the tip.
The blade is marked on both sides with punched lettering reading
XX ANDRIA XX FERARA XX.
However impressive the blade may be, the basket is a work of art. The basket is blued, which allows the detailing to stand out. The entire basket has been elaborately decorated with incised lines and circles. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. The grip is of ray skin wrapped in a spiral of twisted wire. The liner is made in the typical fashion for that era and is of oiled leather. Thomas McDonald notes in his hands-on review that the cutouts near the pommel that follow the basket lines are styled after a liner on a John Allan Sr. basket.
See our
hands-on review for more information on this sword.
Overall length: 39.75"
Weight: 3.53 pounds
Width of guard: 4"
Blade: 33.75" long; 1.625" wide tapering to .812"
Grip and pommel: 5.75"
Point of Balance (PoB): 2.5" from guard
Center of Percussion (CoP): ~23.75" from guard
Maker:
Vince Evans of Hawaii.
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