Several years ago i purchased a simple "S" Hilt baskethilt from Eljay Erikson with a ATrim Backsword blade on it. It was a fairly simple, yet exquisite hilt, however due to unforseeable circumstances, I eventually had to pass it on to a new home.
About a year ago, I began discussing another project with ElJay, and this time I wanted something that was VERY historically accurate.
We pour through pages and pages of historical examples and since i wanted something a bit fancier, but still an "S" hilt, few finally decided on this one from Mazansky:



it was pretty fancy with alot of cutouts, and Eljay did an excellant job on it, which was to be expected, but then the question arose: What BLADE to put on it?
This hilt was FAR too nice to have a reworked production blade on it, oh no no... it had to be a CUSTOM blade!

Shortly thereafter I was talking to John Lundemo, and mentioned the basket and before i could even ask him, he volunteered for it with ALOT of enthusiasm!
This would be the FIRST Eljay hilt John had ever mounted, and to my knowledge, the only Eljay hilt out there with a 100% custom blade on it.
The Orignal had a double edged broadsword blade with triple fullers, however it appeared to be kinda thin at the base, and there are NO full length pictures of it. John and I decided since the basket was kinda heavy that a nice beefy blade was in order... the result is nothing short of spectacular!
John worked it out and this thing balances so well in the hand with the POB less than 4" from the cross.

Ill let the pictures tell the rest....

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb133/shag...ltFull.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb133/shag...ltHilt.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb133/shag...lBlade.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb133/shag...tBlade.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb133/shag...tBlade.jpg

Way nice!!!!

Hilt speaks for itself, obviously, but man, that is one killer blade. Props to Lundemo on that effort.

Kenton

I like how the scabbard echoes the fullers inside, and the chape is even nice, no corners are cut with John Lundemo! The basket is stunning bro.

That's an impressive sword. I love the hilt. Eljay's work speaks for itself. The blade is very nice! I really like beafy broadswords. Nice fullers.
But... With a sword that is as historically accurate as that one, I must confess that I do not like the scabbard. A typical scabbard from the mid 18th century should have a mouthpiece with a froghook or button, or a chape and froghook separate. Either left smooth or tooled with lines, crosses etc. My problem with the scabbard is really that I don't think it fits with the rest. It seems a bit anachronistic....
But the sword? LOVERLY! :)

Cheers,
Henrik

Tell ya this, working with the Eljay hilt was a joy, his work is awesome! I have another of his baskets here that I'm gonna do a backsword blade for. Looking at some of the swords Nathan posted with ElJay hilts toasted my mind. I didn;t know he made all kinds of euro complex hilts, not only baskets. I'ld love to do more blade work for some of those types. ;)

Really nice package!!

I am in line for an Eljay basket towards the end of 2009. I was thinking about blades and might have to open discussions with Mr Lundemo now!

Many thanks

Jason