I have been utilizing my free time lately being productive in the art of swordmaking.

I would like to share with you my latest creation with the following specs:

Total length ---------- 55 3/16 inches
Blade length --------- 40 3/8
Handle length ------- 11 1/8
Thickness at base -- 0.245
Width at base -------- 1.665
COG -------------------- 3 7/8 inches from the cross
COP -------------------- 24 1/2 inches from the cross
Blade steel ----------- 5160 spring steel
Weight ----------------- 4 lb 2 oz

Than handle is dismountable and made of snakewood with sterling silver bands. I may embelish the sword at a later date with Lapis Lazulis, onyx or some other precious stones to further the beauty of this sword.

Your comments are welcome and are very appreciated.

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FWIW, I would call that sword an XVIIIe, not an XVIIIb.

Stunning, really your best work thus far. I've been silently impressed up until now, but this is true mastery, you should be very, very proud to own such a piece, let alone to have crafted it.

Looks nice. Did you make the whole piece from scratch? I'm not sure that adding stones would necessarily add to the piece; I think it would distract from the overall form. But then again, I am something of a "less is more" type.

Personally, I would like to see a bit more going on in the guard, like a less linear taper, or maybe rounded ends. That's a matter of personal taste though.

Thanks for your comments guys. I do appreciate them.

Roger, I don't mean any disrespect to your opinion, I called the sword belonging to the XVIIIb type because that's what it looked like to me, granted she is enormous, but still looked like XVIIIb. Then again, as Chad wisely put it :

Chad Arnow wrote:

Roger Hooper wrote: FWIW, I would call that sword an XVIIIe, not an XVIIIb. XVIIIe is the type of those Danish swords with narrow ricassos, right? This wouldn't be one of those. But let's not get sidetracked on a modern typology that even Oakeshott himself wasn't sure of. :)

brings to mind the very famous saying "a rose by any other name is still a rose".

Thanks for your good words Tim, they are always well appreciated.

Thanks for asking Addison. I make everything from scratch and I make them myself. The only thing I had made by others is the heat treating, which was done by a reputable professional firm used by most professional swordmakers. It's not worth taking chances for something as important as that.

As for embellishment with precious stones, I agree, beauty in simplicity is the best policy. Maybe some other time for some other sword. No wonder I was debating with this idea.

Gabriel

Beautiful sword. I have always been a sucker for exotic hardwood, so I am always pleased to see it. I know leather wrap is perhaps more traditional, but I love the wood. The lines and proportions of this sword are very nice too. Well done.

Thanks Allen, I'm glad you like the exotic woods.

Snakewood was and still is considered the wood par excellence for handles. It is so rare and expensive, specially in large and long sizes, that, walking canes made of snakewood were considered "the aristocrat of canes" and creme de la creme of walking sticks.

Gabriel