I think the Squire lines makes a nice basket of project swords. Nice blades. Nice furniture. Sharpen. Re-grip. Add a few risers. They are easy to transform into more than what they start out as. For example, you can take a standard 15th Century Bastard sword (below from Albion page):

---

 Attachment: 29.88 KB

Phone photos at dusk are phone photos!

---

 Attachment: 120.44 KB

with the extra bits

 Attachment: 112.37 KB

a bit closer

That there were some more Squire Line options. Maybe a longer Type XV. Maybe something Roman. Figure its just fun to think about. Regardless, please share your Squire Line customizations. I'm sure there are more of them and I'd like to see what people have come up with

Nobody customizes these things?

Surprised!

With the price of customization, you are getting into Next Gen prices, so the question becomes, how important for you is to have a scabbard?

Your improvements look great Joe. And I like the thread idea - hoping to see more DIY here.

I always really liked the version Lukas MG posted here a while back. Nice photos of another customized 15th C. Bastard Sword in this thread.

I've had my eye on the Squire Line Gotland for a while now. Just missed it - Viking Shield had one or more in stock a few weeks ago. Some day I'll have one and would love to see more inspiration for customization from all you talented people.

As Luka pointed out, it isn't cost-effective if you are paying someone to do the work, but doing the customization yourself can be lots of fun and really improve these swords. I haven't done much lately, but here are some older grip re-wraps that I did on a couple of Squire Line swords. I also made scabbards for each of these, but I don't have pictures handy.

A Squire Line Knightly Sword:
[ Linked Image ]
More info/images here

A Squire Line Great Sword (original/Mk I model):
[ Linked Image ]
More info/images here

The person to whom I sold the Great Sword was going to use it for a project, so there has probably been further customization to that piece, but I haven't seen if they posted the results.

-- Greyson

Need to make sure to let it be known that my customizations were done by VA.

Not sure I entirely agree that paying somebody to enhance these things can't be cost effective. Sure the big names are going to run you a penny but they are going to run you a penny no matter what. There are plenty of names that are a bit off the regular path that can do nice work for not that much cost.

If you're doing it yourself, which I do agree is the sweet spot for these, you can end up with really good bang for buck.

I just wish there were a few more options as I can't self justify the cost of most of the squire line anymore. They are great products but I just don't have the same disposable income as I once had.