Looking at Kirk Spencer's thread on the completion of his baskethilted cutlass http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...sket+liner inspired me to add a basket liner to the Stirling hilted broadsword ElJay Erickson recently completed for me. To see photos of the sword prior to adding the liner, go to this thread: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...baskethilt.

The liner is made from some felted red wool material that I glued and stitched to some deer skin leather a friend of mine brain-tanned and smoked. The leather was ideal for the task, as it has a soft, even nap and a rich golden color. The two piece construction of the liner was fairly easy -- one piece wraps around the sides of the hilt, while the other serves as a base pad.

I know there was a thread recently on the use of these liners on original swords. Most that we see on original swords today are ascribed to be later additions. However, in the famous painting of Lord George Murray, the red, half-liner of his sword is clearly visible. Since the hilt of his sword resembles the one ElJay copied for me, I feel pretty safe with my decision to add the liner.

Here are the photos of the sword with the liner added.

Chris

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Wow! That's really beautiful.

Hi Chris

Nice job on the liner, it compliments Eljays fine work !
Attached is a pic of that famous Lord George Murray painting !

It appears you did not run the leather under the grip, but rather around it, right ?

Mac

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Mac,

Thanks for posting a shot of the painting. My scanner wouldn't do it justice.

Thomas McDonald wrote:

It appears you did not run the leather under the grip, but rather around it, right ?

Yes, the liner is fitted around the base of the grip. Since the hilt was originally fitted to the blade without the liner, adding the thickness of the liner into the mix would have required me to shorten the grip a bit. I wasn't willing to commit myself to that.

Chris

That looks really nice. Good work!!!

-James

Grand job there Chris! Sure I'll get to see it in the "flesh" soon enough.....right?

Cheers,

Bill

Chris, that looks excellent!
I'm usually not very fond of liners, but your liner does credit to the beautyful sword! Fine stitching and nice colour. It has a depth that brings out the details in the hilt.

Did you make a paper or fabric model first?

Cheers,
Henrik

Hey Chris...

Very nice work!

The red looks really great against the bright steel.

ks

Thanks for the kind words, fellas. And Kirk, thanks again for the inspiration!

Henrik Bjoern Boegh wrote:

Did you make a paper or fabric model first?

Henrik, I made a thin cardboard template to work from. It made getting the right fit much easier, especially since the basket has an "off-set". In other words, there is more room on one side of the hilt than the other, to allow the basket to fit snugly to the hand. The asymmetrical hilt creates a little more of a challenge when making a liner.

Chris