Posts: 443 Location: Reston, VA
Fri 20 Jan, 2012 8:48 am
Michael Pikula Viking
Overall weight: 2lb. 9oz.
Point of Balance: 5.3" forward of guard
Point of Percussion: 22" forward of guard
Blade Length: 31.8"
Blade Width: 2.6"
Length Overall: 37.7
Posts: 1,606 Location: Chicago, Illinois
Fri 20 Jan, 2012 9:18 am
This is just awesome. Michael is so damn good! Really cool sword. What was the inspiration or thought process that went into it. The pommel looks like that of the Cawood sword but with a type L guard to me. I like it a lot! The close ups really show what Michael is capable of. The detail and crispness of the hilt fittings is just fantastic. Congratulations on a real winner!!!
Posts: 443 Location: Reston, VA
Fri 20 Jan, 2012 9:29 am
Thanks Tim. I told Michael the Cawood sword was one of my favorites but that I did not want an exact copy. He came up with the design and I stepped back and let him run with it. He did an excellent job on this sword and exceeded my expectations.
Posts: 250
Fri 20 Jan, 2012 7:43 pm
Oooooooh... That's a nice one. Very impressive :)
Posts: 1,903 Location: Toronto
Sat 21 Jan, 2012 5:39 am
William, that's a beautiful sword. The Cawood-like pommel is particularly fine, I think its the best I've seen even comparing to swords that were supposed to be Cawood replicas. The blade reminds one of the big X in Paris, but its lines a very crisp and perfectly formed. Altogether a great package. Another masterpiece from Michael Pikula. Congratulations, JD
Posts: 1,717 Location: Buffalo, NY.
Sat 21 Jan, 2012 7:32 am
That's a very handsome, and intimidating package, right there. I'm also loving the pommel detail.
The blade slot into the guard is nice, tight, and crisp, as well.
Posts: 249 Location: Arizona
Sat 21 Jan, 2012 9:10 am
Wow. That pommel is really nice. I mean, the whole package is very good looking, but the pommel is just beautiful.
Just a little rabbit trail... I have noticed that a lot of the pommels on the viking type swords have those little rivets on the underside of the pommel. Why? What are those about?
Posts: 9,554 Location: Dayton, OH
Sat 21 Jan, 2012 9:14 am
Eric Gregersen wrote: |
Just a little rabbit trail... I have noticed that a lot of the pommels on the viking type swords have those little rivets on the underside of the pommel. Why? What are those about? |
On many Viking swords, there were 3 hilt parts in addition to the grip: guard, upper guard, and pommel. the upper guard and pommel would be riveted together. On some of those, the tang was riveted only to the upper guard, as was the pommel. Some had the tang riveted through both.
I'd say those rivets were on the underside of the upper guard, and that the pommel sits on top. :) Some people call these 2-part pommels, and don't use terms like upper and lower guard. Same concept, though.
Posts: 864 Location: Michigan, USA
Sat 21 Jan, 2012 10:03 am
Another handsomely executed broad blade from Mr. Pikula, whose work I continue
to enthusiasticly admire along side my fellow-forumites. Kudos to Mr. Swiger for
choosing a swordmaker who would do justice-and-more to the Canwood-like
design ( and who makes what looks like a darn good packing crate too !!! ) ... and
kudos as well to a neat presentation; simple pics, but with excellent angles that
reveal the qualities and details of the project ...
Posts: 802 Location: In a van down by the river
Sat 21 Jan, 2012 2:06 pm
Michael always makes such nice swords! Such clean lines, such attention to detail. An awesome sword!
Posts: 675 Location: Louisville, KY
Sat 21 Jan, 2012 3:18 pm
Awesome...want! Multi-lobed Vikings are among my favorite swords, and Michael pulled this interpretation off very nicely.
Posts: 8,310 Location: Montreal,Quebec,Canada
Sat 21 Jan, 2012 9:47 pm
Great work from Michael as usual. :D :cool:
In addition to the great aesthetics Michael puts a lot of effort in getting his heat treats right and tests all his blades for durability before putting on the final touches to the finish.
He checks for chipping or rolling of edges as well as flexibility and return to true after being bent and tested for flexibility.
So, not just " pretty " swords they are also made so that if one was in period one would have confidence in them as functional weapons as good as the materials allow.
At some point Michael may have the time to elaborate more on his quality control testing that he does on every piece before it leaves the shop.
You
cannot post new topics in this forum
You
cannot reply to topics in this forum
You
cannot edit your posts in this forum
You
cannot delete your posts in this forum
You
cannot vote in polls in this forum
You
cannot attach files in this forum
You
can download files in this forum