---

Custom Arms & Armor Bastard Sword
Original: Circa 1500 German, provenance unknown

I don't want to lose this piece but I really do have some bills needing to get paid. Help a guy out and buy my stuff.

This is a high-end custom sword made by Craig Johnson of Arms & Armor. While this piece is based on their German Bastard Sword, don't confuse this for the standard production offering. Every single component has been either custom created or highly modified on this sword. I've always liked the original on which they based their model, but I wanted it to be closer to the antique original. A&A had to make concessions to cut cost for their catalog offering so that it would be attractive to a broader audience. I wanted the real deal and so Craig created this bad boy for me.

[ Linked Image ]

The sword is extremely sharp and devastating for any person wanting to use it for cutting practice. In that regard, it's absolutely stunning to see it go to work. The edge is perfect. Should a future buyer want to make this more suitable for "armoured combat" as it would be if made new in period, it would be super simple to take the edge down. The lenticular cross-sectioned blade leaves a lot of meat behind that edge, making it suitable for many types of targets.

This is what I've written about it in my Collection Gallery:

While there's some uncertainty as to where the term bastard sword derived or what specifically the definition encompasses, there's no doubt that the term has been used for at least the last century to describe large swords of war that are not big enough to be deemed two-handed swords but are larger than exclusively single-handed variants. The term is more or less used interchangeably and in the same manner as describing a sword as having hand-and-a-half proportions.

History has left us with a great variety of bastard swords but it wasn't until the 16th century where we can find fully-developed hilt forms consisting of swords with complex guards that provide additional protection for the hands.

One such modern-made example of these fully-developed forms is the Arms & Armor German Bastard Sword. It's an attractive sword with fantastic dynamics that is based on a particular extant antique with horizontally recurved writhen quillons and compressed button terminals with spirally-fluted detailing. Two oval-shaped side rings serve as hand protection and are decorated with deep diagonally-hatched lines. The large turban-shaped pommel is comprised of bands of bare and crosshatched sections.

The antique and the modern catalog offering differ in ways designed to better attract today's consumer and maintain a cost-effective price point. The sword featured in this collection is a custom version of the standard model that has been created to be a closer match to the original that inspires it. Much of the standard detailing found on the hilt has been emphasized and reworked to be more defined. Other features have been changed entirely.

The blade has a lenticular (lozenge-shaped) cross-section with three fullers that extend nearly half its length. It has a less aggressive profile taper than the standard model's acutely-pointed diamond-sectioned blade.

The grip has a hardwood core wrapped in cord and then spiral-bound with another cord before being covered in leather. A central ridge separates it into two distinct sections. This is a similar treatment as the antique sword and provides a comfortable hold with a great deal of feedback as to the blade's edge alignment.

The hilt has added detail to make it closer to the antique, including crisper lines throughout and additional features such as cross-hatching on the pommel and decorative lines on the inside of the cross-guard within the side rings.

The whole sword has been treated to appear as though it's an antique that's seen age and use but still has a bit of restoration to it.

Measurements and Specifications:

Overall length: 48.875"
Weight: 4.2 pounds
Width of guard: 10.5"
Blade: 37.75" long; 2" wide tapering to .75"
Fullers: 17.5" long
Grip and pommel: 10.625" long
Point of Balance (PoB): 2.5" from guard
Center of Percussion (CoP): ~21.5" from guard

[ Linked Image ] [ Linked Image ] [ Linked Image ] [ Linked Image ] [ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ] [ Linked Image ] [ Linked Image ] [ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ] [ Linked Image ] [ Linked Image ]

The standard offering from A&A right now would cost $1150 + shipping. For an additional $475 you get:

1) Custom lenticular cross-sectioned, multi-fullered blade to match original
2) Custom hand-detailed fittings to better match original
3) Custom spiral-wrapped grip to match original
4) Custom time-consuming artificial aging process to mimic an antique
5) Blackened fittings and custom colored grip ($120 value)

ASKING PRICE: $1625 or best offer + shipping

I prefer PayPal. Add 3.5% mark-up to offset PayPal fee if not paid through "friends and family".

Questions or comments can be Private Messaged to me here on myArmoury.com or via email.

[ Linked Image ]


This piece is inspired by a sword dated circa 1500 located in a private collection.

[ Linked Image ]

---

The standard offering from A&A right now would cost $1150 + shipping. For an additional $400 you get:

1) Custom lenticular cross-sectioned, multi-fullered blade to match original
2) Custom hand-detailed fittings to better match original
3) Custom spiral-wrapped grip to match original
4) Custom time-consuming artificial aging process to mimic an antique
5) Blackened fittings and custom colored grip ($120 value)

ASKING PRICE: $1550 or best offer + shipping

I prefer PayPal. Add 3.5% mark-up to offset PayPal fee if not paid through "friends and family".

Questions or comments can be Private Messaged to me here on myArmoury.com or via email.

[ Linked Image ]