| Author |
Message |
|
Rob Miller
Industry Professional
|
 Posted: Tue 22 Jan, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject: French Knights Sword-Castle Keep |
 |
|
Just a piece i have made for the shop here,a type XII,13th century French Knights Sword,with etched fuller,straight crossguard and elliptical style pommel.I inset the Silver fleur de lys into the beech grip,which is in turn cord bound and covered with calfskin.
The fullering runs to around 3/4 length.
 Attachment: 100.68 KB
[ Download ]
Attachment: 86.25 KB
[ Download ]
Attachment: 92.13 KB
[ Download ]
|
|
    |
 |
|
L. Bailey
|
| Posted: Tue 22 Jan, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
One of the most beautiful swords I've ever seen, no question.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joe Fults
|
| Posted: Tue 22 Jan, 2008 4:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Some very interesting elements in the design.
"The goal shouldn’t be to avoid being evil; it should be to actively do good." - Danah Boyd
|
|
|
|
|
Hugo Voisine
|
| Posted: Tue 22 Jan, 2008 5:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Good work again Rob. I really like the shape of the pommel. 
However, I'm not sure I like the fleur-de-lys on the grip. Just my personnal tastes, but it seems, well, a bit too much...
« Que dites-vous ?... C'est inutile ?... Je le sais !
Mais on ne se bat pas dans l'espoir du succès !
Oh ! non, c'est bien plus beau lorsque c'est inutile ! »
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Carter
|
| Posted: Tue 22 Jan, 2008 7:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
Quite beautiful. Is the inscription "Overcome or Die" one that was used historically or is it just one that captured the makers imagination?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rob Miller
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Jan, 2008 1:34 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Hugo Voisine wrote: | Good work again Rob. I really like the shape of the pommel.
However, I'm not sure I like the fleur-de-lys on the grip. Just my personnal tastes, but it seems, well, a bit too much... |
Thanks Hugo,thats a fair comment too,it was just an idea really based on a couple of other studded grips that i have seen,i like it myself,not too conspicuous.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rob Miller
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Jan, 2008 1:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
| J. D. Carter wrote: | | Quite beautiful. Is the inscription "Overcome or Die" one that was used historically or is it just one that captured the makers imagination? |
I asked for some advice on the matter,it was going to be either this phrase or 'Dieu et mon Roi',I dont have any precedent,but there are plenty of inscribed blades from the Period,strong religious or monarchist sentiment seems to be a general Theme,rather than 'Sir Norris Luvs Mistress Betty ...Yea Muchly' 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anders Backlund
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Jan, 2008 1:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
Beauty! The Fleur De Lys is a nice touch.
The sword is an ode to the strife of mankind.
"This doesn't look easy... but I bet it is!"
-Homer Simpson.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Justin King
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Jan, 2008 6:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
This one comes together very nicely, I am not usually a fan of grip insets but this one looks like it belongs there. I really like the pommel too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Carter
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Jan, 2008 10:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Rob Miller wrote: | | J. D. Carter wrote: | | Quite beautiful. Is the inscription "Overcome or Die" one that was used historically or is it just one that captured the makers imagination? |
I asked for some advice on the matter,it was going to be either this phrase or 'Dieu et mon Roi',I dont have any precedent,but there are plenty of inscribed blades from the Period,strong religious or monarchist sentiment seems to be a general Theme,rather than 'Sir Norris Luvs Mistress Betty ...Yea Muchly' |
To me it seems very fitting for a sword. Again,beautiful work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeremy V. Krause
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Jan, 2008 11:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
I like the form and proportions on this sword,
But WHY OH WHY put etchings on it. Etchings look so modern and, I feel, detract from any sword on which they are applied. Iscribing would be a better choice or ever inlay.
Jeremy
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rob Miller
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Jan, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
well,we are getting some strong views about this!
as far as i know etching has long been a practice applied to both Swords and Armour.I think if it is freehand and in good script then it looks right,if it is done by machine however then it is too uniform,generally speaking.This blade could possibly have done with a much deeper etch,this defines the edges a lot better.
Attachment: 91.05 KB
[ Download ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Randy W
|
| Posted: Thu 24 Jan, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I actually really like the etching, it sets the sword off nicely and draws me into its lines
Randy Westgate
|
|
|
|
|
Dan MacDonald
|
| Posted: Thu 24 Jan, 2008 5:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Very nice Rob,
swords are such beautiful things that it's not too suprising to see so many people customizing them to fit there tastes and making them quite personal. A very sharp looking sword (if you'll pardon the pun)
....Dan
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rob Miller
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Fri 25 Jan, 2008 1:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thank you Dan,
Its not actually a customers sword,it was just a project that i wanted to put together here for the Gallery,along with the recent Crusader Sword,so its a test piece for form and proportions,maybe too much 'Bling' for some,but that is of course an option for the customer,the Cross and Pommel were my main considerations.
|
|
|
|
|
Allen Andrews
|
| Posted: Fri 25 Jan, 2008 4:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
Another beautiful sword from Castle Keep! I (like others) especially like the pommel, and I also like the etching. You guys are doing great work.
" I would not snare even an orc with a falsehood. "
Faramir son of Denethor
Words to live by. (Yes, I know he's not a real person)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rob Miller
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Fri 25 Jan, 2008 8:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
thanks Allen,but there are no other guys here,i do everything myself.I'm getting to the grumpy old stage of not being able to trust anyone else with my work,and its too late to take an apprentice,so I am swordsmith,jeweller,leatherworker,woodworker,Photographer and Website Admin,and dont seem to be making much money from any of those things
does anyone know of a Sword maker who is not an impoverished and overworked artisan?
|
|
|
|
|
Steve Grisetti
|
| Posted: Sat 26 Jan, 2008 10:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
Very nice sword. Nice shape to the pommel. Plus, I really like the etching - it seems very well done, to me. And I like the details (cast? filework?) in the cross. As for the inset fleur-de-lis in the grip, I probably would not have deliberately chosen that element of the design, but I think that it came out well. Well done, Rob!
"...dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skilful, and deadly."
- Sir Toby Belch
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter Johnsson
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Sat 26 Jan, 2008 1:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Rob!
Nice to see more explorations of embellished styles of the European sword. I like your choice of combination with the pommel and guard. They complement each other well.
It is inspiring to see good work by a fellow craftsman.
Looking forward to your next one, whatever it may be.
|
|
|
|
|
Bob Burns
|
| Posted: Sat 26 Jan, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hi Rob, "Just a piece you had made for the shop"? HOLY SMOKES Rob, that sword is exquisite in it's sheer Beauty 
A word for some reason I seem to rarely use, "LOVELY" this sword you have made is Lovely from tip to pommel!
That sword is a Jewel in my opion, a Jewel
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a standard topic