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Michael Pearce
Industry Professional
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 Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2008 2:41 pm Post subject: First look- CAS/Hanwei Viking sword prototype |
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Here's a first look at my hand-made prototype for the 'sharp' version of the CAS/Hanwei Viking Sword.
Oakeshott Type: X
Peterson's Type: E
OAL: 37-3/8 inches
Blade Length: 30-7/8 inches
Blade Width @ Base: 2-3/16 inches
Blade Width 5 inches from point: 1-1/2 inches
Blade thickness at base: .200 inch
Blade thickness 1 inch from tip: .085 inch
Distal taper is Straight
Hilt OAL: 6-1/2 inches
Handle length: 4 inches
COG: 4-3/4 inches from base of blade
Blade Node: 20-1/4 inches from base of blade
Primary Hilt Node: On handle approx 1/2 inch from cross
Weight: 2lb 8oz.
This sword was inspired by historical examples from the early 9th C. but was not copied from any specific sword. Furniture is mild steel with a twisted brass wire insert. The pommel is constructed in two pieces- I do not know if Hanwei will use one or two-piece construction for the pommel. This sword's pommel is secured by an Allen nut to facilitate disassembly so that it may be copied, but at this time the plan is for production versions of this sword to have a peened-tang construction. The handle is sandwiched wood wrapped in leather. I'm working on the 'blunt' blade now and will have pics of it by the weekend.
Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
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Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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Gavin Kisebach
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| Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2008 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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I love it. This is a great looking sword, I hope the production models look as sharp (no pun intended). The grip is a bit plain, but it would be a good project to add risers if one wanted them. Risers might bring the price out of your target price range, so this is fine. The tip could be a bit more spatulate for my money, but now I'm just nitpicking. Absolutely great work Michael, this is a direction that I hope you will find satisfying and profitable.
[edit] I just noticed that the fuller doesn't extend into the guard; what was the thinking on that?
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Roger Hooper
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| Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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That is very impressive. It looks like a great looking and functioning sword for not that much money.
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Michael Pearce
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Gavin Kisebach wrote: |
[edit] I just noticed that the fuller doesn't extend into the guard; what was the thinking on that? |
On later swords the fuller most often runs under the guard and even some distance up the tang (though there are exceptions to the rule.) On swords of this era the fuller is very often wider than the tang and thus can't run off on the tang. Even in cases where the fuller is narrower I've seen few examples where the fuller ran all of the way past the guard onto the tang on swords of this type and period.
That being said the fullers of swords of this type and period do often run out under the guard or just short of it, but not (as far as we can tell from surviving examples) a sharply as this one does; in the case of this sword the fuller terminates quite sharply because the process that I use to make the fuller more or less dictates an abrubt termination. Barry and I discussed this very issue today and the production swords will not have this abrupt termination but rather a more gradual one that does run out under the guard- but will not extend onto the tang.
Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
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Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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Allen Andrews
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| Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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I rather like the stippled fittings.
" 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)
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Dan Dickinson
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2008 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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If you can make the fuller terminate under the guard this one is definitely going to be on my list. Great Job!
Dan
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Tim May
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| Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2008 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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This is really fantastic, the proportions look just right, and the wire really is a nice touch, not to mention the two piece pommel. The fuller looks great as is, but would really be magnificent if it terminated under the guard.
For how much is this expected to retail?
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Mike Arledge
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| Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2008 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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Hot damn!
That is just what I was looking for!
Mike J Arledge
The Dude Abides
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Michael Pearce
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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I can't really say what the retail price will be- not really my department! But... my non-binding wild-assed guess would be in the neighbothood of $300-$350.
Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
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Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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Jean Thibodeau
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| Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2008 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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Well it looks really good and the fuller doesn't make it a deal breaker for me but if it can fade out or end just at the guard it would be better for maybe more people.
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
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David McElrea
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| Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2008 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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I'd like to add my voice to those asking for a termination of the fuller under the guard. If it does, I will probably be getting this myself.
Fantastic work, Michael!
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Michael Pearce
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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To quote myself....
| Michael Pearce wrote: | | Barry and I discussed this very issue today and the production swords will not have this abrupt termination but rather a more gradual one that does run out under the guard- but will not extend onto the tang. |
Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
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Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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J. Kelley
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| Posted: Fri 18 Apr, 2008 8:55 am Post subject: |
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Looks great...I will be getting one.
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J.D. Crawford
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| Posted: Fri 18 Apr, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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This is really, really nice. If Hanwei can do justice to this, I will get one.
That's saying something because previously I have not been a CAS/Hanwei fan.
I want to add yet another vote to please solve the fuller issue in the production swords. This is something that turns me off on some of those Generation 2 viking swords. As a matter of personal taste, I would not buy a viking sword with an abrupt visible fuller termination.
This prototype looks pretty similar to the Windlass Norwegian Viking sword, except I think your blade profile is more elegant, and the sword seems to be less heavy overall and very likely better balanced in every way (I have not handled this Windlass model, just going by looks). Any non-industry people have one of those for comparison?
http://www.museumreplicas.com/museumreplicas/detail.aspx?ID=691
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Michael Pearce
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Fri 18 Apr, 2008 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks JD!
The similarity to the Windlass sword isn't too surprising- we're both working from some of the the same reference materials- notably Ian Peirce's excellent "Swords of the Viking Age." Honestly I tried to come up with something different but so many Viking era sword variations have been produced that it was bound to look at least superficially like some one else's sword. Nature of the beast, I'm afraid. I was aiming for both originality and a reasonable amount of historical correctness- a difficult target indeed!
Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
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Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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J.D. Crawford
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| Posted: Fri 18 Apr, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Michael Pearce wrote: | | The similarity to the Windlass sword isn't too surprising- we're both working from some of the the same reference materials- notably Ian Peirce's excellent "Swords of the Viking Age." |
I see that one stylistic variation here (from the original pieces I have seen and Windlass) is the absence of decorative pitting on the two outer pommel lobes. Not sure why you chose to do that, but I have to say it comes our really well. Somehow it is very pleasing to the eye. Congratulations on the whole package.
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Tim Seaton
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| Posted: Fri 18 Apr, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject: viking sword |
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good morro
my lord pearce u have always amazed me in ur craftmenship and godly talents at sword making i too will be getting this work of art that u have created. earler this year i bought a viking sword from age of chivalry # 3 this year ruins on the pummel and the hit and the grip was carverd wood I used it to get knighted in the order of saint johns of jerusalem in northern calif
cheers to u my lord m pearce
tim seaton
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David McElrea
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| Posted: Fri 18 Apr, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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Hi J.D. ,
There is a photo of a similar pommel in Swords of the Viking Age, so there is precedence.
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David McElrea
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| Posted: Fri 18 Apr, 2008 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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Michael,
Do you know if this is going to be offered in both mono and pattern-welded steel like some of CAS/Hanwei's other swords (e.g. William Marshall)?
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Michael Pearce
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Fri 18 Apr, 2008 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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| David McElrea wrote: | Michael,
Do you know if this is going to be offered in both mono and pattern-welded steel like some of CAS/Hanwei's other swords (e.g. William Marshall)? |
I don't know- I expect that if there is sufficient interest they'll consider it. All I can say is email CAS/H with the request.
Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
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Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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This is a standard topic