[Matthew Stagmer]

After seeing the short sword I posted last week a forum member asked me if I would make him a bastard sword version. Flamberge swords being my absolute favorite thing to make, I jumped at the opportunity. I also decided to make this a prototype for a production run. I had never actually drawn up a flamberge. I always have just ground or forged them from broadsword blanks.

I have wanted to do a production run for several years now but in years past flamers always get a lot of attention but end up sitting a long time for dealers due to the high price caused by amount of extra time that goes into one. Focus had to be on what sold most often for our dealers. I believe in this product and so here we go.

The customer has given me freedom to do as I wish with this piece. All he asked was that the blade had more taper to the wave then the short sword did and I agreed that it was a much better look. All he asked was that it was a highly detailed piece and I will aim to please.

We both agreed that it would be a fun project to share with the community so this is what I did today.


Here is the 1st 32" bastard sword flamberge blank.


Here it is again.


Here it is with one edge ground looking like a serpent. I even slipped just a tad and made a small mark that looks like an eye.


Here I am grinding an edge.


The trick is following the edge profile on your bevel.


As you can see here, if you do it right the peak or ridge will match the profile curves perfectly.

This is where I am after today. Ready for HT. I will update as we go. Thanks for looking.

[David Spencer]

Watching with great interest Matthew, as the flamberge is one of my favorite blades , glad to hear about the production run how many will you be making?.

[Matthew Stagmer]

[Matthew Stagmer]

I have not gotten as far as I wanted to on this project but the blade is fully tempered and I started a prototype look for the hilt.











Doesn't look like much at this point but it will go fast from here. I will share as I go.

[Chris Artman]

Looking forward to seeing the details and how it all works out!

[Ben Sweet]

[Matthew Stagmer]

Here is the prototype bar for the hilt. I just free handed this on a sander real fast to see if the concept would translate. I will prob throw this prototype on a production blade and start working on the real hilt for this sword over the weekend. This gives a good idea of what I was going for. Neat look if you ask me.





I think on the final guard I will terminate the ends a bit differently. Maybe upset or flaired. Not sure yet.

[Matthew Stagmer]

This is long overdue for a bump.

I ended up using the original cross trial on a sword( for my older brother because it wasn't quite what I wanted for this sword and I made a new one for this sword with smaller scoops and left the ends unground so I could forge them later.

Here is the top half of the handle(steel and copper wire wrapped) and the spacer(copper and steel) done and the lower half(Ironwood) fitted to the tang ready for shaping. Here you can also see that I added some material around the quillon block area and began to shape it a little.



Here is the hilt re-scooped and the lower half of the handle shaping up.




A close up of the wire wrapped portion


Here is the hilt before forging the ends.


Here is the first end flared.



Here it is with both ends flared.

[Matthew Stagmer]

Here with the ends shaped and sanded.


Polishing it out.

[Chris Artman]

Great update and photos. Do you have some pics of the pommel to post here? Will be curious to see the rest of the details.

I think the flare looks great with the flamberge blade. What does "upset" look like? Flared looks great for sure.

The wire wrapping looks like you did it to perfection. Any other details to the grip?

[Chris Artman]

Any updates? What's the latest?

[Matthew Stagmer]

Chris we are so swamped right now that I haven't had much time to process pictures. We have been working on this right along as well as many many other projects and I am moving my home right now. I will do my absolute best to update this thread with pictures tonight if I have the time. If not def by tom night.

We are still waiting on the diamonds that were on back order.

[Chris Artman]

Don't forget the detailed silver and gold inlay!

Looking forward to the update.

(Go Giants!)

[Matthew Stagmer]

I was asked to bump this thread by Chris. I have a ton more in progress pictures of this in the works that I planned to post but never got around to it. I will find them and gather them up and bump the this thread but for now please enjoy the outcome of this long term custom.













For more pictures and information please visit our website. http://www.imakeswords.com/flambergebastard.htm

Copper and steel handle spacer. Lower handle is desert ironwood and upper is copper and steel wire wrapped.
The pommel is my first(now I have done many) fluted conical. The peen block is nickle and copper mokume that I made.
The hilt has some engraved scroll work on the nodes.
The blade is highly polished and has a sharp edge.

[Bryan W.]

Very nice on the details Matt. Looks great.

[William P]

wow, that looks unabashedly amazing

[Matthew Stagmer]

Thanks fellas. I loved how this one turned out. I used it as an excuse to try some new things. Some have already become staples for me personally. The mokume and the fluting are certainly things I use often now.

[Scott Roush]

pretty impressive grinding Matthew! And I love that cross guard...

[Tim Lison]

That is a really, really cool sword! Great work. I don't know if I've ever seen a high end flamberge blade done and I LOVE it! Did you base this on a historical sword or is it your own design? Either way, it's great!

[Matthew Stagmer]

Thanks Scott.

Tim, I based it off a few things here and there, but ther overall concept was my own.