[Michael B.]

So, the fiancee's family on their trip through Wisconsin last August bought me an Albion Moat Sale blade for Christmas...do they know me or what? Looking for ideas on how to hilt it, I think it's from one of their NG Hand and half swords, looks like a type XVIIIa, but I'm not very competent on blade types. I'm looking for something a little more exotic, but I do have some basic pommels and hilts to put on it. Excited to begin work on it.



Stats:

Blade length: 90cm (35.4 in.)
Overall length: 117cm (46.1 in)
Width at shoulder: 6cm (2.4 in)

[Jean Thibodeau]

I would hilt it like the Brescia Spadona or the A&A Black Prince and choose the pommel according to my preferences for a scent stopper, wheeled or the somewhat fatter Black Prince pommel.

http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/johnsson/...rescia.htm
http://www.arms-n-armor.com/sword034.html

In both cases the guard type is similar and would work well with this blade.

Or: http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=SH2034N
Based on the sword of Albrecht II of Austria if wanting a shorter guard: The blade type does seem a close match to me.

[William F Cain III]

Tapering blade, diamond cross section backed by a fuller toward the base, more of an XVIa than XVIIa, I'd say. Similar to Albion's Crecy.

[Michael B.]

Thanks for the ideas! I'm meeting with a bladesmith soon to hash out a plan. TIme to bust out some clay!

[Michael B.]

So, met with the bladesmith (Chris Cushman of Penguin Arms, a little known maker), looked over some designs, and handled the blade a bit. Handed it over to him tonight to start having it cleaned up. It'll be hilted with a Type V pommel, with a simple guard, handle undecided right now, but I'm leaning towards horn, or something similar. So, I will soon be adding a hand and a half sword with a type V pommel. Very excited. I'll keep you posted. Some artwork I've gleaned from myArmoury for inspiration.




Musee Cluny XVIII (Oakeshott's XVIII. 4 (iii)) by Mathieu Harlaut


st. catherine of alexandria fishtail


Hans Memling, The Virgin and Child with Angel Saint Georges and Donor,1470-1480

[Harry J. Fletcher]

Well Michael B. looks like you are going have a great sword made. Now as for the pics with Virgin and child, I am a bit lost on that one?

[Jean Thibodeau]

[Harry J. Fletcher]

Jean you are right. On closer examination I can make out the pommel of the man in armour on the right in the background. And I shall retract my remarks.

[Michael B.]

Yes, yes. The Holy Family kinda overshadows the Man in Black. Sorry, should've cropped that in a bit.

[Michael B.]

So update on this project:

The blade needed a LOT more work than I thought. Some of the steps taken so far:

- blade was straightened
- The tang was straightened to bring it in line with the spine
- fuller was reworked, straightened, and evened out.
- edges were reworked, taking the "wave" out of them
- the tang was a slight wedge shape, so rear of tang was reworked to facilitate a guard and pommel fitting better.
- whole blade was polished to a nice satin finish

The blade had been heat treated, and is very nicely balance, quite excited to see how this turns out. One questionable thing, the blade appeared to have come out of heat treat with a kink to it, and you can see hammer marks where someone attempted to straighten it cold. The polish job pretty much took care of them after if was straightened properly.
Excellent thing Albion has done with the moat sale, I loved my hilt parts from it for another proeject. Would love to get more bare blades from them.

[Michael B.]

Update! Guard is pretty much finished except for final polish, handle is taking shape. The pommel is being worked on, it's a complex forging job. The guard was forged. The handle is one piece. This will be a stout, all business blade. even without the pommel on yet, you can tell its going to really come alive. Should be done in another week or two. Sorry for the crappy pictures, I took them on my cell phone, big camera's out on rental...