[Russ Ellis]

I'd be hesitant to say that something like this didn't exist because as soon as I say stuff like that someone pops up a photo to show that yep that one existed too. However just from a sales perspective I'd suggest a couple of little tweeks. 1) Change out the color of the fittings, it seems that most folks want a silver color not gold
2) Do something about that pommel, H, I, J, K, would be great, or if you want to keep that elongated form maybe a nice T.

Just my two cents (unrequested ) on what would make this guy sell better.

[Angus Trim]

[Keith Larman]

I suppose it would change out the balance slightly. I'm constantly reminded that the difference between a sword that handles like a dream and a sword that handles like a crowbar is often bloody well unmeasurable. I think the factors people forget to consider are that nothing exists in isolation. And as in chaos theory, we're talking about non-linear equations with everything feeding and affecting everything else. So it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest that a slight redistribution of identical mass by changing the shape right on the end can have a profound effect on the handling and cutting characteristics of a sword. Heck, when I'm doing tsuka for my customers I often tell them I'd prefer to have some leeway during the mounting. I'll carve out the handle overlong and start feeling the blade with most of the fittings in place. And I must say that sometimes it stays long, sometimes it gets a bit shorter. And sometimes the difference is only a slight curvature in the nakago, of a little more taper here or there. But does it *ever* have an effect sometimes. I redid the tsuka on a sword fairly recently and the blade went from a leaden beast into a much lighter, faster feeling blade. And the new tsuka was only a 1/2" longer and I carved the new one to curve and taper a bit differently. But did it ever change the feel of the entire blade.

And since each one I do is unique (forged blades, custom fittings, etc.) the hardest part for me is getting things to handle as well as possible. Which is why I'm always warning customers to not overspec their custom swords to give both me and the smith as much leeway as possible to get it right.

I also hadn't thought of the notion that the wheel types are "flat" in a sense. I'm so used to the Japanese style which (in well done tsuka) has a super subtle "egg" tapering (very difficult for most to even notice) in the handle. So after some practice you realize you know *exactly* how aligned you are. That's also true with the pattern of wrapping so many tend to dismiss as being decorative -- those diamond openings are tactile reminders of the blade's orientation. In looking at the handle of the blade above it doesn't look like there's as much to "key on" with respect to edge angle. That wheel could provide one heck of a reminder vs. a rounded piece.

I guess I"m a bit surprised to hear about losing a sword grip during a cut. Man, in all the years I've *never* dropped one during use. Even wakizashi with their smaller grip and nothing to "block" it sliding out. Interesting.

Like I said earlier, little was ever done for just aesthetic reasons. It all matters. So thanks for the education on the pommels. Cool stuff.