Another 'Helmes' Sword in the Works -- myArmoury.com

J.D. Crawford · Last edited by J.D. Crawford on Wed 09 May, 2012 5:42 pm; edited 1 time in total

Custom Bladesmith Jeff Helmes has been on a roll lately, turning out my ‘Korsoygaden’ sword http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=24499, Tim Lison’s Ingelrii sword http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=24972 and a few more pieces that have turned up on these pages. After this success I couldn’t help asking him to work on another project for me.

The new project is another sword from Musée de l'Hôtel Sandelin, Saint-Omer, France. It is a big XII (about 35” blade) with a longish (4.5”) single hand grip, a very long (~11”) curved cross and a most unusual pommel. At first glance I thought the pommel was some kind of primitive scent-stopper, but its actually diamond shaped in profile, with very deep truncated conical pyramids on either side. I don’t know how to classify this pommel. Overall, this sword looks to me like it would date to about 1300, near the end of my primary period of interest at this time. It also has some inscriptions, which I will get to later.

Altogether, a most majestic and interesting sword, but to my knowledge has never been replicated or appeared in any popular English language book.

I found the sword on these web-sites, which contain several copyrighted pictures of the sword:

http://moteur.musenor.com/application/moteur_...omAuteur=1
http://moteur.musenor.com/application/moteur_...omAuteur=1

Here is a google translation of the written material on the second page (sorry, my school French has faded).

“Sword
Germany
14th century
alloy steel
Blade: Length 106.5 cm in width by 5 cm Guard width by 27.2 cm
Registration: Registration and brand: + NEDEHER EWEDENI + + and on the reverse: design of scrolls and foliage
Archaeology, Ethnology
Sword of size. Headed two truncated pyramids fused at their bases. Flat triangular silk. Care quillons long and curved towards the blade square. Long blade with low enrollment and ventral gutter on both sides.
Photo credits: © St Omer Hotel Sandelin Museum, YB/M3C
Saint-Omer, Musee de l'Hotel Sandelin
Inventory number: 2486
Acquisition date: 1837”

This sword also appeared in the recent Cluny Museum Display. The Vikverir web-site has some wonderfully detailed pictures at the bottom of this page and the top of the next one: http://www.vikverir.no/ressurser/usages_mythe...amp;page=9

If anyone knows more about this sword, we would be most pleased to hear about it.

Jeff has the steel and says he will start working on it Friday – can’t wait to see his progress shots and post them here for all to see!

Robin Smith · Posted: Wed 09 May, 2012 4:05 pm Post subject:

Awesome... Can't wait to see it come together.

Once you have it in hand, you're gonna have to give a review of how it feels. I've often wondered about long crosses on one handed swords.

Definitely a good choice!

Tim Lison · Posted: Wed 09 May, 2012 6:53 pm Post subject:

Wow! What a great choice, Moriarty. I just love the pommel and the cross. Both kinda offbeat examples. The blade seems to be a pretty standard big XII but with the hilt, it will be superb! Another excellent choice! This is going to look great next to your type O from A&A! Can't wait to see the first pics...

J.D. Crawford · Posted: Wed 09 May, 2012 7:37 pm Post subject:

J.D. Crawford · Posted: Sat 12 May, 2012 10:26 am Post subject:

And so it begins...first with the forging of the blank, and then the edges.

Robin Smith · Posted: Sat 12 May, 2012 11:35 am Post subject:

Very cool.... Bet you're excited to see it start to come together finally

J.D. Crawford · Posted: Sat 12 May, 2012 12:07 pm Post subject:

Robin Smith · Posted: Sat 12 May, 2012 3:50 pm Post subject:

Luka Borscak · Posted: Sat 12 May, 2012 3:54 pm Post subject:

This is a very interesting sword! I can't wait to see it finished!

J.D. Crawford · Posted: Sat 12 May, 2012 5:43 pm Post subject:

Tim Lison · Posted: Sat 12 May, 2012 7:27 pm Post subject:

Luka Borscak · Posted: Sun 13 May, 2012 3:48 am Post subject:

Honestly, with such a sword by such a smith, if I wouldn't have the money for inlay I also wouldn't want engraving, I would leave the blade plain. I wouldn't want to put something not very historical on an otherwise historically correct replica. Unless you are going with the story that it is an old sword and all the inlayed metal fell out and only engraving is left now. Wink

J.D. Crawford · Posted: Sun 13 May, 2012 6:27 am Post subject:

You guys are very demanding! Well, I don't know much about inscriptions, I just want it to be like the museum piece, only like new. Check out this photo. It looks to me like the letters are scratched into the blade. I suppose some soft metal could have fallen out of it. (Oh no, don't tell me gold, I have mouths to feed). What do you think? I will ask Jeff again what he thinks. http://moteur.musenor.com/images/saintomer/g2018742_3.jpg

Robin Smith · Posted: Sun 13 May, 2012 6:32 am Post subject:

I'm reluctant to wade in here, because I really don't know if engraving was used in period or not... In fact, prior to starting my research for my project with Jeff, I hadn't realized just how common inlays were.

I suppose the key here is to find another example or two of engraved blades. If that can be done then its likely that was engraved. If not I would then assume its from inlay that fell out.

J.D. Crawford · Posted: Sun 13 May, 2012 7:09 am Post subject:

OK thanks for the input. Jeff is already looking into it with the museum and another sword scholar. I'll do my best (pocketbookwise) to make it historically correct, but I'd like to learn more before making a decision. -JD

Luka Borscak · Posted: Sun 13 May, 2012 7:36 am Post subject:

I don't think I have seen or heard of a sword from that period with engraved letters without metal inlayed in the engraving. But that doesn't mean there were no such swords. But inlays really were popular in these times. And it doesn't have to be gold or silver, it can be bronze or something similar...

J.D. Crawford · Posted: Sun 13 May, 2012 8:30 am Post subject:

Sounds like a new fashion in medieval sword reconstruction is brewing - one sure to empty my pockets. Well, its always good to learn something new. Like I said, I'd prefer to go with what is historically correct, but in lieau of specific evidence on this sword will try for a balance of historical, esthetic and economic factors.

Robin Smith · Posted: Sun 13 May, 2012 9:09 am Post subject:

Tim Lison · Posted: Sun 13 May, 2012 9:14 am Post subject:

I know it'll add to the price, but silver inlay would really look great with this sword. I can't recall seeing an engraved sword without inlay but I'm no expert! If jeff were to leave the fuller a bit dark and polish the inlay it would really stand out...

J.D. Crawford · Posted: Sun 13 May, 2012 11:17 am Post subject: