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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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 Posted: Sat 18 Aug, 2012 3:10 am Post subject: My EBE longsword hilt, 2012 |
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For the last few years, my collecting interests have moved onto complex-hilted Renaissance-era longswords. Some of the projects that have been created for me include a custom "Swiss Saber" from Arms & Armor, an EB Erickson complex hilt from around 1525, a custom German Bastard Sword by Arms & Armor, and a South German longsword made by EB Erickson.
Continuing with this trend, I contacted ElJay Erickson this last year to create another complex hilt that will be mounted onto a longsword blade, probably a variation of an Oakeshott Type XIX. As a means of research, I posted a discussion topic asking for examples of a particular type of hilt that I was considering for the project. After some thought, I decided to go with that direction and so here is the hilt that served as the primary inspiration for this year's project:
ElJay's hilt arrived a few weeks ago and I finally had a chance to take some photos to share with you. I'll let them speak for themselves, but suffice it to say that I think he nailed it. The impression of the new hilt really captures that of the antiques that inspire it. As usual, ElJay's eye for detail is exceptional.
Photos of the hilt:
 
 
 
 
 
Click any photo to see a full-sized version
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Julien M
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| Posted: Sat 18 Aug, 2012 3:44 am Post subject: |
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Nathan,
I've been having dreams about replicating this particular hilt. This has to be the most beautiful recreation I've seen of such a type.
I'm going to lie down for 30 minutes to recover and bin my worthless sword collection without further due 
You need a hell of a blade, worthy of such a splendid hilt...and I need to learn to weld asap!
Congratulations to Eljay for this amazing work and to yourself for commissioning such an interesting sword.
Very inspiring.
J
edit: what kind of documentation did you provide Eljay to achieve such a result? Did you have access to the original?
Also are you going to choose a Deltin blade as you've favored those in the past?
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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| Posted: Sat 18 Aug, 2012 3:56 am Post subject: |
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Thank you, Julien, for the comments.
| Julien M wrote: | | I've been having dreams about replicating this particular hilt. This has to be the most beautiful recreation I've seen of such a type. |
I agree. I've seen very simplified versions of this hilt that only really resembled these originals in form alone but had none of the decorative elements to them. Along with being simplified beyond recognition, these versions were scaled oddly and had the wrong proportions to them. ElJay's version is the only newly created version of this type of hilt that I can remember seeing that actually resembles the antiques.
| Quote: | what kind of documentation did you provide Eljay to achieve such a result? Did you have access to the original?
Also are you going to choose a Deltin blade as you've favored those in the past? |
ElJay is able to create these swords simply based on photographs combined with his extensive knowledge of antique originals. He's been collecting antiques for decades and so has a solid grasp of proportion, scale, and the proper use of decorative elements that allows him to mimic these antiques so well.
I've only used Del Tin blades on my collection pieces when makers such as ElJay already had a blade that he would then modify and mount up. In other instances, I've had a lot of problems getting my hilts mounted up. I have a hilt currently at Arms & Armor. They are creating a custom blade for it. I intend to go the same route with this hilt, too.
.:. Visit my Collection Gallery :: View my Reading List :: View my Wish List :: See Pages I Like :: Find me on Facebook .:.
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Sean Flynt
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Roger Hooper
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| Posted: Sat 18 Aug, 2012 6:40 am Post subject: |
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That is some more great work by ElJay. It's my turn to be envious. So A&A will be making a type XIX blade for it? Have you decided with them how long, how wide, how thick the blade should be?
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Karl Knisley
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| Posted: Sat 18 Aug, 2012 10:20 am Post subject: |
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Hello
That is truely a beauty! Can I have it? :-)
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Jonathan Hopkins
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| Posted: Sat 18 Aug, 2012 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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Stunning! Nathan, you choose the most interesting projects and ElJay always follows through. I cannot wait to see the entire package when the blade is added.
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Leo Todeschini
Industry Professional
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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| Posted: Sun 19 Aug, 2012 11:54 am Post subject: |
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| Roger Hooper wrote: | | So A&A will be making a type XIX blade for it? |
Maybe. That would be my preference. I'd like to see it happen, for sure. They've been making a blade for a hilt for a long time already so I need to see that one completed before giving them another project. They remain the premier choice for this type of work, in my opinion.
| Quote: | | Have you decided with them how long, how wide, how thick the blade should be? |
I usually just give some rough targets to the makers and let them decide what works.
.:. Visit my Collection Gallery :: View my Reading List :: View my Wish List :: See Pages I Like :: Find me on Facebook .:.
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Paul Hansen
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| Posted: Sun 19 Aug, 2012 11:59 am Post subject: |
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Stunning work! 
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David Wilson
Location: In a van down by the river Joined: 23 Aug 2003
Posts: 803
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| Posted: Sun 19 Aug, 2012 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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Eljay continues to outdo himself. Such amazing work!
David K. Wilson, Jr.
Laird of Glencoe
Now available on Amazon: Franklin Posner's "Suburban Vampire: A Tale of the Human Condition -- With Vampires" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072N7Y591
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Lafayette C Curtis
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| Posted: Mon 20 Aug, 2012 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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Shiny. Anyway, is there any standard reference comparable to Oakeshott's SAC/Records for this kind of complex-hilted longsword?
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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Lafayette C Curtis
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| Posted: Mon 20 Aug, 2012 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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What if I'm not looking for a typology--just a book with sufficiently many and representative examples to choose from should I decide to commission such a sword in the future (as I probably will)?
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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Jean Thibodeau
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| Posted: Tue 21 Aug, 2012 11:52 am Post subject: |
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| Nathan Robinson wrote: | | Lafayette C Curtis wrote: | | What if I'm not looking for a typology--just a book with sufficiently many and representative examples to choose from should I decide to commission such a sword in the future (as I probably will)? |
Then European Weapons and Armour: From the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution, by Ewart Oakeshott is a necessary addition to your library so that you can read about the original of many of the forms. Other than that, auction and museum catalogs and the like are a wonderful source for photographic materials, particularly German examples. |
I agree there is an illustration in the book showing what Oakeshotts describes as being 1/4 hilts. half hilts, 3/4 hilts and full hilts depending on the complexity and completeness of the various hilt elements. ( Just from memory, I haven't looked up the book for this post ).
I just bought an A&A Dresden Rapier in large part to being " seduced " towards complex guards by this really pleasing hilt as my period of main interest is usually earlier.
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
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Karl Knisley
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| Posted: Tue 21 Aug, 2012 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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Hello
I wonder,with the blade, how heavy it will be? Meaning, do you think it will be useable with one hand, or will it be a dedicated two hander?
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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Sean Flynt
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This is a standard topic