| Author |
Message |
|
Taylor Ellis
|
 Posted: Mon 19 Nov, 2012 7:16 pm Post subject: X.12 from Records, the BOAC sword |
 |
|
This sword features an extensive inlay down both fullers. Oakeshott has a drawing of a portion of the better preserved side in Records of the Medieval Sword. Does anybody know if the full inlay is published anywhere? The original sword is on the Museum of Glasgow's website, however the patina makes it impossible to see the inlay clearly.
If anyone could help me out, I'd be very appreciative.
|
|
  |
 |
|
Mart Shearer
|
| Posted: Mon 19 Nov, 2012 7:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
http://collections.glasgowmuseums.com/starobject.html?oid=154400
| Quote: | This unusual medieval sword dates from the first half of the twelfth century. Many other swords from this period survive, but this one bears a mysterious inscription inlaid in gold.
------------
This sword has the letter ‘BOAC’ repeated down the length of the blade, surrounded by symbols including circles containing crosses.
-----------
The letters are likely to be the abbreviation of a Latin phrase because between the ‘O’ and the ‘A’ there is a slash-like mark that was used to represent the common Latin term que, usually meaning ‘and’ or ‘is’. |
ferrum ferro acuitur et homo exacuit faciem amici sui
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taylor Ellis
|
| Posted: Mon 19 Nov, 2012 8:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for the reply. I've emailed the museum asking for high quality photos. Hopefully they come through. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taylor Ellis
|
| Posted: Thu 21 Mar, 2013 5:24 am Post subject: Jeff Helmes X.12 |
|
|
Last year I commissioned a replica of the BOAC sword from Records of the Medieval Sword from Canadian smith Jeff Helmes. The sword is almost done, so I thought I'd share some in progress pictures of it.
The blade is 27 inches long, the blade material is a mix of 1045 and wrought iron, the inlay is silver, and the design on the scabbard is inspired by a combination of the design from the back of the Lewis Chessmen and a Liturgical comb from the 12th century.
 Attachment: 74.3 KB
Attachment: 85.94 KB
Attachment: 73.61 KB
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taylor Ellis
|
| Posted: Thu 21 Mar, 2013 5:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
Some full length shots....
Attachment: 94.31 KB
Attachment: 87.8 KB
Attachment: 109.99 KB
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tim Lison
|
| Posted: Thu 21 Mar, 2013 8:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
I couldn't be more envious right now. That is magnificent! Jeff is really talented. Great choice for a repro. Kudos all around.
|
|
|
|
|
Luka Borscak
|
| Posted: Thu 21 Mar, 2013 3:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
Very interesting and nice sword! Inlay looks great! Just one question though, is that a natural pattern of a folded iron and steel or is it manipulated in some way?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taylor Ellis
|
| Posted: Fri 22 Mar, 2013 4:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Luka Borscak wrote: | | Very interesting and nice sword! Inlay looks great! Just one question though, is that a natural pattern of a folded iron and steel or is it manipulated in some way? |
To be honest I'm not certain. Jeff did mention to me that the appearance should be all but identical to a bloom steel sword of the period, except that he's lightly etched it to bring the pattern out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeremy V. Krause
|
| Posted: Fri 22 Mar, 2013 10:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
THis is really beautiful Taylor!
Really a fascinating historic example. I imagine that the handling is really interesting and different from other pieces of the period.
THis is a fabulous and unique sword for your collection.
|
|
|
|
|
Robin Smith
|
| Posted: Fri 22 Mar, 2013 11:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Taylor Ellis wrote: | | Luka Borscak wrote: | | Very interesting and nice sword! Inlay looks great! Just one question though, is that a natural pattern of a folded iron and steel or is it manipulated in some way? |
To be honest I'm not certain. Jeff did mention to me that the appearance should be all but identical to a bloom steel sword of the period, except that he's lightly etched it to bring the pattern out. |
That is a the normal pattern you get folding layers of dissimilar metal together and adding an etch. There is no manipulation to the pattern there. It looks like this because the layers are stacked and folded and then distorted by the shaping and grinding. An etch then brings out the contrast between the layers...
A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
|
|
 |
|
J Helmes
Industry Professional
Location: Lanark Highlands Ontario Canada Joined: 06 Mar 2009
Posts: 120
|
| Posted: Fri 22 Mar, 2013 4:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hello ,
Thanks everyone for the compliments . This was a fun and challenging project and I greatly enjoyed working with Taylor . I just wanted to clarify that combination of materials I have used in the blade was 1095 and wrought iron, not 1045 and iron, which would have left the blade with too little carbon to harden. So there is no confusion , I also just wanted to mention that the etch was for esthetic purposes to bring out the character of the steel. Unetched, the sword looked much like modern mono steel. I don't think that there is any evidence to sugest that actual period swords similar to this one were etched but as a bladesmith I enjoy being able to expose the uniqueness of the steel in this way.
|
|
 |
|
J.D. Crawford
|
| Posted: Fri 22 Mar, 2013 5:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
Congratulations Jeff (and Taylor). Another beautiful piece of work!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taylor Ellis
|
| Posted: Tue 26 Mar, 2013 7:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
The finished sword...
Attachment: 78.15 KB
Attachment: 50.81 KB
[ Download ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeremy V. Krause
|
| Posted: Tue 26 Mar, 2013 8:34 am Post subject: |
|
|
This is a fabulous set-up.
Beautiful from top to bottom.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taylor Ellis
|
| Posted: Wed 27 Mar, 2013 4:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Jeremy V. Krause wrote: | This is a fabulous set-up.
Beautiful from top to bottom. |
Yeah, Jeff has totally outdone himself. The grip is actually a dark green and not the black it looks in the picture.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Danny Grigg
|
| Posted: Thu 28 Mar, 2013 7:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Taylor
Great sword, do you have stats you can share?
Overall Length
Blade Length
Blade Width
Crossguard Width
Grip Length
Weight
Do you know how the stats compare to the original?
Thanks
Danny
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taylor Ellis
|
| Posted: Thu 28 Mar, 2013 8:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hi Danny, I don't actually have the sword yet, tese photos are what Jeff sent me.
As soon as I do, I'll let you know.
|
|
|
|
|
Tobias Capwell
|
| Posted: Fri 29 Mar, 2013 2:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Taylor Ellis wrote: | | Thanks for the reply. I've emailed the museum asking for high quality photos. Hopefully they come through. |
There is of course a double-page spread on the BOAC sword, including a reproduction of the inscription, in an excellent book about the Glasgow collection published in 2006... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taylor Ellis
|
| Posted: Fri 29 Mar, 2013 4:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Tobias Capwell wrote: | | Taylor Ellis wrote: | | Thanks for the reply. I've emailed the museum asking for high quality photos. Hopefully they come through. |
There is of course a double-page spread on the BOAC sword, including a reproduction of the inscription, in an excellent book about the Glasgow collection published in 2006... |
Oh man, I wish you told me that a couple of months ago!!! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Danny Grigg
|
| Posted: Sat 30 Mar, 2013 9:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The 2 page spread is from "The Real Fighting Stuff Arms and Armour at Glasgow Museums" by Tobias Capwell.
There's a bit of a write up on the sword in the softcover book.
My copy unfortunately is falling apart, some of the pages have come completely loose from the binding. Many more are starting to come loose as well.
Tobias, do you have any stats on the original sword?
Thanks
Danny
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a standard topic