Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > X.12 from Records, the BOAC sword Reply to topic
This is a standard topic Go to page 1, 2  Next 
Author Message
Taylor Ellis




PostPosted: Mon 19 Nov, 2012 7:16 pm    Post subject: X.12 from Records, the BOAC sword         Reply with quote

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.
View user's profile Send private message
Mart Shearer




Location: Jackson, MS, USA
Joined: 18 Aug 2012

Posts: 1,302

PostPosted: Mon 19 Nov, 2012 7:36 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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
View user's profile Send private message
Taylor Ellis




PostPosted: Mon 19 Nov, 2012 8:11 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks for the reply. I've emailed the museum asking for high quality photos. Hopefully they come through. Happy
View user's profile Send private message
Taylor Ellis




PostPosted: Thu 21 Mar, 2013 5:24 am    Post subject: Jeff Helmes X.12         Reply with quote

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. Happy

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
P3200087.JPG


 Attachment: 85.94 KB
P3200088.JPG


 Attachment: 73.61 KB
P3200089.JPG

View user's profile Send private message
Taylor Ellis




PostPosted: Thu 21 Mar, 2013 5:28 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Some full length shots....


 Attachment: 94.31 KB
P3200090.JPG


 Attachment: 87.8 KB
P3200091.JPG


 Attachment: 109.99 KB
P3050056.JPG

View user's profile Send private message
Tim Lison




Location: Chicago, Illinois
Joined: 05 Aug 2004
Likes: 1 page
Reading list: 6 books

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 1,606

PostPosted: Thu 21 Mar, 2013 8:36 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I couldn't be more envious right now. That is magnificent! Jeff is really talented. Great choice for a repro. Kudos all around.
View user's profile Send private message
Luka Borscak




Location: Croatia
Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Likes: 7 pages

Posts: 2,307

PostPosted: Thu 21 Mar, 2013 3:18 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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?
View user's profile Send private message
Taylor Ellis




PostPosted: Fri 22 Mar, 2013 4:10 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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.
View user's profile Send private message
Jeremy V. Krause




Location: Buffalo, NY.
Joined: 20 Oct 2003
Likes: 1 page
Reading list: 1 book

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 1,717

PostPosted: Fri 22 Mar, 2013 10:02 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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.
View user's profile Send private message
Robin Smith




Location: Louisiana
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
Likes: 4 pages
Reading list: 17 books

Posts: 746

PostPosted: Fri 22 Mar, 2013 11:43 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
J Helmes
Industry Professional



Location: Lanark Highlands Ontario Canada
Joined: 06 Mar 2009

Posts: 120

PostPosted: Fri 22 Mar, 2013 4:04 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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. Happy
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
J.D. Crawford




Location: Toronto
Joined: 25 Dec 2006

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 1,903

PostPosted: Fri 22 Mar, 2013 5:50 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Congratulations Jeff (and Taylor). Another beautiful piece of work!
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Taylor Ellis




PostPosted: Tue 26 Mar, 2013 7:14 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

The finished sword...


 Attachment: 78.15 KB
P3250097.JPG


 Attachment: 50.81 KB
[ Download ]
View user's profile Send private message
Jeremy V. Krause




Location: Buffalo, NY.
Joined: 20 Oct 2003
Likes: 1 page
Reading list: 1 book

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 1,717

PostPosted: Tue 26 Mar, 2013 8:34 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

This is a fabulous set-up.

Beautiful from top to bottom.
View user's profile Send private message
Taylor Ellis




PostPosted: Wed 27 Mar, 2013 4:43 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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.
View user's profile Send private message
Danny Grigg





Joined: 17 Sep 2004

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 337

PostPosted: Thu 28 Mar, 2013 7:14 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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
View user's profile Send private message
Taylor Ellis




PostPosted: Thu 28 Mar, 2013 8:37 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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. Happy
View user's profile Send private message
Tobias Capwell





Joined: 17 Jan 2007

Posts: 61

PostPosted: Fri 29 Mar, 2013 2:54 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Taylor Ellis wrote:
Thanks for the reply. I've emailed the museum asking for high quality photos. Hopefully they come through. Happy


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... Wink
View user's profile Send private message
Taylor Ellis




PostPosted: Fri 29 Mar, 2013 4:47 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Tobias Capwell wrote:
Taylor Ellis wrote:
Thanks for the reply. I've emailed the museum asking for high quality photos. Hopefully they come through. Happy


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... Wink

Oh man, I wish you told me that a couple of months ago!!! Eek!
View user's profile Send private message
Danny Grigg





Joined: 17 Sep 2004

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 337

PostPosted: Sat 30 Mar, 2013 9:56 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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
View user's profile Send private message


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > X.12 from Records, the BOAC sword
Page 1 of 2 Reply to topic
Go to page 1, 2  Next All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum