[Taylor Ellis]

This is my BOAC sword made by Jeff Helmes, along with the original.

It's not an exact copy - mine is slightly longer (my request), as it only has the inscription once on the blade instead of four times. I also went for silver for the inlay rather than the original gold. I think silver looks better, is far cheaper, and most importantly my 7 year old suggested it's much better for fighting monsters with. Can't argue with that.

Blade is a mix of wrought iron and 1095.

[Gábor Benko]

Hi guys!

This is my one and a half hand sword. When Ihave ordered it from the weapon smith, a choose its form from a swiss tomb effigy, so it's the "original", but it was use just an "inspiration" for the work.

the sword


the scabbard


and the inspirational effigy


and here is my new bascinet, and it's inspirational original "counterpart", an italian bascinet from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

[Nathan Robinson]

Vince Evans "Heart" Dirk
Original: Circa 1510-20

This piece is based on item X.285 at the Royal Armouries, Leeds, circa 1740 that has a uniquely characteristic brass heart motif.

[Patrick Kelly]

My two latest acquisitions:

An Oakeshott's Type XIV, inspired by an original in the Musee de l'Armee, Paris.



An axe of Peterson's Type M, based on an original in Uppsala, Sweden.

[Nathan Robinson]

Arma Bohemia All-Metal Rondel Dagger
Original: German, circa 1400

The overall size and proportions are very close to the original, but the blade details have been simplified as a means to save money.

[Nathan Robinson]

Arma Bohemia Ear Dagger
Original: Italian, late 15th century/early 16th century

The hilt has simplified design elements compared to the original. Likewise, the blade is missing the gilt gold ricasso. Otherwise, it's a very good representation of a type of dagger rarely produced in the modern market.

[Nathan Robinson]

Tod's Stuff Low Countries Ballock Dagger
Original: Early 16th Century

This piece is inspired by an example from the early 16th century sold in the 2008 auction by Christie's Auction House. The original piece is in excavated condition and has brass sunburst mounts not replicated here due to budgetary concerns.

[Nathan Robinson]

Tod's Stuff Rothenburg Ballock Dagger
Original: Northern Italy, circa 1450

The details on the modern version are a very close match to the antique. The proportions have been scaled larger for comfort.

[Chad Arnow]

Mid 16th century notation knife from the Victoria & Albert Museum. Replica by Josh Davis of Davis Reproductions.

[Nathan Robinson]

E.B. Erickson Silver-inlaid Basket-hilt
Original: Scotland, early 18th century

This sword is based on a sword by John Allan I, inscribed Stirling 1716. Some of the basket's proportions are more in line with other originals and the scale of the hilt was made to fit requested dimensions, otherwise the design elements are very close to the original. It's fitted to a much simpler backsword blade appropriate to the period, but was not made to match the original.

[Nathan Robinson]

E.B. Erickson SW11 Basket-hilt
Original: Late 16th century, likely English

This hilt is based on an example located in the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland. The original appears to have its quillons removed during its active service. I opted to have the recreation made with the quillons in-tact, replicating how it may have originally left the cutler's shop. No attempt was made to match the original's blade, but instead another style appropriate for these types of swords was used (though is probably of a later style than the hilt).

[Nathan Robinson]

Vince Evans Basket-hilted Saber
Original: Scottish, circa 1690; blade likely German, dated 1662

This one is less of a replica and more of an "inspired" piece. It's based on a sword from the collection of the Duke of Buccleuch at the Boughton House with a hilt from circa 1690 and a blade dated 1662. Looking at the side-by-side, the details are very close to the antique, albeit somewhat simplified, but the overall proportions and shape have been altered.

I am not the original owner of this piece so am not aware of the reasons behind the design choices, but looking at the obvious differences makes me pleased with the result. I do not care for the squatty bun-shaped pommel of the original nor the wimpy forward guards.

[Nathan Robinson]

E.B. Erickson Canongate Basket-hilt
Original: Scotland, 18th century

The antique is located at the Edinburgh Museum, Canongate. The basket of the recreation closely matches it, sans the damage of the original. The missing rear guard of the original, something we see often, is present on the new one. A multi-fullered double-edged blade appropriate for the type of hilt is used instead of the antique's backsword blade.

[Nathan Robinson]

Phoenix Metal Creations "Sinclair-hilted" Backsword
Original: German, circa 1600

This reproduction is very close to the original. Even the blade was made to follow the antique blade: although we made changes to the strange "axe point" and softened the fuller's termination to make it more appealing.

[Nathan Robinson]

E.B. Erickson Germanic Basket-hilt
Original: German, circa 1570

This piece is based on several extant swords such as this one shown here from the Museum of Border Arms and Armour, Scotland. This particular original has a pommel that was too small and sloppy for my liking and a larger, more common style was substituted. The decorative elements on the pommel were eliminated to give the piece a more workmanlike appearance. No blade was made in a style appropriate for the time period and style of sword.

[Nathan Robinson]

E.B. Erickson 17th Century Hanger
Original: 17th Century, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

This sword very closely matches the original with some variance of course. As you can see, the original's knuckle-bow is missing its bottom section. The newly created one shows it as it would have been when new.

[Nathan Robinson]

Phoenix Metal Type 1 Schiavona
Original: Italian, circa 1600

We borrowed elements from many originals for this one. A lot of Type 1 schiavone are quite crude and lacking of grace, and the design here tried to adopt a style that would be consistent for the period but would be cleaned up and made to be something of a higher quality than the munitions examples often seen.

[Nathan Robinson]

E.B. Erickson Type 2 Schiavona
Original: Italian, circa 1650

This piece was based on a few different surviving samples but gets most of its design elements from the one shown here. The blade is a much simpler design, having only a single fuller and no markings due to cost restraints.

[Nathan Robinson]

Phoenix Metal Creations Type 2a Schiavona
Original: Venice, circa 1750

This is an example of a piece that borrows design elements from several originals. The final piece authentic to the era, but was designed to incorporate features that we found most attractive. The blade was not modeled after anything specific, but is similar to what can be found on swords from that period.

[Nathan Robinson]

Phoenix Metal Creations Hand-and-a-Half Sword
Original: 16th century Southern Germany

This piece was based on a strange original that is almost certainly a composite piece and probably has replacement pieces made in the 19th century. I liked the design and wanted it recreated and the modern hilt is very close to the original that inspired it. We opted to completely stray away from strange blade design of the original and instead fit it to a robust Type XIIIa blade.