[Björn Hellqvist]

It's been years since I was active in the sword hobby. Life moved on, I picked up other interests, and I basically stopped collecting. I still keep an eye on things, though, and I'll always appreciate beautiful swords.

I had a project rattling around for years, sitting in my dad's workshop and being worked on once a year or so. Many years ago, I bought a sword blade taken from a Swedish army sabre m/1893 (sabre-hilted straight, double-edged blade). I got it for the equivalent of $33. The previous owner had tried to do something with it, taking a side grinder to the ricasso and making a mess. I tidied up that area, restoring the transition from blade to tang. Then, with some help from my father, I fashioned a crossguard. A few years later, I used big washers to fashion a pommel of sorts, adding washers until I had the balance I wanted. I weighted the "pommel" and calculated the dimensions the real pommel was to have. My brother, who is an engineer with 3D modelling as a speciality, created a blueprint, and turned it from a piece of steel rod in our father's lathe.

I made the grip, mounted the pieces, made a pommel "nut", and cold-peened the tang end over it. The grip was wrapped with waxed cotton thread and covered with thin leather. I know the blade is a bit on the skinny side, but I feel that this is kind of an epilogue to my active sword interest. But who knows - one day the sword craze might flare up again.

[Mark Moore]

Once you are bitten by the 'sword bug'--you're hooked for life. The sword looks great! ...McM

[Chad Arnow]

Bjorn,
Great to see you back. It's nice to have one of the forum originals around again.

[Björn Hellqvist]

Thanks! While I'm not really in the loop, I still meet the occasional person who knows about my website. The HEMA community in Sweden has grown in the 15+ years since I helped promoting HEMA, and some of the best fencers have told me that my website was instrumental in spreading knowledge about historical European fencing in Sweden. Others have carried on, but I'm happy that what I did all those years ago inspired people.

[Lancelot Chan]

Good to see you back. It has been a long long time!

[J. Nicolaysen]

Hi Bjorn,

I've come across your posts here and your website before and I wanted to say thanks for your work. Many interesting interviews and articles!

It's too bad the previous owner ground down the ricasso, but you've made the whole thing look much better. Yes it is a little narrow, but it still looks highly usable. Thanks for sharing!