Well this is the first batch and subsequent ones could be modified easily enough without increasing the cost.

The sharp ridge line could be rounded by a little home project work and the suede replaced.

Still looks like a nice sword if one isn't too insistent on a more period lenticular style blade section.

Probably too late in the process for all our suggestions to be applied to this batch but some thing where improved about the pommel lines.

While not quite perfect, this is still the absolutely best looking Generation 2 sword I have seen. The changes made so far are a great improvement. I'm looking forward to seeing the next one in this series.

One of the Viking swords in Ian Pierce's book still has most of it's leather wrapped grip. Years ago, while looking through some museum photos online, I found two Carolingian swords that still had leather wrappings along side their modern reproductions. I used to have the in my Runegame.com forum site "The Vikings" in one of my information "stickies". Will go check to see if it's still good and bring it back here.

None were suede, though.

As for black for handles and scabbards. Yeah, we get calls for that too to dye the scabbards with. It does not look right and the problem is whether or not it's even "period" although it might look "Barbarian cool" to some. Soot/lampblack or any other ways of blacking the leather would eventually rub off unless stablized somehow. Especially if your grip is dyed, then you have blackened palms from any sweat. Not to say black could not have been used somewhere, but just don't think it was that common.

(Edited out improper inclusions by Laurie W 3/7/07)

Laurie -

This is the Makers and Manufacturers Talk forum. it is described as "Announcements, press releases, and marketing information from the makers, manufacturers, and vendors of arms and armour". As such, it is a place for vendors and makers to to use to generate exposure for their products. As a maker yourself, it is not appropriate for you to steer another maker's topic off-target by showing items from your own shop. Please keep such things in your own topics and respect the other industry professionals that are on this site.

Should you have any questions or comments about this, the appropriate response will be to email or private message me about it.

Thank you.

Upon reading your post. I edited out the improper attachment.

OK there have been some new pictures taken and you can see everything clearly.

I was not quite happy with the other pictures, other than the handle close-up.

Here is the link: http://imperialweapons.com/swords/Reinhardt/IP-702.html

See if these look better.

Clyde Hollis