XVIIb Project / Customized A&A Dürer -- myArmoury.com

Sean Flynt

A work in progress but almost done. It's harder for me to set up a proper photo shoot than to do the work shown here, so for now I'll post a couple of pathetic snaps. Proper photos to come as I complete the project.

Most of the techniques for this project are well-covered in other posts and in my Workbench feature articles, so I’ll just post a brief overview here.

I didn’t know anything about Oakeshott Type XVIII swords when I volunteered to write this site’s “Spotlight” feature of the type several years ago ( http://www.myArmoury.com/feature_spotxviii.html ). I’ve been a great admirer of the type since then and the XVIIIb subtype has occupied a special place in my imagination. Oakeshott reckoned that the famous XVIIIb in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum might be the finest existing medieval sword, and that sounds about right to me ( http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...ayerisches ).

Price has been the primary obstacle to ownership. Albion’s Munich is beautiful, of course, but far, far out of my price range and lacking the integral leather chappe that seems to have been standard equipment, historically. A&A’s Dürer (less costly but still out reach) lacks the distinctive grip that, to me, is so much a part of the XVIIIb’s appeal.

When a battered and bruised Dürer appeared in the Marketplace earlier this summer I was finally able to scratch the XVIIIb itch. This was a perfect scenario for me—a fine sword sold cheap because it’s led a hard life and needs minor repair. I had to destroy the original grip in order to straighten the bent tang and that gave me a guilt-free excuse to create a more complex grip inspired by historical artwork and various surviving examples.

Special thanks go to Mathieu Harlaut for responding to my request for details of chappe construction. He turned up some extremely helpful archaeological drawings of surviving chappes and described his own experience in recreating one of those (details here: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...light=rain ). I used my finished grip and cross, along with photos of originals, as my references for construction and consciously avoided accurate measurement, although I did make a simple foam test piece just to make sure I was headed in the right direction.

Some historical chappe decoration —even that of the very fine Bayerisches sword--looks crude to modern eyes. To approximate that look I tried to avoid overthinking and overworking mine. I absorbed what I could from contemporary depictions and surviving examples, then did the work freehand and freestyle. I quickly filed a “good enough” star pattern in the end of a hardwood dowel, lay the leather on my anvil and tapped the dowel with a hammer wherever the mood struck, without any measuring or planning. The subtle and handmade look is exactly what I was hoping to achieve. I would have done it slightly differently if I had planned it carefully--staggering the stars instead of stacking them atop each other, for example. But I’m very pleased with the effect. The star motif is inspired by the background design of a German religious painting of ca. 1500.

Everything is tightly, but not permanently, assembled because I intend to make an historically appropriate scabbard and might want to work with the bare blade for part of that process.

So, for almost $800 less than a new Munich and $250 less than a new Dürer, I finally have an XVIIIb of my own, and with a grip treatment unavailable as a standard option for either. I know my work here doesn’t compare to what Albion and A&A can do but I think it suits a relatively plain sword made for the field. Anyway, I’m happy!

Bill Grandy · myArmoury Team

Sean, your DIY projects never cease to amaze me. Wonderful work! The chape in particular is a detail that really pulls the look together.

Allen Andrews · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 7:35 am Post subject:

What a great looking sword! (I almost said "sharp" looking, but caught myself in time) The contour of the new grip is excellent, and as Bill said, the chappe really finishes it off.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 7:40 am Post subject:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 7:51 am Post subject:

For those who haven't seen the Bayerisches XVIIIb's details, here's the main reference for my chappe construction:

Kirk Lee Spencer · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 8:12 am Post subject:

Hey Sean...

Great work! as ususal

The detail on the rain guard looks perfect to my eye. And the close-up of the grip wrap looks great.

ks

Sean Flynt · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 8:46 am Post subject:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 9:21 am Post subject:

Since I haven't mentioned it before, I should point out an important construction detail for folks who want to make their own wood/cord/leather grips. Remember that the cord and leather will add significantly to the size of the finished grip. The bare core should feel too small.

When estimating, keep in mind that the finished cord and wrap add more than just the combined thickness of a single strand of cord and single thickness of wrap. When the core looks almost right to you, wrap a short section with cord and leather and hold everything together with your hand. That'll give a good idea how much more you need to reduce the core. You can eyeball and measure all day, but there's just no substitute for feeling the piece in your hand.

Even knowing this, and even knowing that the upper part of this type of grip should be only slightly thicker than the tang, I had a few moments of doubt as I finished the core for this project. But the finished grip feels exactly right for my hands. It's amazing how slender and delicate a grip core can seem before it's mounted and finished, then becoming a very solid platform.

By the way, I used the "sandwich" construction method for this core, chiseling away the exact shape of the tang in two pieces of very dry poplar. That makes for a very close fit.

Thom R. · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 9:34 am Post subject:

Sean that is just one awesome job. I almost bought that sword but now I am glad it found such a great home. The A&A Durer is a wonderful blade very well balanced and fast in the hand. The type XVIIIa-e are sort of addicting so be careful....... in many ways I consider them to be the pinnacle of western sword design. Love the embossed leatherwork you did. Just excellent! Thanks for sharing. tr

Sean Flynt · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 9:46 am Post subject:

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 9:48 am Post subject:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 9:53 am Post subject:

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team

Sean,
As always, this looks great. Happy

It does end up being a Bayerisches-light kind of sword. I was corresponding with Craig a few years back about the Durer and he mentioned it was based on a sword in a private collection and period art more than on the sword from Munich. But they are kind of their own sword family.

So make it more Munich-like, it would need a longer grip and a few other tweaks, which Craig and company could do.

Really great results. Happy

Sean Flynt · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 10:43 am Post subject:

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team

Here's what A&A says on their website:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 12:03 pm Post subject:

Dan Dickinson · Industry Professional

Great work Sean....looks very nice.
Dan

Joe Fults · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject:

You know, I don't think its just the chape, I think the reshaping on the handle makes a very big difference as well. Regardless of why, the whole thing looks very elegant.

Joe Fults · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject:

For grins I feel like I have to ask if you have a before and after shots?

J.G. Grubbs · Posted: Tue 15 Jul, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject:

Excellent work as always, Sean....Well done!