[Isaac H.]

hehe..who says they DON"T have magical powers ?

[Tom Kinder]

I was talking to Gus on the phone the yesterday and he told me I had to come look at the swords you posted here in this thread because they were drop-dead gorgeous, and what can I say: they ARE!

I really like the XIV(a) and I find its type and dimensions very interesting. I always wondered why there wasn't a XIVa category by Oakeshott. I knew there wasn't a lot of representation in surviving swords but logically the type should be there. good to see it.

the timeless sword is way sexy too its just the XIV spoke to me in a louder voice.

thank you so much for sharing this with us Peter, you've done superior work once again.

[Herbert Schmidt]

For those of you who are interested, here is a short video of the fair and some shots of the sword.
It also includes rare footage of test cutting by Peter Johnsson


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiB2snop7iI

hope you like it!

Herbert

[G. Ghazarian]

Peter, you consistently do quality work and you have my respect for it.

“Quality is not an act, it is a habit.”
Aristotle

Bravo,
Gabriel

[Bartek Strojek]

Not only " XIVa" sword is extremely interesting as far as shapes etc. of the blades goes. It's also looks absolutely amazing.

Everything from the colors to the outline is absolutly majestic.

I've just got struck by weird idea : if I had to put one swords picture in Encyclopedia send to the space for possible extraterrestrial life to see - that would be the sword I would use.

[C.L. Miller]

[C.L. Miller]

[Peter Cowan]

Those are very beautiful swords, Peter, but I found the "Timeless sword" to be stunning. I love seeing a hollow-ground blade with lines as elegant as yours and the old iron hilt furniture just adds to the overall look. Congratulations.
I bet she handles flawlessly.

[J. Erb]

Neither one is really my style, but the craftsmanship is exquisite regardless. Also, I have to say that the iron furniture on the "timeless sword" is absolutely GORGEOUS, especially when paired with the silver. There's just something, I don't know...organic about it that I find really appealing. A scent-stopper XIX with the same aesthetics would be absolutely drool-inducing (though perhaps not very historical? Don't know, don't care ).

[Einar Drønnesund]

Peter those are both absolutely gorgeous.

But the Timeless sword, that has something truly special about it. I am a sucker for hollow ground blades and that combined with the narrow fuller really makes it stand out. Not to mention the almost wood-grain like structure of the hilt components. I did a double take when looking at the pics, cause i almost thought they were wood at first glance. (Yes, i scrolled down to look before reading. I couldnt help myself)

Cant wait to see the high quality photos. I hope they're huge so I can use them as a desktop background.

[J.D. Crawford]

[Michael Murphy]

Peter; the pommel type on the type XIV sword is a favorite of mine also. Thank you for crafting and posting images of these two beautiful swords.

[Vincent Le Chevalier]

[Peter Johnsson]

Thank you all.

It is a privilege for a maker to hear this kind of appreciation of ones work. Your feedback is inspiration that I will put to good use in coming projects.

The time-less theme will be revisited. When you look at work done in the japanese tradition today, there is no question that you can relate to traditional forms without striving to make exact replicas of ancient swords. Work can be an exploration of color, surface, texture, line and form and still be very much an object made within an existing tradition. *But* there is also no question, that you need to be acutely aware of the "rules" of tradition, even if you approach it in a time-less fashion.
I find it an exiting challenge to try approaching the western tradition in the same way.

The article will be published in March next year in Park Lane Arms Fair catalogue. The catalogue is out by the time the Fair is held. That is first weekend of March, if I am not mistaken. I think the catalogue can be ordered.
At the moment I am hewing away on my hypothesis, finding new support, throwing not so good ideas out the window and subjecting it to a shave or two by Occam´s razor. Quite a bit of work is yet to be done, that is.

By the time the article is published I really hope my own web site is finally up. I shall put up a version of the article there, or at least present the idea and its supporting evidence with some discussion on possible conclusions or consequences. When this is done, I will make a post here at the forum, so those that are interested may go and have a look. It will be shown with illustrations: very picture heavy mode of reasoning by necessity.

[Charles Richmond]