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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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 Posted: Thu 28 Oct, 2004 12:43 pm Post subject: The SW11 Early Basket-hilt (photo-intensive) |
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I recently received a new hilt created by E.B. Erickson. I took the time last night to mount it onto its blade. I am so excited by this sword that I have to show you all a few photos!
This sword is based on the SW11 early basket-hilt:
We used this sword only as inspiration, as I wasn't looking for a direct replica. ElJay used his artistic judgement to change the design of the pommel and some proportions of the basket. Also note that the original sword on which this is based has its quillons cut off like so many other swords of this type. It's presumed that they were typically removed by the owner as a personal preference to assist handling. I asked ElJay to create this hilt with the quillons in-tact, replicating the sword is as may have left the historic cutler's shop.
Here are photos of my new sword:
   
Click on any photo to see the high-resolution version
The hilt was made to mount on a Donnie Shearer (Mad Piper) designed blade created by Del Tin. This blade has three fullers; two extending half-way down the blade and the other extending longer. There are two additional small fullers in the ricasso area.
ElJay did an absolutely excellent job on this hilt and I'd say its quality is as good as anything I own. The inside of the basket is extremely well finished, too, with no rough spots whatsoever. The proportions are perfect and the feel of it is very, very good. The grip is exceptionally well done, having a mixture of straight silver and gold-colored wire (steel and brass?), twisted wire, and multiple-strand twisted, as well.
And here are some photos of a previous SW11 replica that ElJay made for Alex McCracken: (Note the cut-off quillons as on the antique)
For the sake of comparison, this sword was also recreated by Vince Evans and can be seen below:
And here is a version created by The Mad Piper many years ago:
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William Goodwin
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| Posted: Thu 28 Oct, 2004 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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Nathan,
That's an awesome looking piece of work! The more I see ElJays' stuff, the more jaw-dropped I am. The "S" quillons really set the whole thing off. Can't wait to see more!
Bill
Roanoke Sword Guilde
roanokeswordguilde@live.com
"I was born for this" - Joan of Arc
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Geoff Freeman
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| Posted: Thu 28 Oct, 2004 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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Ooohh....now that is gorgeous. All this basket-hilt eyecandy is driving me crazy! Must one day acquire.....
Fantastic acquisition, Nathan!
Geoffrey C. Freeman
Durendal Fencing Club
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Thu 28 Oct, 2004 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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Verrrrry nice ...... our Eljay is one amazing hammerman !
Man, his grips are just outstanding ...... I remember well the SW11 he did for Alex !
It's very cool seeing this one with the quillons intact !
Congratulations on a fine new piece, Nathan ..... I look forward to hearing alot more about it !
Mac
*Photo: Thomas McDonald
* Edit :
Weight - 2 lbs. 14 1/2 oz.
POB - 3 1/2" in front of hilt
DT blade now weighs - 1 lb. 5 oz.
(used to weigh - 1 lb. 6 3/4 oz.)
Complete hilt - 1 lb. 9 1/2 oz.
Pommel - 6 1/4 oz.
Grip - 1 3/4 oz.
Basket - 1 lb. 3/4 oz.
Capstan nut & screws - 1/4 oz.
Leather washer - ?
From the SFI thread - Basket Assembly, Courtesy of Thomas MacDonald!, by Alex McCracken.
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
Last edited by Thomas McDonald on Fri 29 Oct, 2004 8:35 am; edited 1 time in total
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Ben Sweet
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| Posted: Thu 28 Oct, 2004 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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Congrats on the beauty! Such a classy design....
What is the weight on the Del Tin blade?
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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| Posted: Thu 28 Oct, 2004 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Ben Sweet wrote: | Congrats on the beauty! Such a classy design....
What is the weight on the Del Tin blade? |
Sorry, Ben, I didn't weigh the individual parts prior to assembly. I guess I should have, but I was eager to get it together and find myself a distraction last evening.
I remember the blade being pretty light. This isn't a light sword, however, at 3.4 pounds.
.:. Visit my Collection Gallery :: View my Reading List :: View my Wish List :: See Pages I Like :: Find me on Facebook .:.
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Patrick Kelly
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| Posted: Thu 28 Oct, 2004 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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Another great looking one for the Nathan Robinson compound hilt collection!
Did you have much trouble fitting it to the blade?
"In valor there is hope.".................. Tacitus
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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| Posted: Thu 28 Oct, 2004 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Patrick Kelly wrote: | Another great looking one for the Nathan Robinson compound hilt collection!
Did you have much trouble fitting it to the blade? |
Funny you should ask that.I had sent the blade to ElJay when he was visiting the states and he did all the tang treatment at that point. I'm glad he did it and not me! When it arrived, the grip was very tight and could not be seated fully so I took a hand-file to the tang for about 15 minutes until it fit. Very easy, really.
The tang on that particular DT blade is quite thick and rectangular so it helped to round off the little squared-off corners..
.:. Visit my Collection Gallery :: View my Reading List :: View my Wish List :: See Pages I Like :: Find me on Facebook .:.
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William Goodwin
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| Posted: Thu 28 Oct, 2004 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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Upon closer looking, just noticed the pommel screws. This wasn't a common thing on most early Scottish basket-hilts or was it? Know some of the English b-hilts had this feature, just never took note on the Scottish one's. Can ya' clarify this for me? Thanx
Bill
Roanoke Sword Guilde
roanokeswordguilde@live.com
"I was born for this" - Joan of Arc
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Gordon Frye
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| Posted: Thu 28 Oct, 2004 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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Beautiful! Indeed, the quillons really add to the over all look of the piece. The "clipped wing" version looks as though it's "missing something" for sure. Glad you had it made "as delivered"!
Thanks for posting the pictures.
Gordon
"After God, we owe our victory to our Horses"
Gonsalo Jimenez de Quesada
http://www.renaissancesoldier.com/
http://historypundit.blogspot.com/
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Thu 28 Oct, 2004 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Ben Sweet wrote: | Congrats on the beauty! Such a classy design....
What is the weight on the Del Tin blade? |
Hi Ben
Those special Del Tin Scot blades that Donnie sold weighed in at 1 lbs. 6 3/4 oz.
( Alex's blade lost exactly 1 3/4 ounces after grinding the tang to fit Eljay's hilt, so it now weighs 1 lb. 5 oz. )
Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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| Posted: Thu 28 Oct, 2004 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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| William Goodwin wrote: | | Upon closer looking, just noticed the pommel screws. This wasn't a common thing on most early Scottish basket-hilts or was it? Know some of the English b-hilts had this feature, just never took note on the Scottish one's. Can ya' clarify this for me? Thanx |
In truth, this type of early hilt isn't necessarily Scottish. It's certainly British, but like my Vince Evans sword, it's most likely from the borders, making it Lowland if Scottish at all.
But going beyond that part, the screws on these early border hilts don't seem to be as common as the feature of simply having the guards come up and fit into grooves or notches in the pommel. I think it's pretty unique for these types of swords. Mac will have to answer about later-period Scottish basket-hilts, though.
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Fri 29 Oct, 2004 5:31 am Post subject: |
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Firstly .... Nathan, great pics ! Man, that is one beautiful piece of work ! Excellent job, Eljay !
Bill
John Wallace, in "Scottish Swords & Dirks", referrred to SW11 as "probably English" .
As far as Scottish examples go, that feature guards screwed to the pommel, I've seen several examples of Lowland left-hand daggers that utilize this construction method . Though I do believe that this style is English in origin !
You do see examples of Scottish silver hilts that have this construction, probably due to the fact that the hilts needed extra support given the weaker nature (soft) of the silver !
*Photo: John Wallace, "Scottish Swords & Dirks"
* Photo: "Culloden The Swords & the Sorrows", The National Trust For Scotland
Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Lee O'Hagan
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| Posted: Fri 29 Oct, 2004 9:23 am Post subject: |
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Congrats Nathan,
Thats some fine looking package,
The grip looks a work of art on it;s own,
Great pics as usuall,
Eljay sure does some fine work,
This weeks been basket heaven,
Thanks for sharing all.
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Brent Rattan
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| Posted: Fri 29 Oct, 2004 11:34 am Post subject: |
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That is one gorgeous sword Nathan. What a masterpiece. Thanks for sharing with the great pictures. I think that the basket hilt just moved up the line on my list of future sword purchases!
D B
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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Steve Grisetti
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| Posted: Fri 29 Oct, 2004 6:54 pm Post subject: Hilt Material |
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With the earlier reference to silver hilts (though not with specific reference to Nathan's new beauty), I have to ask - what is the material of the hilt?
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Fri 29 Oct, 2004 7:29 pm Post subject: Re: Hilt Material |
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| Steve Grisetti wrote: | | With the earlier reference to silver hilts (though not with specific reference to Nathan's new beauty), I have to ask - what is the material of the hilt? |
Hi Steve
Modern day hilts, like Vince makes, normally are made from a mild (low carbon) steel !
Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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| Posted: Fri 29 Oct, 2004 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: Hilt Material |
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| Thomas McDonald wrote: | | Steve Grisetti wrote: | | With the earlier reference to silver hilts (though not with specific reference to Nathan's new beauty), I have to ask - what is the material of the hilt? |
Hi Steve
Modern day hilts, like Vince makes, normally are made from a mild (low carbon) steel !
Mac |
I think he's asking what the "silver" hilts are made from. They're made from silver. 
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