October 28, 201312 yr *WARNING: THE BLADE OF THE SWORD IN THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS WAS PRODUCED BY ZEN WARRIOR ARMORY, AND HAS BEEN RIGOROUSLY TESTED AND PROPERLY HEAT TREATED FOR FENCING ACTIVITIES. IN NO WAY HAS THE POSTER TAMPERED WITH OR ADJUSTED ANY CRUCIAL ELEMENTS OF THE BLADE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCA POLICY* Now that that's over with: here's what I did this weekend! I fence in the SCA, and recently bought my own sword. However, I'm a cheapskate, and so I only bought the blade and pommel, and forged the rest. This particular style is a Popinjay style ring hilt. I started with an 8.5"x 2"x 3/16" bar of mild steel, cut the individual "legs" out, forged the legs into rings, and welded the ends together. I'm really happy with my forge welding this weekend: I had each one set on the first try! The crossguard was pretty simple: one length of 3/8" square by 11" long; drilled a pilot hole first, then drifted it out to accept the tang. The knucklebows were another story. I forge welded them together first, then bent the bars to the correct shape. Trying to get three bars all bent just right to fit the rest of the guard took me probably two hours. Final length: ~45 inches from tip to pommel.
October 28, 201312 yr Author According to my instructor, it is a popinjay rapier. It was a style used in the 1540's. It could very well be both. I'll ask about it tomorrow.
April 19, 201412 yr Thomas, A Popinjay is a not very complementary way to describe a person that preens and is all fluffy like the bird. Maillemaker, If you only had money for the hilt I think you done good! that is a VERY nice bit of work. Ernest
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