8-8-01 From: "Jim
Lindsey" Dear Mike: Thank you for your time on the phone earlier this morning. I just returned from Kinko's where I took the vellum tracing and had it photocopied again and reduced in size to where I could scan it for you. I hope too much was not lost in the resolution from so much photocopying and downsizing. The original painting was a full sized painting of the sword and, thus, the tracing is likewise. Rest assured, the tracing is now safe again in my mother's old cedar chest. You should have seen me hovering over my precious tracing while those guys were placing it through the large copier. I was scared out of my wits that they'd tear it or worse. They used a blueprints copier and still we had to do two copies (copy of the top half and one of the bottom half) at 64% reduction. Then the two reduced images had to be spliced together with tape and run through the big machine again before it was reduced enough to fit on 11x17 paper. When it was 11x17 we reduced it again to 8.5x14 legal sized. I ran over it real quick with a pencil to darken up the lines so that the final 8.5x14 would be pretty good for scanning. All in all it was quite a task. I guess that vellum is not impervious to age because it had yellowed terribly over the years of being stuck away in that cedar chest. We did a lot of lightening and contrast adjustment to get it so that the background was solid white and there were no fold marks visible in the copy. Also the vellum paper of the tracing had become very fragile and I almost tore it several times when unfolding. I'm very glad to have to tracing reproduced now just in case the vellum should deteriorate much further. I've now scanned the image and merely called the file name Cruciform Sword. I also imported the image into a MS Word document and cited the various slight differences that I remember from the movie sword when compared to our family sword. I've also included two photo scans of the one painting I do still have. The painting was done in 1937 by a long-dead relative of mine, Clarence Lindsey. Clarence fancied himself a painter and did a not-too-bad job in his representation of the sword, although his lines are far from straight and his dimensions are quite "off". Nevertheless, despite the design discrepancies shown in Clarence's painting, since it is all we have left of the sword, I cherish it as an extremely prized possession. I don't wish to take up too much of your time, but I would like to give you as much information on our sword as possible. I've spent years researching all of this, speaking to family members I never knew I had until I traced them down, to piece together a sort of history of our sword. (see the History section for detailed information) I hope sincerely that you've found this bit of history about my family sword interesting. I've had swordmakers tell me I'm full of bull when they hear the history of my family's sword, and yet others are fascinated with it. I guess it all depends upon the open receptiveness of the person hearing the tale and, therefore, I do not often tell it. What may be rubbish to someone else is precious to me and I've spent a great deal of time learning from old-timers in the family what I could before the stories become lost. I wish I had more substantial documentation to back it all up, but all I have is that old tracing and the 1937 painting that Clarence did. I would greatly appreciate it if you could reserve my email address, and keep me posted on the project. Likewise, I hope you enjoy the images I'm sending. I will search for it and send it when I find it. I hope Jody will find it both amusing and, perhaps, an attractive design. Have a great day and hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely,
8-13-02 From: Jim Lindsey
Dear Howy, Yes, indeed, I would love to work with you on this project. Mike just called me a few moments before I checked my email and the deal he quoted to me of giving me the first two swords made me nearly swoon into a dead faint of sheer delight on the instant... as well as the possibility of fulfilling a lifelong dream (even as the Atlantean fulfilled a 20-year dream which still feels delightfully surrealistic). I agree most emphatically that the production of this sword would indeed satisfy film fans as well as taking a unique sword and restoring it to the world. And the very thought of this project helping to track down the original painting from 1654 has me experiencing what your son, James, calls that "eerie fire of the brain" as well. I heartily and with all my essence and being endorse and support this project and you will have my full cooperation in every way (even if I should sometimes become a little opinionated when it comes to the exactness of the sword's design... I think Mike was pretty clear that you wanted to get the sword as perfectly accurate as possible... which is one of the wonderful aspects of Albion Armorers). I love your idea of the gold-plate bronze fittings. This may sound crazy, but I can actually feel the sword in my hand at this very moment even as I could feel the Atlantean before it arrived. More than anything, I feel both proud and honored that you wish to do the sword of my ancestry as well as feeling somewhat humbled that Fate would bring such an honor toward my direction . I would say that your offer has me speechless... however, since I just talked poor Mike's arm off on the phone (bless his heart, he caught some of the brunt of my excitement) I can't really make the claim of being entirely speechless! LOL Anyway, I'd like to add a most heartfelt "Thank You" from the deepest reaches of my very soul for the consideration of doing this project. I think it is an excellent idea and I'm all for pursuing it. As soon as I've sent this email to you, I will dig out all my images, photostatic copies of the original tracing (one of which has a "scale" of feet & inches next to it) and will scan and send those in an email along with all the details of the sword that I learned in my childhood and committed to memory's flame over the years. This is going to be a very busy night for me! And, a delightful one. In a separate email following that one, I will send you as much of the sword's history as I know, as well as a digital photo of the small painting that Clarence Lindsey did of the sword back in 1937. Although Clarence was very inaccurate with a lot of small details (he was a very "amateur" painter), his overall rendering of the sword's general design was pretty accurate. However, the "drawing" I'll send (which is an 11x17 reduced photocopy of the original vellum tracing) is completely accurate in design. Mike was telling me that you wanted to get the sword perfect in every aspect of design and detail ... I would say, with complete confidence, that if the exact shape and design of the tracing is followed the recreated sword will be a perfect duplicate of the original. I'm reasonably confident that if the traced design of the Lindsey sword were compared with the film sword, film fans will be delighted with the sword as well. And, there are aspects about the sword that have meaning which would add interest to it, such as the mesh-like diamond etching on the pommel. There is a distinct meaning that the engraving represents which I'll talk about in the email which covers the sword's history. Well, I will close this and get to work on assembling all these things you will need so I can send them to you before I end up talking your arm off in this email. LOL If I can find some drafting pens, I will also use some fresh vellum and rulers with circle gauges to trace a cleaner image for you (in the process of reducing the original tracing on a copier so that the sword image would fit on an 11x17 page, some of the straight lines became sort of wiggly). I'll send the new "clean" image in another separate email. As an added treat, I'll try to entice my sister in Missouri to rummage through my mother's old cedar chest and send me the original vellum tracing that my father did back in 1960. We keep it safe and sound, folded up and sealed in a plastic document protector, in Mom's old cedar chest and there it is preserved. If I can get her to send me the original tracing, I'll go to AlphaGraphics where they have one of those HUGE copier machines and get them to render a life-size photo copy to send to you. That is, if they'll do it. Vellum becomes brittle and fragile when it ages for many years and they may not want to risk it if their big copier is one of the paper-feed type. Since the original vellum tracing is now 42 years old, I'd imagine that it's pretty fragile by now! :-) Again, Thank You, Howy, Amy, Mike and everyone there ... to reiterate something you said in your email, I agree that this project would, as you say, in one stroke satisfy the Film fans as well as adding an interesting historic replica to your line of excellent products... and to be sure, you have my complete faith and support, for there is only one name I would trust to recreate my ancestors' sword... Albion Armorers. God bless you all and I'll be sending all my info and materials to you as quickly as possible. With warmest
regards, best wishes and deepest thanks,
From: Jim Lindsey
When Macsen ap MacGhille Fhionntaig (our Scottish clan chief) had the sword made in 1072AD, he spared no expense and his creation became a thing of beauty as much as a functional fighting weapon. He chose what might be called a radical method of wire wrapping. Instead of two wires wrapped around themselves and then run around the hilt like most wrapping is done today, he chose extremely thin very fine silver-colored wire that almost seemed white (according to the way it was illustrated in the original painting). Instead of using two wires he used three of these fine thin wires and when the grip was wrapped in them I can almost envision how the grip must have looked ... perhaps as though the wire was so fine that it seemed more a cloth wrapped grip than wire wrapped. I haven't seen the painting itself since 1960, but for the very first years of my life I spent hours upon hours gazing up at it over his mantle every day and I can still see it as clearly today as if I were actually looking at it now (oh, how this all brings back fond memories!). I have never seen a hilt actually wire wrapped in the way Papaw Lindsey (my grandfather) described it. He took great delight in my interest in the sword as small a child as I was and, oh, the stories he would tell of it ... drilling them all into me. The bolsters were not illustrated in the painting as being the same gold color as the guard & pommel. Rather, instead of matching the pommel and guard, they were illustrated as a very shiny silver color (I presume they must have been polished steel or silver). What a vision that painting was! Oh, how beautiful that sword must have been in real ... gold colored pommel and guard, shiny silver colored bolsters, the hilt almost white the way it was wrapped in the thin fine wire and then that glorious blade with its interesting tapers and fuller ... the lifesize painting alone was enough to take one's breath away, but the sword in real must have been fantastic beyond belief (and Macsen was certainly touchy about it because there's an old family lore, probably mere legend, that claims Macsen once ran a man through simply because he'd picked up the sword ... according to Papaw Lindsey, Macsen swore that while he lived no man's hand but his own would ever fall upon the hilt of his sword under penalty of death). Soon as I get home from work tomorrow I'll get my vellum (transparent vellum this time!) and do an accurate clean retracing using the correct image so that you can see detail much better. I will also do a front view and a side view of the pommel (in cutaway fashion) as I remember the descriptions to be from my grandfather and father talking about it before my grandfather died. By the way, a little history about the pommel is that the ring surrounding the diamond engravings represents the ever changing, ever encircling and everlasting ring of Life and the diamond mesh engraving represents the interweaving fabric that binds our manifest world together with the Otherworld and (you'll love this!) the Otherworld was always referred to as being called Albion! It was actually the name of your company, rather than foreknown knowledge of your quality, that initially attracted me to Albion Armorers. Goodness, Howy, the more I keep thinking about it the more I realize that there are a few subtle differences in our sword and the film sword ... the main one being that our sword was probably far superior in many ways to the movie sword despite the fact that their designs are so very close and nearly identical in appearance. This could be another instance where, just as the 20th Anniversary Atlantean is superior to the original sword, your recreation of Discerner could far surpass the actual film sword. :-) Knowing the quality of an Albion sword, I have no doubt that the swords you make will be far superior in quality to the movie sword (not to impugne the film sword's maker's work in any way, of course). The one thing I am missing in my sword history is the actual Gaelic word for its name. In English, the name roughly translates as being "Discerner" or, "To Discern". I just simply use the English name "Discerner". However, now that this project has come about, I must research and find the Gaelic word for it. Take care and I sincerely look forward to rendering all the help, specs, images, advice and aid that I can on this project. And because it is Albion that is creating the swords, I'm more than proud and willing to allow my family name to be used on them... to be honest, it's a great honor to allow my family name to be associated with an Albion sword. :-) There is no way possible for me to express what this project means to me personally, so I will merely say that it means the entire world to me. Thank you ... With best wishes, regards and deepest respect, Jim
8-14-02 From: Jim Lindsey
My excitement level is so high right now it makes me wish I could take the day off from work just to sit here and work on all my materials for you. Just a few more tweaks here and there in the sword's design and we'll have a final design happening, that's how close we are! I was blown away by the pentacle idea ... and it worked perfectly because the elongation of the diamond pattern you illustrated are exactly perfect... makes me wonder if old Macsen placed a lot more thought in the design of the sword than what even I give him credit for! Wow! When you read the history of the sword and the complete meaning of the pommel's symbolism, logical reasoning might lead us to believe after all that a pentacle turned on its side might have indeed been intentional when the sword was designed. :-) I was blown away by the silky look you gave the hilt in this latest illustration ... that is pretty much exactly how the hilt looked in the painting! Great job! Just picture that exact same texture in a silvery-white look and you've got it! Wow. I've always been impressed with how you all do things there at Albion, but I'm getting doubly and triple impressed now! Excellent... we're definitely on the right track here ... Not only is this sword going to knock my lights out completely, but I think film fans will be stampeding and stumbling over themselves to place their orders and purchase one of these whenever it hits your catalog... (why do I get this gut feeling that this sword will be every bit as successful as the Conan swords?) *big broad grin here* Well, I'm going to be sitting on pins and needles for this work-day to hurry and get over with so that I can rush home and continue working on this as well as assimilating all the history that I've recorded over the years. I might even try to sneak a little work on it while at the job during those "lull times" when there's not too much happening today. :-) Before I went to bed, I sat down and kept remembering the size of the lifesize painting and compared the memory of that with the sword I measured yesterday that turned out to be 44.5" overall length. It's so very close! I'm now believing that my father's scale of measurement was pretty close after all and that an overall length of 43" to 44.5" will be extremely accurate. While I realize this is a bit longer than your initial estimate of a 36" overall length, every fibre in my being is leading me to realize that 43 to 44.5 will make for the accurate recreation in size. :-) Take care, Howy, and have a great day at work today! I'm eager to rush back home and continue to work on this. Jim
We may have finally nailed the design. Today we start on the prototype. From: Jim Lindsey
Wow! Morning, Howy... How would they say this in Great Britain? Hmmm.... ah, yes.... "By George, I think he's got it!" :-) I think it's going to be absolutely perfect, Howy... man, you're awesome! I thought it was kind of cool that the family name was spelled in the original parent name of "Lindsay". And we're definitely in tune because I went to bed thinking on the name for the sword. Since we've been pretty much in tune on this all along it didn't surprise me at all to see how you'd named the sword because I'd settled on a narrowing down of three as I was drifting off to sleep... ready for this? Here's the choices I thought of: Discerner - The
Sword of Lindsey I could only smile and think to myself "great minds think alike" when I saw how you'd expressed the name for the sword this morning. :-) I think we pretty much have a "go" on this thing. I'm very pleased with your latest draft and I think the sword will be one that may even rival the Conan project. I'm also very sure that my father's scale of measurement is pretty accurate. At one point yesterday I did a little experiment... I took that sword I'd measured and hung it up on a wall about the same height as the painting was in my grandfather's study, then I laid on the floor to gaze up at it the way I did when I was a kid looking up at the sword. It's very very close in overall length to the size I remember the sword being in the painting although there might be a little variance. In overall length I definitely would not go beyond 44.5" but I'd also not go below 43 or 42 inches. I'm pretty sure that 44.5" overall length was the accurate size. However, since I'm not entirely sure how accurate my father's scale was, I leave this detail of overall length into your hands. Well, my friends there at Albion, I'm off to work. When I come home I'll dig up what actual photographs I have that would relate to the sword (including a very old photograph of my grandfather who was the last person in the family to own the painting) and send those right out to you. Take care and have a great day Howy, and please give my best to everyone there. Warmest regards,
8-17-02
Setting your mind at ease about the sword's period of creation, your article on that confirms some of the ideas that I have wondered about and I wish you to feel free to publish what I'm about to say on the page if you like and if you think it would be appropriate to add. :-) Concerning the date of the sword's creation, this will not be the first time that I've been told that the sword's design is paradoxical in regard to the year 1072AD. I should mention that I accept that year as the time of its creation based solely upon four separate family members who all agreed that it was during that timeframe that Macsen ap MacGhille Fhionntaig was alive and that it was that particular year the sword was created. In stating that particular year, I do not wish to imply that 1072AD is a date set in stone for the creation of the original sword. For all I know, all four (Aunt Merle, Travis, Clarence and my grandfather) could have been mistaken, despite their good intentions and belief, as to the exact period of Macsen's life and the year the sword was created. However, if the date of Discerner's creation was indeed 1072AD, as I believe it was, it would not be the first incident in history when an object made by the hand of man became paradoxical in the sense of being, perhaps, far ahead of its time. While I fully empathize with anyone who looks with skepticism on 1072AD as being the accurate creation date of the sword, I sincerely hope that those who are skeptical can retain a certain open-mindedness to the possibility that the date is indeed correct. History is replete with instances of engineering and manufacturing achievements wherein items made were either ahead of their time or did not conform to the established norm for production of the period ... it could be that Discerner is just one of many of such examples. As touching on the blade's design with the dramatic taper from the guard to about 1/4 the blade's length before it settles into a more uniform straightness, I believe the painting's depiction of that design to be accurate because of the manner in which the fuller also mimics that broadening of the blade as it extends toward the guard. Throughout my life I've never actually doubted the accuracy of the sword's design the way the painting illustrates it... yet, I must admit there have been times in the past when I've wondered what must have gone through the mind of the man who painted the original painting... what did his eyes actually see? My personal belief is that the painter saw exactly what he painted ... still, there is another question that cannot be ignored entirely. Was he the artistic victim of an optical illusion created by the glare of something like sunlight shining upon the blade? I mention this because there are occasions when sunlight will touch the blade of the beautiful Atlantean sword I purchased from Albion Armorers. At such a time it can look as though the blade is shaped differently when, in reality, the blade is straight and true. Was such an illusion created by sunlit glare apparent during the painting of Discerner? Perhaps. However, I think it unlikely and I fully and completely trust the accuracy of how the painting depicted the sword. While it is true that in family tradition we have always believed the hilt fittings were original to the sword, there is no way we can truly know if this is entirely the case as the first recorded image of the sword was the original life size painting rendered in 1654. To our knowledge there are no known drawings of the sword prior to the cited painting. It is therefore possible that while the sword has always been cruciform in design, the hilt fittings may have been updated from an earlier and possibly far less elegant design. That the sword existed and that it was a thing of beauty and grace there is no doubt. Also, that questions may arise regarding the exact date of the sword's creation is a thing that is completely expected and understandable, but my gut feeling is to trust what I've been taught and to believe the date to be reasonably accurate. The main heart and depth of all I know of the sword came to me through the many long hours of questions and conversation with my grandfather, Aunt Merle, Clarence and Travis who seemed, more than anyone else in the family, to know a great detail about the sword as well as the images of seeing the painting so very often before my grandfather's death, and the images rendered in that beloved tracing my father made of it, and Clarence's interpretation of it as rendered in his 1937 painting. The various symbolisms engrained in the sword, such as, how it came to be cruciform in design, the meanings of the diamond pattern as well as the lines that form the diamonds in the pommel etc. cause me to view my ancestor as a man of deep thought, innovation, fairness, purpose and spiritual faith regardless of exactly what path of belief he may have followed. The various familial stories of lore, such as Macsen's running a man through simply for picking up the sword or his tossing it up into the air to follow the direction of its blade when it landed on the ground, are exactly that... the stuff of legend that may very well be true, but may also be the sort of folklore that often surrounds a revered family heirloom: fun and interesting to hear but possibly doubtful as to validity. I, for one, delight in the stories I've been told of the sword and revere them as further enrichment regarding the sword itself. One other note I would like to touch on regards a similarity in Discerner's appearance and that of a very popular sword of cinema. Those who have seen that sword in cinema need only to take one look at Discerner and think "Why, that looks just like..." and the same is true in reverse for I've had people see the small painting I have, then see the movie sometime afterward and say "Why, that looks just like your family sword!". Although I've often wondered if Discerner could have been a source of inspiration in the cinematic sword's design (how very exciting and complimentary it would be if that were the case!), I wish it clearly understood that I make no implication that Discerner was ever in any wise, knowingly or unknowingly, a source for the design of the cinematic sword. Of course, as Discerner was created several hundred years ago, its design was obviously not inspired by the cinematic sword in question. My feelings on this matter are that neither sword is connected with each other in any wise beyond the uncanny resemblance each bears toward the other. If, in an unlikely event, Discerner did somehow unknowingly play a part in the inspiration of the other sword's design, then my feelings on that matter are merely confined to a sense of being flattered that its general design might have been considered, and thought well enough of, to be turned into a sword for the cinema. However, I just prefer to think of these swords' similarities as being one of those weird flukes in the law of averages that can sometimes happen in the course of time and events… that sooner or later something has got to look remarkably like something else despite the uniqueness or originality of its design. On a lighter note, regarding such a fluke of possible coincidence, I was reminded recently of a saying that goes something like this: "Give a thousand monkeys a typewriter and let them type long enough and they will eventually type a page from Hamlet". In closing, I would like to render a series of deep, heartfelt credits and thanks. First, a posthumous thanks to Clarence, Travis, Aunt Merle and my grandfather for drilling into me all they knew of the sword. Their knowledge and inspiration in all of this has enriched my life in many wonderful ways as well as instilling a deeper and more profound appreciation of an important element in family history. In a world in which many people allow the memories of heirlooms and family artifacts to fade away with the erosion of time, these four saw in me, even as a child, a willing torch to keep the history and memory of the sword, as they knew it, alive to pass along to other Lindsay/Lindsey family members as I'm able. An honored task which I've been proud to bear and tried to live up to throughout the years of my life. And, now with the recreation of Discerner, this beloved heirloom lives again to be passed along to other generations and shared with all who desire it. This brings me to my next and most heartfelt series of thanks... rendered with all my being to Howy, Amy, Mike, Jody, Leif, all the group at Albion Armorers and especially to Master Swordsmith Randal Graham, his apprentice Jason Dingledine, and cutlers Lars and Shan-Ann, and of course Eric McHugh for their diligent and exceptional work on the sword. Only into the hands of Albion Armorers would I commit the recreation of Discerner, for aside from the exceptional quality of an Albion sword, there is an exactness, attention to detail and what can only be called a tender loving care that goes into the making of any Albion product. The professionalism, courtesy and exceptional character of each person who comprises the entire Albion assemblage is of the highest caliber and it is my great honor and privilege to know that the recreation of this beloved sword rests within the care of this great company. Well, that's
about it for now, Howy. Take care and have a great evening!
8-18-02 Hi Howy, I could not stop thinking about the scripture you cited as a possibility for the origin of the sword's name. I couldn't help hopping into my Bible for a moment to read the scripture over and over. I thought I might also find even more references to the word "discerner" but in the entire Bible, at least according to the Index and Concordance in mine, that one very profound scripture, Hebrews 4:12, makes the only reference to that particular word ... though there are other references in many scriptures using the word "discern" in places (most primarily to "discern between good and evil" or right and wrong). This new possibility is all so sudden and very interesting and my mind fairly races with all manner of speculation as I think on it and consider "what might be" as opposed to "what might not be". I've only used the Duay and King James Versions, and so have not gone through the various revised and "living" versions. But though the scripture is worded slightly different in my King James than the reference you quoted to me in your earlier email, the word "discerner" is definitely there with the scripture content being generally the same ... and I suspect that if we were to look at other versions we might find the same word "discerner" unchanged, though as in this case, the general wording of the scripture itself might be slightly different. The scripture in my particular King James Version reads like this: Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." How very powerful and profound that scripture is regardless of the Biblical version it is quoted from ... and what a powerful and profound thought it is to consider that this might have been the source and inspiration for the naming of the sword. Although we cannot be sure, of course, that it is actually the foundation for the name of the sword, I believe we can be assured of one thing ... that a very profound and new element of "food for thought" has been brought to light regarding Discerner and, perhaps, even a new insight to the possible beliefs of the man who designed and was first to wield it. Thank you most graciously for bringing this scripture and possibility to my attention. In doing so you have touched me in a manner that is similar in the way that my grandfather and other relatives did who instilled in me the knowledge of the sword. In fairness to more than just the four Lindsey family members whose names I've mentioned so prominently throughout my research, I should state that over the years I have talked to scores of family members ... some who've expressed what limited knowledge they had of the sword, some in our branch of Lindsey who knew there was a sword, but could not remember (even vaguely) any stories or details about it, and still many who knew nothing about it at all. To name them all would not be entirely possible because the list is long and many I only saw during a single visit, thus their names escape me. But many of their faces remain engrained in my memory and to them I owe a great deal of thanks for their time and effort in trying to answer my many (and what must have seemed, at times, bothersome) questions. One thing I may have failed to mention in all my correspondence with you is that along with my discovery of family members that I did not know I had, I also discovered over the years that both Lindsay and Lindsey names seem to be very diversified in the sense that there are completely separate families of this name scattered around the nation (and probably the world) who are totally unrelated to each other yet share the same family name. And so it is my hope that whenever someone who is of the family name "Lindsay" or "Lindsey" should see the Discerner Project pages, they will realize that I am speaking of family members in a particular clan of Lindsay/Lindsey and not haphazardly generalizing that all who share that surname are related and/or are a part of just one totally single family clan. :-) Again, Howy, thank you for enlightening me as to this possible source for the naming of the sword. It is definitely something to consider for despite the stories I've been told of Macsen's volcanic temper and quick-to-anger disposition he was, in family lore, indeed a deeply spiritual man and essentially kind for the most part ... and now this new possibility is truly an enigma that bears some contemplation for the more I think on it the more I feel it cannot be so easily dismissed ... it could very well be a distinctly possible and even probable scenario concerning Discerner's name. With warmest
regards and deepest thanks,
From: Jim Lindsey
Howy, this is exciting! There are indeed some words that seem a bit familiar, but they each lack as if incomplete ... probably because the name of the sword is Discerner and not simply Discern. The part that is exciting is the Gaelic "tuig." Scots Gaelic: tuig : va. and vn. +sinn, understand, perceive, discern, comprehend After seeing it, I definitely remember something like "tuig" being involved ... but I just don't know for sure ... it's just been too many years since Aunt Merle wrote the name on that slip of paper and I could kick myself for ever having lost it. Now that I see it, there was definitely a "d" involved and seems like I remember an "o" somewhere. Possibly something like Dotuig or some such thing as that. But I'm just not really sure. I think it might be a good place to start, though. I hope this is some help. Hehe, for my money, I'll just stick to the English version, Discerner. LOL Also, I don't know if language could be a factor in helping determine the true date of the sword's creation, but dialects do change. Perhaps looking into how old the word "tuig" (or whatever is similar) might help us pin point a more accurate date. Well, take care Howy -- and the "tuig" does look familiar, but I'm not going to be conclusive and say that's exactly what it is, because I'm just at a bit of a loss here. All my very best,
8-19-02
8-20-02 Hi Howy, Today was another "hell day" at work and I didn't get home until around 7:PM. Since then I have been pouring over the original tracing and making every conceivable comparison and alteration in the draft so that it conforms exactly with the way the sword looked in the painting to finally ensure that we have an accurate image. I was completely able to lay aside the excitement of the project for a few hours (actually the last five hours) and have labored diligently in Photoshop to come up with and give you the most accurate images and precise renderings of the blade, guard, grip, pommel and even ferrules as I possibly can. My approach was to look closely at every single draft we've done already, the fresh new ones you sent, as well as the original tracing ... all without bias, and with a critical eye. I even went so far as to print an 8x14 of each so that I could place it beside an 8x14 of the original tracing to compare, and also see, if the image of the sword in my mind's eye completely matches one of the printouts. The result is that I was able to do it. All the corrections inherent within them and, when placed beside the original tracing, causes the image from the original painting to explode within my mind with flaming accuracy of sweet memory. Perhaps the most accurate is of the "color" original shown in the illustrations where the swords are vertical instead of horizontal. In that one illustration, I presented the image with the upper ferrule meeting the pommel exactly as it's shown in the painting rather than the way we have been showing it (where the ferrule curves at the top along with the pommel's wheel shape). The only thing I'm torn between is a choice of blades. I have the blade represented (with the highly exaggerated fuller) on two versions ... one is with the blade width and length consistent with the original tracing... the other is with one of the Albion blade drafts where the length and shape is correct but the blade is just ever so slightly a tad wider. One of the things that I always loved about the painting and the original actual tracing was the fuller as it drastically broadened in the base-taper of the blade. I always felt it really gave the sword a certain distinction and sophistication... and though Discerner's fuller is very exaggerated in that portion of the blade, I must admit that I'm very happy it isn't quite as exaggerated as a certain film sword that shares similarities... looking at the various still shots I was able to determine that the film sword's exaggeration in the fuller is a full 1/3rd of the width of its blade in the base-taper. I much prefer the exaggeration in Discerner's fuller to the one on the film sword (of course, I may be a little prejudiced, too, when it comes to my ancestors' sword!). LOL Anyway, if we want a completely authentic and accurate replica, just follow the exact design of that vertical sword image and we're there. After all these drafts and trying to get them just like the original tracing, it sure feels good to finally accomplish it! Tonight I'll be dreaming good dreams as I actually sleep an almost full night for the first time in over a week (mainly because I no longer have misgivings about this little detail or that... this image is definitely the one). :-) The file sizes are a bit large because they're .psd files, so I'll send them one at a time. Then I'm headed to bed because I'm just flat worn out. Please let me know what you think... let me know if that image gives you that warm fuzzy feeling of "this is it" like it does to me. I'm completely at peace and satisfied with these images, especially this one I keep mentioning. The image contained with this email is the one I'm raving about... it shows the original tracing centered, in scale, between both versions (the original in color on the left) and (the version with the wider Albion blade on the right). Hope you like them. All my very best
to you and all there at Albion,
This one is horizontal view of Discerner as per the original tracing ...
This one is the original sword, horizontal view, showing some grid lines indicating the start of the base-taper with horizontal lines indicating how much wider the blade's base is against the guard. It is also at this point where the fuller begins its drastic exaggeration as shown in this illustration.
Another image, this one showing a horizontal view of the sword with the corrected guard and fuller on the ever so slightly wider Albion-drafted blade ... very nice indeed ...
Finally, one more image of the same horizontal sword displaying corrected guard & fuller and using the slightly wider Albion-drafted blade ...
From: Jim Lindsey
Oh, one last note before I head to bed ... I can't tell you how good it feels that I could finally capture, in photoshop, the true design as rendered in that heavily lined photocopy of the tracing. It was a toughy, however. I never realized that I'd ever use the photocopy of the tracing as the tracing itself. LOL Did you guys go through these many design headaches with the Atlantean? It's such an odd feeling to see an image in your mind, to actually have an outline image of it in front of you on paper or in Photoshop, yet still not be able to "really capture" it for design purposes. Then, when it finally does happen, what a feeling of peaceful accomplishment! I have a lighter than air feeling and not that nagging "there's something wrong but I can't put my finger on it" feeling. :-) And get this... as soon as I did the illustration showing the upper ferrule meeting the pommel as in the painting, I remembered the "cut" of the lines in the pommel on the original painting! I believe you're correct to use a triangle file on it. Take care, Howy, and all my best as I head to bed to dream of the sword now that I'm at peace with the "blueprint" design (as rendered in the vertical image of the original sword) I sent a little earlier. All the best
and warmest regards,
8-21-02 Hey Jim! Well, as I said in the magazine version of the Riddle of Steel: "The Book of Genesis says it took God six days to create the heavens and the Earth. If he had to do it all over again, exactly the same in every smallest detail, it would take longer. Much longer." Recreations are very hard, because you start with an "impression" (often faulty, as perception is an interesting filter) and you can go a long way down a path you have started and then realize suddenly "Oh my God!", and then you have to go back to the beginning again and reexamine the original and correct your perceptions (now augmented by what you have learned.) It is a heck of a lot easier to create something brand new than to faithfully recreate something --because it is impossible to be wrong! With a faithful recreation (instead of an "inspired by" interpretation) one little error in scale or misperceived detail can really make you lose a lot of time, once you've realized your error and have to go back to the drawing board. As painful as it is, it can be fun, though! Especially when you see the final product, and have the pride of knowing you did it right. You learn a lot about the ancient (or in some cases, contemporary) artists and how and why they did things, and learn a profound respect and admiration for (and feel so dwarfed by) those that have gone before. Anyhow, now I am going to go through all of your renderings and make sure I have everything down. We should have a prototype pommel today, and I will send pictures of that and a polished blade with a fuller I think is pretty close to the original! Best, Here are photos of the first prototype blade.
8-21-02
From: Jim Lindsey
I've started a Discerner Chronology of text in MS Word that chronicles everything so that all dates and occurrences throughout my life (in relation to the sword) are in order. Anyway, I think this chronology I'm working on would be nice and also helpful. Once I have it finished, I'll send it and if you like, please feel free to add it to the page somewhere (maybe on the History page or something). As far as the forums go, I'm sure this sword will certainly cause a "stir" in the populace. For some it will be an answer to prayers, for others an interesting thing to discuss and, I'm sure there'll be some out there who like to try and "debunk" stuff (and some of those may be dedicated "cult" followers of the film who simply do not wish to see that image associated with any other name than by what it's called in the film itself). But, like you say, it'll be interesting to see what they all have to say. I just hope they don't jump to conclusions and start saying that Discerner was the film sword's actual predecessor (even if that were the case). :-) always the best,
8-23-02
8-29-02
Here is a short mpeg video showing the rough assembled sword (the files can be played or downloaded and played -- for best viewing, we recommend that you download the free version of RealPlayer Basic at real.com or Windows Media Player 7.1 available free from Microsoft.) This video file is large - please be patient!
9-03-02
9-6-02
9-13-02
10-02-02
Hey Howy! I had an impromtu day off from work today because of having to go to Ft Worth to perform some important errands. Anyway, I got home from there and less than 5 minutes later the sword arrived! Talk about a very nice surprise! I lost no time in opening the box and despite the fact that this isn't a fully finished prototype, its beauty and excellence took my breath away.
After the initial shock of the sweetness of it finally subsided, I was able to look it over with a "critical eye" and examine it impartially. I cannot believe what a good sweet feel this sword has! And the grip is unbelievable... I've never felt anything like it. It is the most comfortable grip I have ever felt in my life. Actually, I can't really keep my hands off of it. I'll set it down only to find that almost immediately I'm holding it again... it has such a soothing feel... there is a sweetness in the feel of it that I cannot describe in words... it is something a person has to literally feel to appreciate. I was startled at how very light the sword is... despite its length and the "heavier look" it has, one picks it up and it is like a feather... I've never believed in magical swords, but the feel of this one can only be described as having a "magical" feel to it. Yet, the lightness is deceiving because the blade is strong and sure and the balance is unlike any sword I've every held (and believe me, I've held quite a few in my day!). Holding this Discerner prototype has put a new fire under me which counters all my fatigue from the hectic activities of work and my daily tasks. I'll be finishing the chronology ASAP and this weekend I'm going to make a trip to Oklahoma and retrieve the original tracing myself instead of waiting until November for my relatives to send it in the mail. I so very eager to lay the sword beside the original tracing to see just how exact we are (provided, of course, there's enough of the tracing left to do that since the rats got to it when they invaded the cedar chest and started chewing everything up). However, the prototype looks "bang on" perfect to me. I even went so far as to hang the sword on the wall about the same height as the painting was in my grandfather's study... then I laid on the floor to "pretend" I was 6 years old again looking up at it... and as far as I can see and recall, picturing in my mind's eye the dark background and frame of the painting, the dimensions and overall length of the sword are completely perfect and totally accurate. Once I can lay the sword beside the original tracing (which I'll take pictures of), we'll know in truth just exactly how bang on perfect we are with it. I can see, in every aspect through this prototype, the suggestion of how the finished actual swords will be and I have to say that (laying all prejudice in favor of the sword aside), Discerner has to be one of the sweetest and most beautiful swords ever made... and, in my eyes, it is the very sweetest of all swords. There is a majesty about Discerner that commands attention and as proud as I've been of it all my life, I'm doubly proud more than ever that Discerner is the sword of my ancestry. The actual finished Limiteds are going to be great masterpieces of sheer art combined with functionality. I literally can't imagine any sword collector who would not want one of them. By the way, I love the coloration of the polished rose bronze guard and pommel. It's absolutely beautiful. I really like it. And if the polished bronze looks this good, I can just imagine what a fully finished Limited will look like with the gold plating on the guard and pommel. Also the "Albion Mark" on the blade is excellent. It's a mark that does not in any way detract from the blade or the beauty of the sword, and the mark itself is a mark of excellence with a look of prestige and professionalism. Speaking of the blade, for one that doesn't "look" edged, it has quite some edge on it! For fun I took a sheet of regular printer paper and dragged it along the edge letting the paper's own weight do the work (after getting the cut started) just to see what would happen ... would it continue to cut or would the paper just ride along the edge? To my pleasant surprise, the paper fell apart in two perfectly cut halves without the slightest snag or effort! Then I took a sheet of newspaper and tossed it in the air and made a quick swipe with the sword. Again, without effort or even a dent in the paper, it was cut in twain and the cut in the paper was completely clean without snag or rip! Very nice indeed! I could have gone on finding other ways to test its cutting ability but I began to feel like one of those infomercial people advertising Miracle Blade III. LOL
I wish I could find words enough to compliment and congratulate you adequately for a job so well done, Howy. All of those working on Discerner deserve the highest praise and sincerest compliments & congratulations. One quick thought real fast before I close... depending on how salvageable the original tracing is, I have an idea concerning you and the original tracing. I'm thinking of having it sealed between two pieces of plexiglass mounted in a frame to preserve it. The two pieces of plexi would feature a preserving acrylic that would forever suspend and seal the tracing between them... sort of like a "reverse" decoupage (there is a framing shop in Dallas that advertises this process for people who want to preserve delicate papers in a mounted frame and it's relatively inexpensive... they advertise special custom sizing available). The front plexi is clear and the back plexi can be clear or any one of a variety of colors that they offer. I would choose smoke gray for the back plexi. It's dark and opaque but not too dark. Anyway, here's my idea: If for some reason you should decide to create a museum of sorts for projects and things that Albion does (if you don't already have one), I'd like to donate the framed original 1958 full size tracing of the sword to you if you'd like to have it and perhaps place it on display... I can think of no better or safer place for this piece of family history to reside than with the ones who've so lovingly recreated Discerner based on the tracing itself. Giving you the actual original tracing itself would be a small token of my sincere thanks for doing the Discerner project and bringing this beloved heirloom back to life. Let me know what you think. :-) Take care, Howy,
and hoping your day is a great one! Warmest regards and sincerest thanks,
10-03-02 Hey, Howy! Boy, did I get a surprise in the mail today! The original tracing my father made... it's in surprisingly good shape, too!
There's a rip in the bottom part of the tracing, the very tip of the sword is gone, it looks like there's been something spilled on it and there's dents in the paper as though something rough and heavy had been sat on it. It's filthy beyond belief. At the fold nearest the center, it'd been cut almost in half (or the vellum was fragile and "broke" when folded) and has been taped over what looks to be three or four times with cellophane tape. The penciled lines are a bit faded with time though they still stand out. The vellum paper is still in surprisingly good shape, though it seems stiffer than it used to ... but I'm sure that stiffness is due to age (after all, it was traced in 1958). The paper is still white but has taken on a sort of "grayer" look instead of the bright white it used to be when it was newer. It was only a little over a year ago when I held the tracing in my hands and, though it felt a bit stiff then, it seems much stiffer now. Sort of like it's slowly trying to petrify over time.
I believe we're just about bang on with Discerner. It looks as though the guard might be a little thicker on the tracing, but not chunky like the film sword ... when I lay the prototype over the drawing the guard on the drawing seems ever so slightly thicker. It also appears in the picture I'm sending that the blade might have been just a little longer in the original drawing, however, that is an optical illusion in the photograph - when I lay the sword on the drawing where the blade starts at the guard, the length of blade and fuller is the same (we're bang on!). The width of the blade is the same, the length of the grip is the same and the size of the pommel is the same. The ferrules on the drawing are indeed just slightly less tall than on the prototype (looks like I nailed it on that call). The only real difference I see is in the guard thickness. The difference in thickness is so very slight ... I would say more like a hair thicker than 1/32. The weird part is that the center part of the guard between the blade and grip is the same thickness as on the tracing, but the tips of the prototype don't seem to swell as wide as on the tracing. Of course, I'm aware that this original rough guard needed some extra grinding and that would account for the swelled ends on the prototype not fully matching up with those on the original tracing. I'm going to take my steam iron and see if I can get some of the wrinkles and creases out of it so that it lays totally flat and I'm sure that'll give us a better perspective. Anyway, it's after 4:30 so I'm going to send this and call to see what you think. All the best,
From: Jim Lindsey
Hey Howy! Well, I've had the prototype for a couple of weeks or so and the time has come for me to ship it back. You have no idea how hard it is for me to do so! I was telling Mike on the phone how I just cannot keep my hands from it. Sure, it may be made with a torture tested blade, and a few imperfections here and there, but I've come to love it so because it is, after all, the very first incarnation of Discerner since the original sword was buried so long ago. My personal desire is that this first prototype not be disassembled, but peened into a permanent assembly. :-) I have a feeling that no matter how beautiful and perfect my two Limiteds will be, I'll still want this one to buy as my "third" sword. I'm including what was going to be a surprise, but I'll tell you about it now. In the box with the sword will be a full sized new tracing of the original tracing (I'm including a couple of pictures of the "mad scientist" retracing the original image. I'm finding that vellum today is either not made the same as back in 1958 (because it's so very thin and transparent)... or, the original 1958 tracing has become much more opaque over the years and the paper much harder and brittle. At any rate, I'm making you a completely fulled sized tracing of the original tracing. The first pic in this bunch shows my materials including the original tracing (and the prototype for added excitement) on the peninsula of my computer desk.
Pic #2 shows me hard at work doing the retracing (and it's harder than I thought it'd be ... this vellum stuff is fragile and if you press too hard with the pencil it'll go right through the paper! I've already ruined two sheets, but there's plenty to work with in this package I bought today.
Pic #3 shows the partly finished retracing. Unlike my father who did the entire thing without the aid of rulers or a circle compass, I bought a ruler and circle compass because I don't really trust my freehand abilities. I've had to go freehand with parts of it (the guard, part of the grip, the diamond pattern, fuller and blade tip) but I've been extremely careful to do the lines exactly as they are on the original.
Pic #4 shows the finished re-tracing with the prototype beside it ...
Pic #5 shows the prototype laying directly over the traced sword image of the original 1958 tracing. It fits like a glove ...
How I wish we'd have had this to work with when we first started the Discerner project ... it would have saved so much time and repeated emails for sure! But, with this full sized tracing of the original, you'll be able to see right there just exactly how bang on perfect we are with it. I'll probably scan and email my drawings, but I'll send the original drawings with the sword and the new tracing. I sincerely hope you like the tracing. It is faithful to the very last detail... a perfect "reproduction" of the original tracing (except I may have gotten the raised ring & diamond pattern a little off center in the new tracing, and I did cheat a little where the sword tip is concerned... I scanned the prototype sword tip, printed it and used a pencil to outline it and then traced that outline ... it fit like a glove). All my best,
An interesting shot of the Discerner prototype laying beside Jim's 20th Anniversary Edition Atlantean for a comparison in size ...
11-22-02 From: Jim Lindsey
Hi Howy ... It is done ... the prototype is on its way back to you safely packed in its original box. I've included a photo for you of the sword in its shipping box, and the pic shows how I've packed the new full sized tracing of the original 1958 tracing with it.
Real quick before I close, I got to thinking about how the sword needs a little "polishing up" and I'm actually glad now that I didn't have any kind of metal polish here at the house. I think it's important for you to see how the sword has held up under the pressures of constant handling without special attention being given to it. With the exception of wiping off finger prints with a soft cloth, it has had no sort of polishing or cleaning and it has been handled constantly and put through the wringer while I've had it. Unlike the way I'll baby and pamper the two Limiteds when they arrive, I've taken no such precautions with the prototype. Rather, I've handled it like a "working blade" rather than a nice wall decoration (although I have been constantly tempted to baby it and be extra gentle with it). It has gone through my own cutting tests (such as chopping off the unwanted limbs of my tree in the front yard and then turning around to effortlessly cut through a single sheet of paper). I actually chopped through a pine 2x4 and the blade & edge remained flawless. It has been exposed to the heat of the sun, the cold of a frosty night, the humidity factors of Texas, and briefly in Louisiana during my visit, and has been constantly handled by me as well as many other people. I think it's held up beautifully having had no special care taken of it. Short of fighting with it, I think I've put it through the wringer of everyday handling and given it a good test for endurance while I've had it. I'm extremely impressed and surprised at how the grip wrapping has remained flawless. The only sterling silver discoloration seems confined to the ferrules and they have remained reasonably shiny despite the constant handling and lack of polishing, although the silver is indeed beginning to turn. There are slight discolorations beginning in the bronze guard & pommel (which is typical for bronze of any kind in Texas) ... but it's nothing a quick wipe with some proper polish and buffing with a clean scratch proof cloth wouldn't cure. Even with the beginning's of the effects that the Texas climate takes on metals like silver and bronze, it remains quite a beautiful thing. All
my best, 7-26-03 We put together
a second prototype, this one of the Special Editions. Once together,
it became clear that we had lost some details of the original tracing
and now have to go back to the drawing board on the grip and pommel
designs. 8-12-03 We will begin assembly
of the final prototype next week and will post photos as soon as we
have an acceptable prototype!
 
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