One of the most exciting and challenging things we can do as swordmakers is to recreate a historical (or film) original. It takes time, patience and every ounce of craftsmanship to bring a recreation to life faithfully. In many ways, it is much more difficult than creating a new sword design.

As swordmakers and designers, this particular sword presents several challenges. The hilt fittings, indubitably gilt on the original, must be hard enough to withstand the rigors of combat.

We will be using a silicon bronze, Rockwell Hardness (B scale) of about 90 -- as strong or stronger than the same thickness of mild steel.

The pommel, (which, if solid, would add too much weight for the proper balancing of the sword), we assume to have been hollow in some way on the original. We are choosing to construct our recreation similarly to an Irish Ring Hilt, where only the rim of the pommel is solid and the two diamond-pattern sections are separate insets, dramatically reducing the weight of the pommel and bringing the sword into proper balance. For authenticity reasons, we have decided to hand make each hilt component, rather than have them cast in bronze.

From the play of light and shadow on the blade in the painting, we are assuming a lenticular (or flattened oval) cross-section. Of particular interest (and challenge to a swordmaker) is the tapering fuller that somewhat mimics the profile taper of the blade. We have also built a full 50% distal taper into the thickness of the blade, with the fuller running at the same percentage of reverse distal taper.

Discerner is a sword for which that labor of love is clearly worthwhile, and Albion is proud to have been selected by Jim and his family to recreate this outstanding piece. No expense will be spared on materials or workmanship, delivering to you a sword that is beautiful, accurate, and fully functional. We guarantee that our recreation will be faithful to the last detail of the beautiful original sword.


Overall Length 44.5 Inches (113 cm)
Blade Length 34.5 Inches (87.6 cm)
Blade Width (at cross) 2.125 Inches (5.4)
Weight 3.75 Pounds (1.70 kilos)




Hand Polished Silicon Bonze Fittings

Twisted German Silver Wire-Wrapped Grip with German Silver Ferrules

High Carbon Steel, Hand-Ground and Satin-Finished Blade

Sharpened

Individually Differentially Heat-Treated Blade

Discerner Special Edition... $2,000

Only a limited number of these swords can be made in the course of a year. Swords will be shipped as they are completed, in the order in which they are reserved.

Swords will be shipped as they are completed