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Svante™
Sword
Hallmark
Series Limited
Edition Sword
Albion is proud to finally be able to offer a faithful
recreation of an historical sword named after its owner, Swedish Viceroy
and knight, Svante Nilsson Sture.
This sword has been thoroughly researched and documented by noted
swordsmith Peter Johnsson, and with his help and guidance, the talented
artisans at Albion are pleased to bring you an heirloom-quality recreation
of this unique and breathtaking sword, destined to become a collector's
item.
About Svante Nilsson Sture
Svante Nilsson was born somewhere around 1460 from parents Nils Bosson
Sture and Birgitta Karlsdotter Bonde, both members of the most prominent
nobility. He was related to Karl Knutsson Bonde, a man who was elected
King of Sweden no less than three times.
This was a time of shifting loyalties and fragile alliances.
During the years of the union between Denmark, Sweden and Norway,
many battles were waged and towns and strongholds burned. The seat
of power wavered between the Danish court and strong noble families
in Sweden who preferred a Swedish regent on the throne in opposition
to the union.
Svante Nilsson Sture became a major player in this struggle and fought
on both sides of the conflict, sometimes supporting sometimes opposing
the Danish claim of the Swedish throne.
Being a member of the high council from 1482 he was finally elected
Regent of Sweden at the death of his old adversary, the powerful and
dynamic Sten Sture the Elder in the year 1504.
Svante Nilsson Sture is enigmatic and fascinating: shrewd politician,
bold warrior and struggling diplomat. From him we have a legacy of
one of the finest late medieval fighting swords in existance in Sweden
today.
The original rests in the museum of Västerås Cathedral, where Svante
Nilsson Sture was buried in January, 1512.
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The Original
Sword
The
sword of the viceroy is unique.
When Svante Sture's grave was opened in 1958, during a restoration
of the cathedral, this sword was discovered with his body.
It is one of very few swords that have been found in Swedish medieval
graves, let alone that of a prominent historical person.
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photos of the
original sword as documented by
Peter Johnsson
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It is also an important find from an international perspective,
in particular because of the unusual shape of its blade. Even though
the sword is now in part badly corroded, it is clearly a high-quality
weapon of war.
It has a total length of 117.5 cm and weighs around 1.8 kg. The
grip is long, giving ample space for both hands. However, with a
point of balance some 9 cm from the cross, it handles well with
one hand only.
Though
the Svante sword looks almost delicate in photographs, it is actually
a very large and imposing sword, carrying a lot of authority --
a true warrior's sword of the period, made for fighting, not display.
The sword has an unusually powerful blade, and yet is surprisingly
maneuverable and quick for its size
Stylistically-related swords are most frequently depicted in art
from the 1490s to the mid-1520s.
One close parallel might be the sword of St. George in a woodcut
by Lucas Cranach the Elder, from 1506.
In The Disputation of Saints Erasmus and
Maurice by Matthias Grünewald from around 1520, a crossbowman
in the background is girded with a hand-and-a-half sword, which
shows interesting similarities with the sword of Svante Nilsson.
A woodcut by Altdorfer from the first
decade of the 16th century shows Emperor Maximilian I girded
with a very similar sword.
A few preserved weapons in various collections display similar features,
making a dating of the sword to the years around 1500 probable.
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(paraphrased
from the article in Warrior Magazine -- for full on-line text go
to Svante Article )
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Peter documenting
the original sword
Peter's recreation
in process
Peter's book on
the Svante sword
Designing the final
pommel
The recreation
and the original
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Svante
Recreation
by Peter Johnsson and Albion
The sword made in the workshops of Albion is a direct result of a
project Peter completed as his degree thesis. Peter set out to forge
an exact reconstruction that was to be the basis of a published study
of the original.
The knowledge gained during
this project is now resulting in a faithful and highly realistic reconstruction
made by the skilled artisans of Albion.
No effort is spared to make these swords true to the original, not
only in dimensions but also in performance and aesthetic details.
The
blade is 1075 steel, hand-ground and finished to a high satin finish.
The broad edges are deeply hollow-ground. Each blade is individually
heat treated by hand for maximum flexibility and cutting performance.
The wooden core of the grip is bound with cord and covered with leather,
with a hand-made tooled leather chappe (rainguard).
The "S" shaped cross with its gently flaring ends and the
fluted pommel are both investment cast from waxes hand-carved by Peter
Johnsson, and hand-finished and mounted to fit the individual blade.
Specifications
Overall length: 46.5" (118 cm)
Blade length: 33.5" (85 cm)
Blade width (at widest): 2" (5 cm)
Blade thickness (at base): 0.47" (1.19 cm)
CoG: 2.125" from cross (5.40 cm)
CoP: 18" from cross (45.7 cm)
Weight: 4 lbs (1.81
kilos)
The Svante Sword.... $3,930
Convenient
payment plans are available for qualified
customers
This
sword is offered in a limited edition
of 1,000 swords worldwide.
Reservations
can be placed with a non-refundable deposit of $500.
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.
Handmade scabbard designed by Peter Johnsson, in a style popular
in the late 15th C.
Svante Scabbard.... $2,000
For
more information about the sword and its history, see this on-line
version of the article from Warrior Magazine, issue #1.
Back issues
of Warrior Magazine are still available for purchase for $10 each.
You can also see another full length photo of Peter's recreation and
the original sword here.
For more information on Svante Nilsson Sture, we recommend visiting
these sites:
A
History of Sweden
The
Stockholm Bloodbath
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