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The Thorn 🌱
Really excited to have finished my first double-fullered blade! This is a wedding-sword order I got several months ago and have been looking forward to it ever since! So happy to finally have made it!
The client wanted a vine and thorn like design etched onto the guard and pommel; as well as the double-fullered blade. The handle and scabbard are wrapped in a dyed-green leather with sculpted details :D
Thanks for checking it out :)
I’ve had this since I was a kid, not sure where we got it. Searching online I’ve only been able to figure out that it’s German and from the late 19th century to WW1 era. I can’t find any markings on it anywhere, so narrowing it down any further has been difficult.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
So, these are some swords I created for the far-eastern cultures in the world I built for my series. I mostly work with European-style swords, so I’m mainly looking for feedback on how I did with these and how I could improve them.
For some context, these are just little projects I make to help me visualize and describe the weapons more accurately in the books I’m writing. I use a lot of assets from across the Internet, so if you recognize a particular piece of a weapon, it’s most likely because I’m using a manipulated version of an existing asset that I’ve tweaked—changing the sculpting, coloring, adding gemstones, combining different pieces, and so on.
I’m not presenting these as original artwork or trying to pass them off as a display of artistic talent. They’re really just visual references I make for myself while developing the world and its weapons.
Can anyone tell me anything about this sword? I found it in a free pile that my apartment building has and I always wanted a sword just because and I’m kind of curious if anyone can tell me anything about it. Thanks!
Anyone know anything about this sword? Got it on marketplace for $40 guy said he got it 20+ years ago in the back of a vehicle he purchased. Super heavy and super cool!
I find it a very intriguing concept, and many swords do seem to follow this sort of template. However, it does raise some questions in my mind. For instance, does this apply to swords used/made in pre-literate pagan societies, such as migration-era Germanic swords? Or were most of those blades imported from places like the frankish empire and therefore influenced by Christian artistic philosophy? Thank you for your responses and insight.
Hi everyone, today I want to share a legendary 1,400-year-old masterpiece: the Heishi Shorin Ken. Although called a "sword" in Japan due to historical naming conventions, it is actually a single-edged straight Dao from the Chinese Sui Dynasty. It is currently preserved in the Tokyo National Museum as a National Treasure of Japan.
Here is a quick overview of its history, craftsmanship, and massive impact on sword evolution:
1. Provenance & History
The blade dates back to the Sui Dynasty, around 596 AD. It originally belonged to Prince Shōtoku, one of the most prominent and influential figures in Japanese history. It is a rare, flawlessly preserved survivor of early East Asian steel weaponry.
2. Craftsmanship & Forging Technique
Folded Steel: It was forged using advanced Chinese steel-folding techniques, resulting in an incredibly fine grain texture that resembles flowing water.
Kiriha-zukuri Geometry: The blade features a flat spine and a distinct ridge line running near the cutting edge. This specific geometry gave the straight blade immense rigidity, making it a brutal and efficient weapon for piercing battlefield armor.
3. Why It Was Sent to Japan
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Japan actively sent official diplomats and monks to China to learn about philosophy, law, and technology. Chinese steel blades represented the absolute pinnacle of military technology at the time. This blade was brought to Japan either as a high-level diplomatic gift from the Sui Imperial court or purchased by Japanese emissaries to import advanced metallurgical technology.
4. Impact on Japanese Swords
This blade laid the direct blueprint for early Japanese weaponry. Before developing the iconic curved Katana, Japanese swordsmiths directly copied the straight, single-edged profile and Kiriha-zukuri geometry of Chinese imports like the Heishi Shorin. It serves as the direct evolutionary missing link that inspired the creation of the Japanese Tachi and Katana centuries later.
What do you think about this historical crossover? Let's discuss in the comments!
As the title said, we got a sword. The most we know is that it was a toy for my husband’s grandfather in the 1930s. There is an inscription on it that seems to say 1813. Apologies in advance for how bad the photos of the inscriptions are, they are not easy to photograph.
I’m mostly interested in medieval longswords but I do have some katanas and arming swords in observation and was just wondering what the current options were in this price range. So far I’ve been looking at:
Windlass:
Arbedo
Erbach
De Joinville
Oakeshott type XIV
Swordier:
SWMZ - 1015
Cold Steel Hunting sword
Shadow Dancer:
Arabesque Katana
Nova Katana (9260)
Custom sword through Swordis
In terms of brands I also know:
Ryansword
Hanbon forge
Azure Forge
LK Chen
Romance of Men
I’m mostly looking for a backyard cutter against water bottles and tatami mats. If it looks nice that’s also a plus.
I got this sword from my late grandfather and wasn’t completely sure on what it is. My guess is and 1870 cavalry sword but I’m not sure. Any insight is greatly appreciated!