Lycaon
"Lycaon" Custom Broadsword
- Size:
Sword: Length Overall: 44.0" (111.8 cm), Blade Length
at edge: 29.0" (73.7 cm), Blade length to guard: 33.0" (83.8
cm) Thickness: Blade: .275" (7.0 mm)
Scabbard: Length 31.0" (78.7 cm), Width:
4.0" (10.2
cm), Thickness: 1.25" (3.2 cm), at maximum measurements
Display/Mount Board with hardware and fittings:
Length Overall: 47.75" (121.3 cm) , Height: 13.0" (33.0
cm),Thickness: 3" (7.6 cm)
- Weight:
Sword: 5 lbs. 5 oz. (2.41 kilograms)
Scabbard: 2 lbs. 8 oz. (1.1 kilograms)
Display/Mount Board: 10 pounds 9 oz. (4.8
kilograms)
- Blade: 440C high chromium martensitic
stainless steel, hardened and tempered to 56HRC, mirror polished
- Guard, Pommel, Chape, Ferrules, Bezels,
Fittings: Hand-cast Silicon Bronze, Copper,
Brass, Geodic
White Agate
- Handle: Polished Nephrite Jade gemstone,
Guayabillo Exotic Hardwood
- Pommel Stone: Apache Tear (River-polished
Obsidian gemstone)
- Scabbard: Lauan (Philippine Mahogany) exotic
hardwood, chape mouthpiece and chape tail in hand-cast silicon
bronze
- Display/Mount Board: Ebonized American Red Oak,
Steel, American Black Walnut, Suede Leather, Engraved Black
Lacquered Brass
- Sword: Lycaon was the king of Arcadia in
ancient Greek mythology, who made the mistake of testing Zeus only to be turned into a
wolf. His name is the root of the word "lycanthropy" and is believed
to be the origin of all of the legends of all werewolves throughout
many cultures. This sword is a very special commission by a great
client, who asked for a sword that reflected the werewolf motif,
with vines and darkness and even a full moon. I started with a very
challenging blade, a completely hollow ground broadsword in 440C
high chromium martensitic stainless steel. Simply making a sword
blade of this steel is beyond the capability of most sword smiths,
but I believe it was worth the immense effort. The blade is mirror
polished, all offhand, with a center axis and spine that
well-supports the blade along its length. The sword blade grind
terminates with a very special ricasso, fileworked and mounted with handmade custom
cut and polished geodic white agate gemstone moons, mounted in
hand-cast silicon bronze and hand-engraved brass bezels to the
ricasso. The vine motif continues with a hand-carved lost wax cast
silicon bronze guard, patinaed and sealed in a green verdigris
accented form which matches the beautiful deep green Nephrite Jade. You'll notice many of the fittings on this piece are
cast bronze, and I did it all with the lost wax process, where the
wax is carved, a singular model is made, the mold is made from the
wax model, and then poured
in molten bronze and finished. There are no additional molds, copies, or duplicates.
This is a tedious, challenging process but it was exactly what this
piece needed. The werewolf sculptures on the guard were first
created in clay, copied by hand in wax, and then cast in bronze.
This is also the process for the pommel, the bezels, the ferrules,
and the chape on the scabbard. I detailed the entire process on a
special restricted page on the site, which concluded at 611 steps!
For the handle, I chose ferrules of cast bronze in the shape of
leaves and vines, with a hilt of Guayabillo exotic hardwood and
Nephrite Jade gemstone with fine copper spacers, chosen for great
durability, strength, longevity, and beauty. On the cast pommel are
the same leafy vine forms, and in the pommel is a very special
gemstone. This is an "Apache Tear," a black obsidian river-polished
gemstone that my client supplied that has very special meaning to
him. The sword looks ancient and classic, and feels substantial and
powerful in the hand. This is a real sword, and when you hold it,
you have instant respect for those in our history who have wielded
such broadswords in battle. It is a humbling feeling the brings
worlds of past humanity into somber perspective.
- Scabbard: The scabbard is custom
made for the sword, so has the same style of hand-cast
vines and leaves in the chape. The chape pieces are the
chape mouthpiece and the chape tail, made to hang,
carry, protect, and personalize the sword. They are
mounted to a scabbard body of Lauan (Philippine
Mahogany) exotic hardwood, chosen for its reasonable
weight, toughness, and character. The Lauan has
microscopic worm holes that give it an ancient
character, unique and fitting.
- Display/Mount Board: To keep with
the dark and mysterious theme, I made the display and
mount board with American Red Oak, ebonized and sealed
for an antique look. The board has mounts of steel that
are lined with black suede and American Black Walnut for
trustworthiness and protection of the pieces. The
display has an engraved black lacquered brass nameplate
and has substantial steel straps for mounting to the
wall.
- This was a fascinating, deeply involved piece to
make, and I'm most thankful for the immense patience of
my client in this endeavor. One of my proudest pieces,
the Lycaon broadsword will be one of the most notable
works I've ever done, long after I am gone.
Thanks, D. R.!
...as I and others have described there is a life in the sword as a whole. It is felt in the handle and
through the blade itself. If there was a magic sword in the world today, this would
definitely be one.
...the sword as a stand alone is magnificent. I literally walk around with it because it is a dream come true. I feel it as part of the hunter in the wolf. Such beauty in your work. This is the Alpha Male in
my honest opinion. I love it.
--D.R.
Please click on thumbnail sword photos