My Sword Display

**Teufel Hunden** · 7th January 12, 10:37 PM

I've got a little nook in my house and thought it was the perfect size for a sword display.

So I decided to dress it up a bit.

First, my two custom swords from Rob Miller on the Isle of Skye:

I've posted these before, but it's been a while for the first one. It's based on a typical late 12th century sword. That's a silver coin inlaid in the pommel, and the blade is L6 steel.

Etched down the blade is Revelation 6:8 in Welsh: "Behold the pale horse, the man who sat on him was death, and hell followed with him."

Sword number two is very similar.. same type of design, though the handle is a bit shorter and wrapped in a darker wire. The etching on its blade is 1 Corinthians 15:26, "And the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

I decided there are no better inscriptions for instruments designed to chop people's heads off

So after the swords, what better to hang them on than a shield? Store bought shields are so boring these days, so I decided to make one. It's just basic pine from Home Depot.

Got it all carved up, painted it black, now for the details.

I chose a rampant lion which is a symbol that has been associated with my family for some time. I can't quite find the origin of it, but when my great grandpa moved here from Scotland, he brought with him a piece of parchment bearing this lion. Over the years the stories have been sort of muddied, so all I can really get is his father gave it to him and so forth. The significance of it, I have no idea. But, I rather like it regardless.

I had my artist friend paint it on for me.

Then we added a gold leaf border, and some gold and silver leaf accents:

**Teufel Hunden** · 7th January 12, 10:39 PM

After all that, I got a little LED puck light, put it in the top of the nook, lined the back with royal blue velvet, and hung the shield. Then with a couple magnetic sword hangers, it ended up like this:

I left space for a 3rd sword which will be coming eventually. Though I think I'm out of biblical inscriptions that are so fitting for these things.

**Mickey** · 7th January 12, 10:44 PM

Very nice!

**madmacs** · 7th January 12, 10:50 PM

Good work, excellent paint job...

Of course now you need a 3rd to balance it...

**Teufel Hunden** · 7th January 12, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by madmacs

Good work, excellent paint job...

Of course now you need a 3rd to balance it...

I definitely want one. Not sure what to inscribe on that blade. Right now, I'm thinking I might have the 3rd one be a custom one of my own design, with an original inscription, then have it be the center, flanked by the twin swords.

**Woot22** · 8th January 12, 01:18 AM

Sweet dude, nice work on the display! The swords look fantastic as well, are they functional swords or display swords? Just curious is all.

**Teufel Hunden** · 8th January 12, 01:40 AM

Originally Posted by Woot22

Sweet dude, nice work on the display! The swords look fantastic as well, are they functional swords or display swords? Just curious is all.

They're both functional... I wouldn't have it any other way.

Both are L6 steel, the first one came mildly sharp, second one came razor sharp.

**Dale Seago** · 8th January 12, 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by Teufel Hunden

They're both functional... I wouldn't have it any other way.

Both are L6 steel, the first one came mildly sharp, second one came razor sharp.

Either could be good depending on what you're dealing with, so it's nice to have options.

For folks with possible shields and/or body armor, mildly sharp is better. On the other hand, if the zombies are coming the finer edge would be great, though the other would still serve perfectly well.

Beautiful swords, and a wonderfully done display setup!!