Custom Sword

Kumdo · Oct 29, 2001

Ted Frizzell of Mineral Mountain made this blade to my specs. It took me many months of re-working dummie blanks to achieve what I was trying for: balance, speed and massive cutting power. The finished result has exceded my expectations. It is super fast and cuts better than any other sword I've had. I'll be putting it through some tests in the future and will post the results on the forums.

20" blade, 31" OA
Steel: 5160, 3/16" thickness, "Antiqued" Patina finish.

I did the handle in Wine Dymondwood, buffed to gloss, hollow pinned. I chose it for its water resistance and hardness.

These pictures are terrible, but you can get the idea.

Any ideas of what to call it (it will probably end up as part of our "Dervish Blades" line)? It's loosely based on the Turkish Yataghan, but not enough so to call it that. One idea was the "Sonoran Scimitar", but again, it's not really a scimitar. Any ideas?

ExamonLyf · Oct 29, 2001

Thanks for sharing the pictures...I'll look forward to your review on the performance....

"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"

brooksknives · Oct 29, 2001

man you got one mean looking sword there if i had that pulled on me i think i would $hit myself and drop dead why dont you call it THE SOUL STEALER because it looks like it would do just that to anyone or anything it looks like it came right from hell itself I WANT.

lee brooks
knifemaker

BROOKSKNIVES.canada
brooksknives@hotmail.com

Kumdo · Oct 29, 2001

Thanks for the good words, guys! Hmmm... Soul Stealer. I like it. Pretty sinister sounding, but I suppose it suits the thing.

Any other ideas?

Keith Montgomery · Oct 30, 2001

Great looking sword. You say that it's fast and it certainly looks like it would be. A very nice design.

Kumdo · Nov 1, 2001

Thanks Keith. Yeah, it's quite fast. Not quite as much as, say, a the average Katana- but pretty darn close. The belly's extra mass and "dicing edge" give it a bit more weight but also more devastation in the swing. Also, FYI, the balance point is 2" past the guard.

Stuart S. Igarta · Nov 2, 2001

John,

How much would a sword like that cost if you replace the wood with kydex or some other synthetic material. Thanks!

Stuart

GigOne · Nov 2, 2001

Call it. . .Rapture

Kumdo · Nov 5, 2001

Stuart, I'm not sure if I want to start putting these into production yet. It was pretty labor intensive and I've got my hands full right now with art and web stuff. BUT it may happen. I'm tossing around the idea. When you say synthetic materail, do you mean for the handle? Do people do Kydex handles? Anyway, if I'm going to do these under the Dervish Knives line, I'll be doing them with ironwood or stabilized burl. Maybe I could be convinced to do one in Micarta (just don't tell anyone!). Not sure of price right now, if we do them. Somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 is a safe guess.

GigOne: Rapture!! I like it. It's spiritual sounding, yet sounds a lot like Raptor or RUPTURE! I think we may have a a name!!! Thanks...

nacho1 · Nov 8, 2001

Oh... My... Gosh...! Hey Hey, that is a BLADE! I'm currently tryin' to have a stylized, modern, "quick cutlass"... Your sword is ASTOUNDING!!! Can we talk? [drooling on keyboard]

Arrrghhh, me keys be awash with spittle!!