MRL grip re-wrap: my first attempt
Aug 20, 2007 3:23:02 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2007 3:23:02 GMT
Yeah, I posted this on myArmoury, but what the heck...
I have been collecting swords for half my life; 14 years. The vast majority of my collection is comprised of antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries. However, this site is rubbing off on me and I am venturing into the replica market in addition to antiques. My first exposure to replica swords was Christmas 2001 when my mother-in-law bought be a sword from the MRL closeout catalog. I can't remember the name of the model, only that the original is supposed to be Spanish and from the late 15th century or early 16th century. It came with a nasty black leather covered grip under which was some very uncomfortable metal wire. This sword sat in the closet for quite a while. Last year I trued to antique it with mixed results. The guard and pommel are plated or lacquered and are impervious to the water/vinegar/salt spray I used on the blade. I have been meaning to re-grip the sword for quite a while and was recently pushed into action when I found myself needing to kill some time waiting for the local copy store to finish some copies for me. I wandered into a Michael's and found myself searching for hemp cord. Soon thereafter I went to the store to pick up some chamois and carpenter's glue.
I used the wood core that came with the sword, to which I glued a hemp cord wrap, then the chamois, then another cord wrap to help force the chamois into the under-wrap. I am pretty pleased with the result. I will re-do this at some point, but I am happy with it for now.
What you see below is my first try at re-wrapping the grip. The grip is the natural chamois color. I have brown shoe polish, but I have not decided whether or not to use it on the grip. Will it help achieve a browner color or just make the grip look dirty? I also have yet to apply wax to the grip. I'll do that after I decide on the shoe polish. What do you all recommend?
Finally, the usual acknowledgement of Sean Flynt's excellent articles on myArmoury and PM correspondence for inspiration and direction in this small project.
I have been collecting swords for half my life; 14 years. The vast majority of my collection is comprised of antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries. However, this site is rubbing off on me and I am venturing into the replica market in addition to antiques. My first exposure to replica swords was Christmas 2001 when my mother-in-law bought be a sword from the MRL closeout catalog. I can't remember the name of the model, only that the original is supposed to be Spanish and from the late 15th century or early 16th century. It came with a nasty black leather covered grip under which was some very uncomfortable metal wire. This sword sat in the closet for quite a while. Last year I trued to antique it with mixed results. The guard and pommel are plated or lacquered and are impervious to the water/vinegar/salt spray I used on the blade. I have been meaning to re-grip the sword for quite a while and was recently pushed into action when I found myself needing to kill some time waiting for the local copy store to finish some copies for me. I wandered into a Michael's and found myself searching for hemp cord. Soon thereafter I went to the store to pick up some chamois and carpenter's glue.
I used the wood core that came with the sword, to which I glued a hemp cord wrap, then the chamois, then another cord wrap to help force the chamois into the under-wrap. I am pretty pleased with the result. I will re-do this at some point, but I am happy with it for now.
What you see below is my first try at re-wrapping the grip. The grip is the natural chamois color. I have brown shoe polish, but I have not decided whether or not to use it on the grip. Will it help achieve a browner color or just make the grip look dirty? I also have yet to apply wax to the grip. I'll do that after I decide on the shoe polish. What do you all recommend?
Finally, the usual acknowledgement of Sean Flynt's excellent articles on myArmoury and PM correspondence for inspiration and direction in this small project.