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Post by Spoonie Bard on Jan 31, 2018 20:53:44 GMT
Thought I would post what I'm working on here. I'm pretty new to studying swords, but in the last few months I've been researching broadswords and backswords. This month I decided to order Hanwei's Scottish Basket-hilt Backsword from KoA and received it in the mail last week. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with my purchase. For the price, I feel like it's quality is pretty decent. The lining was flimsy, however, and I wasn't a fan of the tassels. So I decided to take this as a learning experience and disassemble the pommel/loosen the basket-hilt so I could remove the lining and tassel. I'm planning on replacing it with sturdier leather and some fur lining, based on an image of an old Scottish backsword I came across. I'm also hoping to use James Drummond's illustrations for reference. While his illustrations don't display the inside of the basket-hilts much, I noticed that some linings appear to be tied into the grip? I'm debating on if I want to try lacing the lining in, or experiment with riveting. If you have any input on leather working or about backswords/broadsword, let me know! I'm in the learning process so I appreciate good input.
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christain
Member
It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Feb 1, 2018 17:03:07 GMT
I personally don't care for liners OR tassels on a basket. If the removal of them left you with some slack in the hilt, you can remedy this with some thin leather washers. You may have already thought of this though...I didn't have the sound on while watching the video.
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Post by Spoonie Bard on Feb 1, 2018 20:09:50 GMT
I was tempted to leave it be! It looks really nice on it's own without the lining, but my tinkering mind wants to experiment. I plan on making the lining easy to attach and remove so I can have that versatility. There isn't any slack at all after taking out the lining and tassel, which I was kind of surprised by. The pommel did come a little crooked so that may or may not be a factor.
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christain
Member
It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Feb 2, 2018 1:55:20 GMT
As long as nothing wiggles or rattles, you ought to be okay. I personally handled this sword a few years back at my local Ren-Fest, and I found the hilt to be very small feeling. Beautiful, but smallish. But then, I have pretty big paws.
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Post by Spoonie Bard on Feb 2, 2018 2:23:58 GMT
That's what I noticed in some reviews I read, that it's too small for bigger hands. Lucky for me my hands are fairly small, so my knuckles and fingers don't rub up against the hilt at all. Hahaha the lining probably isn't even necessary for me in that case, but I'mma make one anyways!
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christain
Member
It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Feb 2, 2018 3:01:20 GMT
Go for it! Post pics of in-progress shots! This type of stuff is invaluable to us here!!! We love us some D.I.Y.
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Post by bfoo2 on Feb 2, 2018 3:15:54 GMT
Spoonie Bard : Have you considered contacting ArmourClass (UK)? They have some pretty nice Scottish basket-hilt liners. Afoo purchased some hilt components from them last year and they sold him a liner on the side. Also, if you don't have a need for the Hanwei liner/tassel, please let me know. I would be interested in purchasing them from you for a modest price for some of my own projects
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Post by Spoonie Bard on Feb 2, 2018 3:41:48 GMT
christain: Will do! Hoping to get the supplies I need in the next few weeks or so and will definitely update as I go. bfoo2: Thanks for the recommendation! Their basket-hilts look pretty nice. I like their designs and they seem like a good resource for possible future projects. For now, I'm going to make my own lining to practice leather-working. Thinking of making a targe to match it, too! Unfortunately, I've thrown out the lining and tassel to declutter. If I hadn't, I would've sent them to you. So sorry.
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Post by Jordan Williams on Feb 2, 2018 5:27:13 GMT
Wow the basket looks a lot better without the red liner. Elegant almost. Can't wait to see what ya do with it
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Post by elbrittania39 on Feb 2, 2018 5:43:50 GMT
Wow the basket looks a lot better without the red liner. Elegant almost. Can't wait to see what ya do with it Totally agree. I usually don't like Scottish baskets, but now that I see one without the liner I'm re-evaluating.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Feb 2, 2018 7:12:52 GMT
I removed this baggy santa bonnet after 10 minutes from my broadsword. A stiffer leather liner is a good idea.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2018 15:21:45 GMT
Hey Spoonie, nice video. I just got my Hanwei backsword delivered today and have the same thought removing the liner and tassel. I was just wondering how you remove the nut holding the pommel on, did you remove it with some vice grips? If you're interested in designs for targes have a look at Alba targes based in Glasgow they have some great ones.
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Post by Spoonie Bard on Feb 3, 2018 3:26:42 GMT
Wow the basket looks a lot better without the red liner. Elegant almost. Can't wait to see what ya do with it Totally agree. I usually don't like Scottish baskets, but now that I see one without the liner I'm re-evaluating. It looks pretty nice without the liner! It definitely changed my perspective of it when I took that nasty thing off haha. AndiTheBarvarian: Hahaha santa bonnet describes it perfectly. XD @miller6582: Thanks! Sorry for the late reply, but I removed the nut and pommel by unscrewing it with my fingers. Took some grip, but I got it off okay. There's a washer holding the tassels together underneath the pommel, which I didn't put back on when I put it back together. Doesn't seem to make the hilt wobbly by it missing. Currently debating on if I want to put deerskin lace on the washer or braid/tie it under the pommel without the washer. As for the basket-hilt itself, the fabric of the lining is thin enough that I just cut through it and tore it off. I didn't take the basket-hilt off, mostly because I got impatient and the fabric was thin enough for me to cut haha.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2018 22:51:28 GMT
Thanks. I managed to get the nut off with a leatherman. I'm sure I read the the grip is fixed with epoxy/glue so I doubt you could get it off easily but like you said the liner isn't the best quality, sort of a mix between a thick felt outer and what feels like a chamois inner. I think I'm going to try and find a smaller washer to replace the one with the tassels, give it better fit.
Cheers for the assist
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christain
Member
It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Feb 4, 2018 0:49:56 GMT
All of this has got me really wanting to re-do my basket hilt. It's begging for a H/T EMSHS blade. Yeee-uh. Might not be period-correct, but then, ---neither am I.
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Razor
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Post by Razor on Feb 4, 2018 20:11:10 GMT
As long as nothing wiggles or rattles, you ought to be okay. I personally handled this sword a few years back at my local Ren-Fest, and I found the hilt to be very small feeling. Beautiful, but smallish. But then, I have pretty big paws. :D You found the hilt to be small? You can actually fix most antique baskets inside this This basket. I can pretty much squeeze my two E.B. Erickson baskets and my Darkwood basket in it too and they are still a little bigger than the antiques.
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Razor
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Post by Razor on Feb 4, 2018 20:13:19 GMT
All of this has got me really wanting to re-do my basket hilt. It's begging for a H/T EMSHS blade. Yeee-uh. Might not be period-correct, but then, ---neither am I. :D I tried to see how it would work around eight years ago and you will have to do work on both the blade and basket.
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Scott
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Post by Scott on Feb 4, 2018 23:54:04 GMT
Looking forward to seeing one. What type of fur are you planning to use?
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christain
Member
It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Feb 5, 2018 2:30:04 GMT
All of this has got me really wanting to re-do my basket hilt. It's begging for a H/T EMSHS blade. Yeee-uh. Might not be period-correct, but then, ---neither am I. I tried to see how it would work around eight years ago and you will have to do work on both the blade and basket. I ain't skeered, Dawg. I'm determined. The toughest thing I've faced yet was putting the head on my Cold Steel Viking axe. What a semprini!!! They could have saved money and reduced the price by just cutting down on the clear-coat on the handle! Now that I have it in hand, ....Ohhh Yeahhh.....
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Post by Spoonie Bard on Feb 6, 2018 18:29:58 GMT
Looking forward to seeing one. What type of fur are you planning to use? Still contemplating which fur to use. I'm a bit on the fence on whether or not I want to use real fur or faux. There's a fabric shop nearby that has some realistic looking faux furs, but I'm pretty undecided haha. I come from a long line of hunters and have a cousin that's been collecting pelts for SCA so I might see if I can get something from him.
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