Death Dealer Sword by Windlass

What is the circumference of the grip with the tape?

That’s the size of my largest and most powerful kukri and ya, it’s a bit large, for my size 8 hand anyway. Also that one is 15” and comes in at 1024 g. I intend to test it on bone and protected gallon jugs to verify that or if it’s just an illusion. It’ll halve a heavy wall gallon cloro bottle with ease, something that some of my 19th and 20th century swords won’t do.

I wrapped it soon after my first posts here but was just to lazy to make pictures.
Even with a very big or too big grip I feel better with grip band, more grippy and secure. 
For example my giant ceremonial kukri where my fingers don't reach the thenar:

I have started ordering my kukris ‘without an overcoat on the grip’. Even one 'raw', as they feel more secure in the hand. The well-polished wood with an overcoat that the westerners prefer is more attractive and comes as standard is not for me. I do have a single layer of friction tape on my antiques. The purpose there is to protect the wood and it does offer a more secure hold. But I’m seriously considering removing the tape.

I’d say it’s bird of prey, and definitely not a woodpecker. Since the Death Dealer is fictional that bird may well be also.

Btw., perhaps you noticed the white spots on the guard above my thumb.
When the sword arrived I found several spots of green oxidation which I polished away with grey scotch brites, the shiny brass remained. 
I looked up how to restore the dark brown patina and got the hint to use water saturared with "natron" but it didn't work well. 
In German it's not clear whether "Natron" in articles means  NaHCO (caustic soda, the mean stuff) or NaHCO3 Sodiumbicarbonate/ baking soda. 

Then I tried a liquid drain cleaner with 20 % NaHCO and it worked perfectly.
Soaked the tip of a paper towel and applied it, right brown brass patina like the rest of the hilt restored. 
Next I try it on my Atlantean, which has some parts of the patina worn off, some parts look better this way, some not. 

The shield looks like a mythological Phoenix to me.