When it comes to swords, fantasy CAN be functional.
I’ve seen it. I’ve felt it. I even prefer it.
They know there is a market for it, but for a very specific buyer. This person is into all the tropes - anime, LOTR, video games, various fantasy literature titles and genres, and may be willing to pay through the nose to get their hands on the brands that have sent their favorite big bads hurtling into the abyss, time and time again.
But for all the market share that they might be getting access to, for some reason, they still tend to avoid making high-quality functional fantasy pieces (there’s a ton of dangerous fantasy trash out there) on a massed-produced scale. Fantasy swords now generally come in the forms of COMMISSIONS with lengthy waits and high price tags.
Well, in my estimation, fantasy designs denote fantastical elements that are the most sought after elements by collectors, but also the most difficult to pull off - especially when it comes to one-shot forging with liquid-hot casting metals:
- Bronze/Steel Cast Pommels/Guards with Animal Motifs
- Weird Angles For Quillons & Crossguards
- Curved, Elongated, Leaf-shaped, Flared, or Just Over-Balanced Blade Shapes
- Exotic Grip Colors & Wrap Materials
- Spacers, Engraving & Nordic Runes
- Double & Triple Fullers
- Overall A-Historical Design Elements
- And all that...
There is A LOT that goes into pulling off a well-made fantasy sword and each piece is by in large, completely unique.
Fantasy Function + Form
Additionally, makers’ fantasy designs not only have to have the look, they have to have the evidence, and if possible reputation, for stability, rock-solid construction, and functionally. Their name needs to have the ability to cause that transcendent moment when said fan boi (me) actually opens their wallet, stops salivating over the dream of ownership, and becomes a paying customer and collector.
In short, here has to be PROOF that the sword is put together in a way that it won’t let you down in...um...battle. That means videos, pictures, anecdotal accounts from clients, all before the sword even goes out. Artists have to be DOCUMENTING the process at almost every stage - showing tang construction, specifically.
It’s the motto that I live by as a collector.
When seriously purchasing what I assume to be functional fantasy blades, “Show me” has always been my MO with almost every vendor I work with. And I am not alone.
I see that desire, shared by legions of functional fantasy collectors, showcased in places like SBG, Facebook, and other places where fantasy sword nerds (like me) gather.
People want to see these things almost torture-tested against more than water just bottles. They need:
- Nodes Of Percussion Palm Slaps
- Hilt Construction Specifics
- Steel Types
- Gel Torso Cutting
- Branch Bashing (Please Don’t Unless You’re Skall and Even Then...)
- And More...
They’re doing their due diligence by watching countless cutting, Fiore, and Talhofer videos, as the prices aren't going down, and that’s all to the good.
When forges adopt that transparency, and can pull it off b/c their products have those prerequisites, they can hit it big:
WITCHER SWORDS BY KAER MORHEN FORGE CAN BARELY KEEP UP
The STUNNING works that these brilliant people create cause plugged-in buyers - whether they have read the Silmarillion or otherwise - to absolutely pay all their gold in their coin purse to get their hands on these steely works of art and showcase them proudly for serious community cred:
The SBG Vorpal Sword
So when Paul Southern of the Sword Buyer’s Guide (SBG), whom, I have been following for over a decade (some of you even longer than that, I am sure), decided to bring the pieces from his now-hiatus’d WEB COMIC SERIES to life, I was 100% in.
Scrolling through all of the models, I knew I needed something that was:
THE SBG VORPAL SWORD
This BEAST of a weapon had everything - the right length, proper weight for a longsword, straight clean design elements, a color scheme I could love, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, a clear FORGING STORY and FUN LORE that made it something special.
I waited (I rarely buy swords full price, sorry not sorry). Price dropped after a time right before it was gone forever. I snatched it up.
I couldn’t have been happier if I had been standing at the forge myself , banging away with the hammer to bring this thing to life:
Snicker Snack: The Body & Handling of the Vorpal
Length: 35 Inches (Overall)
Weight: 2.5 lbs
Blade: 5160 Spring Steel (Hollow Ground & Spring Tempered)
Oakeshott Inspiration: XVIIIc
Hilt Components: Brass Pommel, Spacer, Wood
Tang: Full. Peened.
Handling:
She drives like a Ferrari!
Strong, sharp, well-put together - she glides through targets easily and earns the time-honored reputation of her longsword kin.
The Grip & Pommel
Also, if you aren't careful, the Fleur De Lis-shaped pommel can dig into the side of your hand (much like the VIKING-INSPIRED FANTASY SWORD I own when in hammer grip), though I am sure that is totally the way I am swinging it. I am sure if I don't let my hands slide down the grip, and just grip her tightly - the way she likes it lol - it wouldn't be an issue.
Color Customization
Would I recommend it? Absolutely! I would also talk to Steve Huerta at STEVE HUERTA CUSTOM LEATHER WORKS about customization, as I have seen some stunning RED and MIDNIGHT versions of this sword that completely blew me away.
Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll
Oh, and just for fun, here’s the Lewis Carroll Poem about the sword:
“Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
‘Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!’
He took his VORPAL SWORD in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought —
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood a while in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One two! One two! And through and through
The VORPAL BLADE went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
‘And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’
When forges adopt that transparency, and can pull it off b/c their products have those prerequisites, they can hit it big:
WITCHER SWORDS BY KAER MORHEN FORGE CAN BARELY KEEP UP
The STUNNING works that these brilliant people create cause plugged-in buyers - whether they have read the Silmarillion or otherwise - to absolutely pay all their gold in their coin purse to get their hands on these steely works of art and showcase them proudly for serious community cred:
The SBG Vorpal Sword
So when Paul Southern of the Sword Buyer’s Guide (SBG), whom, I have been following for over a decade (some of you even longer than that, I am sure), decided to bring the pieces from his now-hiatus’d WEB COMIC SERIES to life, I was 100% in.
Scrolling through all of the models, I knew I needed something that was:
- Cruciform-Shaped
- Modeled In The Western European Style
- Two-Handed
- Under $1000
THE SBG VORPAL SWORD
This BEAST of a weapon had everything - the right length, proper weight for a longsword, straight clean design elements, a color scheme I could love, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, a clear FORGING STORY and FUN LORE that made it something special.
I waited (I rarely buy swords full price, sorry not sorry). Price dropped after a time right before it was gone forever. I snatched it up.
I couldn’t have been happier if I had been standing at the forge myself , banging away with the hammer to bring this thing to life:
Snicker Snack: The Body & Handling of the Vorpal
Length: 35 Inches (Overall)
Weight: 2.5 lbs
Blade: 5160 Spring Steel (Hollow Ground & Spring Tempered)
Oakeshott Inspiration: XVIIIc
Hilt Components: Brass Pommel, Spacer, Wood
Tang: Full. Peened.
Handling:
She drives like a Ferrari!
Strong, sharp, well-put together - she glides through targets easily and earns the time-honored reputation of her longsword kin.
The Blade
Couple of things about the cutting: with the sharpening treatment that came from SBG, she is sharpest in the section just about the ricasso and the middle of the blade. As the blade tapers and narrows up towards the tip, it is not as sharp for me and loses a small amount of cutting power. Also, if you aren't careful, the Fleur De Lis-shaped pommel can dig into the side of your hand (much like the VIKING-INSPIRED FANTASY SWORD I own when in hammer grip), though I am sure that is totally the way I am swinging it. I am sure if I don't let my hands slide down the grip, and just grip her tightly - the way she likes it lol - it wouldn't be an issue.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely! I would also talk to Steve Huerta at STEVE HUERTA CUSTOM LEATHER WORKS about customization, as I have seen some stunning RED and MIDNIGHT versions of this sword that completely blew me away.
Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll
Oh, and just for fun, here’s the Lewis Carroll Poem about the sword:
“Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
‘Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!’
He took his VORPAL SWORD in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought —
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood a while in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One two! One two! And through and through
The VORPAL BLADE went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
‘And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’
He chortled in his joy.
‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.”
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.”
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