The Realm of the Dark Blade

I’ve probably mentioned earlier how Elves are just da bomb diggity with sword design. They make really beautiful swords. Frost swords, organic swords, even ghost busting swords. And every new sword seems to outdo the last. The pair I’m going to talk about today are no exception:

Elf Warrior Dual Swords

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Now these swords are a thing of beauty to my eyes. Simply beautiful. To me, the most striking thing about them are the curves. Oh so subtle but beautifully coordinated. The clean transitions from one curved section of the blade to the next. The coordinated dance to the oh-so-sharp point.

And the fittings! The fittings are just icing on the cake. As you can see the ricasso is acid etched with a coral like pattern that extends a bit up the spine of the blade, and seems to continue down, through the handle, to the pommel of the weapon.

The guard is a gold plated aluminum sleeve, etched with a larger, but similar pattern. The guard juts out just below the ricasso, with an finger indentation just below it. The handle is wrapped, Japanese style, in faux black leather with black fittings. The design is just beautifully executed.

There is an intrinsic, almost paradoxical dichotomy about weapons like these that have always captivated me. These feral, sinister and wickedly vicious weapons, present such a sophisticated, elegant, aesthetically pleasing form.

Don’t know if I’ll ever figure out what twisted part of my soul attracts me to these kinds of things, but whatever it is, with weapons like these around, I can definitely say it will not get starved for entertainment…

Elf Warrior Dual Swords – [Collectors Edge]

With the number of “twin dragon” related weapons I have been coming across, I was not in any way, shape or form, surprised to find this dark little beauty:

Double Dragon Spear

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I thought this was interesting because although it looks cool, it’s design is more or less a rather large deviation from traditional spear territory. I’ll explain in a second what I mean, but first things first. Lets talk about aesthetics.

I love the design of the blade. If you have spent any time reading this blog, you may probably have surmised that I like black blades. And in that department, this weapon is not wanting in the least. But even more interesting, is what they did to the blade.

Each end of this weapon has a very broad spear point, with both edges sharpened, and then fins or barbs cut into one side of the spear head. The base of the blade narrows a bit and then flares out into a set of small wing-like blades. The blade is attached to the black shaft with a fitting that looks like a small dragons head with it’s wings outstretched. I just love the overall effect.

Now lets talk functional design. This weapon is unique in three ways. First, the fact that it has blades on both ends of the weapon kinda pulls it on the fringes of traditional spear design. Not that many double ended spears around. Next is the length. This is a relatively short weapon for a spear. The double ended spears I mentioned earlier? Usually half size. With small heads. Short, huge headed double-ended spears? Not exactly a common occurrence.

Last, and most certainly not least, is the fact that the shaft of this weapon actually comes apart at the middle. “Comes apart you say?”. “Yep!” sez I. This weapon is actually two identical weapons joined into one. I suppose you could say they were two very short spears combined into one double ended, medium sized one. Though individually, they are so short, they’d be probably work better as small axes…

Altogether, I love this weapon. The fact that the spines on each of the blades point in opposite directions when in spear form is an added detail that just makes this that much cooler in my book. Probably because I like the idea that you can twirl it like a baton, and always have the the straight edge of each bade facing the same way every revolution. But that’s probably just my overactive sense of symmetry at work. Just ignore it…

Double Dragon Spear – [Top Swords]

I ran across an interesting variation of “twin swords” recently. A set of twin swords that shared a rather shikomizuesque quality…

Super Twin Swords

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As you can see this sword is unique in that it is a set of matching swords, each designed to use the others grip as a scabbard, and when sheathed, they form a single staff. I actually know of one other weapon that operates in a similar manner, and is even closer in design to traditional shikomizue, but that is for another post.

The interesting thing about this weapon is that you can also join both swords together at the pommel to form a double edged short staff. This gives this weapon a rather large amount of flexibility in the number of different ways it can be used. Assuming, of course, that the connection mechanism is sufficiently sturdy (which is doubtful, given the short dimensions of the pommel connectors.)

They could be used individually, connected at the pommel as a double bladed staff, or fully sheathed, as a short staff or impact weapon. And the aesthetics aren’t too shabby either. the grips of each sword is finished in a gray on black scale pattern, with polished accents on the pommel and hilt. Overall a very simple and elegant look.

I like multi-form weapons like these. They are like really large swiss army knives…

 Super Twin Sword Set – [True Swords]

Over the past year or so, during my frequent intarweb sojourn for interesting weapons, I’ve come across an inordinate number of wooden replicas of otherwise lethal weapons. Now I have to admit that the first time I saw them, I was a bit puzzled. I thought maybe they were safety weapons for the accident prone. Or ultra cheap knock offs. Or something similar.

It wasn’t until I happened to come across a couple of pics of Cosplayers (CosPlay or Costume Play – folks who dress up as anime or movie characters and gather are conventions of the same) wielding some pretty authentic looking weapons, (in wood) that I finally understood. BTW, if you are an anime fan, you might very well be impressed by how realistic these cosplayers look:

Here’s one of Naruto (one of my favorites):

[click to view The Endless Waltz's flickr gallery]

Here’s a couple of the bad guys, Itachi (Mr. Red eyes on the right) and Kisame (Mr. Blue face on the left) (and yes, that is how they are supposed to look):

[click to view The Endless Waltz's flickr gallery]

How about an Afro Samurai? (The hair isn’t quite big enough, but oh well… ):

[click to view jpassionpats flickr gallery]

I was particularly impressed by this Blade cosplayer:

[click to view MorpheusBlades flickr gallery]

And, of course, Morpheus and Neo…

[click to view MorpheusBlades flickr gallery]

I’ve linked the pictures above the to the flickr pages I found them on. Very cool. But more importantly, I realized that all of these folks had to use wooden weapons, since none are allowed to bring real weapons into a crowded cosplay convention hall. Mystery solved!

Also, since it is about Halloween, I thought I’d round up a few of the wooden movie, video game and anime weapons I’ve come across recently for your viewing pleasure. There are actually quite a few out there, but I thought these ones looked the best:

300 – Spartan Sword – Wood

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Naruto – Ninja Kunai – Wood

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Legend of Zelda – Links Sword – Wood

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Inuyasha – Bankotsu’s Banryu – Wood

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Inuyasha – Inuyasha’s Tetsusaiga – Wood

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Bleach – Renji Abarai’s Zabimaru – Wood

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Bleach – Ichigo’s Tensa Zangetsu Bankai – Wood

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God of War – Kratos’ Blades of Chaos – Wood

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I guess it’s cutting it close for Halloween, but if you plan on being one of these characters, or plan to cosplay any of these characters in the near future, these weapons actually do look good enough to perfect your look. And could save you from inadvertently relieving yourself or a friend, of a limb. Or of sight in one eye…

• Naruto – Kunai – Wood Replica – [True Swords]
• 300 – Spartan Sword – Wood Replica – [True Swords]
• Inuyasha – Bankotsu’s Banryu – Wood Replica – [True Swords]
• Inuyasha – Inuyasha’s Tetsusaiga – Wood Replica – [True Swords]
• Bleach – Renji Abarai’s Zabimaru – Wood Replica – [True Swords]
• Bleach – Ichigo’s Tensa Zangetsu Bankai – Wood Replica – [True Swords]
• God of War – Kratos’ Blades of Chaos – Wood Replica – [True Swords]
• Legend of Zelda – Links Sword – Wood Replica – [Edgework Imports]

I recently came across another wrist mounted fantasy blade, much in the tradition of the Flying Dragon Claw, Critical Mass and Critical Mass II I blogged about many moons ago. This one was begging to be blogged because I ran into the same weapon on two (count ‘em, 2) separate weapons sites, under two different names:

The Fire Guardian / Viscerator

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What we have here folks, is a weapon that seems to have been living two lives. One life, a good and honorable Fire Guardian. The other life, a cruel and heartless Viscerator. One of these lives has a future… and one of them does not…

*ahem*

OK, if you actually picked up on the fact that the last paragraph includes lines from “The Matrix” then you aren’t in any position to mock me because you are just as much a nerd as I.

But getting back to the topic at hand, (or on hand, as it were) this Viscerator is a multi bladed weapon. It has a large blade above, attached to a handle bracketed on either side by two smaller blades, and above on either side, a set of long black s-curved blades.

Extending rearward, we have what looks to be a set of rather menacing spikes, a short one above, and a long one below, with a wrist trap attached on either side of the the junction between the bottom rear spike and the main bracket of the whole contraption. Though a little large and probably heavy, I could see this weapon being quite handy for underground, to-the-death cage fighting, much like the others.

However looking at that long rear spike, I am tempted to say that “Viscerator” is a good name for this weapon. Simply because it could very well eviscerate it’s wielder while in use. Talk about having no future. Epic Phail…

• The Fire Guardian – [True Swords]
• Viscerator – [Collectors Edge]

I was originally going to call this next weapon a gunblade. For reasons that will soon be obvious. Except that it lacked one of the primary features that make a gunblade so: An actual firearm. This blade is simply shaped like a gun. Actually, more like a futuristic hand held laser, or phaser. Hence the name “Phaserblade”. I’m probably going to have to come up with a new name if I run across a combination blade/phaser, but for now it sticks. (Because I say so. Hrrmph.) Allow me to introduce:

The Photon by Paul Ehlers

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Wicked looking innit? It looks for all the world like some kind of futuristic sci-fi personal phaser. With a nasty point. It’s got a pistol grip handle, on which the back strap splits off from the rest of the grip, it’s got a trigger finger recess and even a trigger guard. It’s just hasta be a futuristic phaser. Just gotta.

Assuming however, that there is no super duper secret super laser shooter in this thing (Hey look at that! I can rhyme!!) From a practical standpoint, this isn’t the most versatile weapon I’ve ever come across. I suppose it would work well as a push dagger, but beyond that, your choices are limited. Of course I doubt the designer had practicality in mind when he came up with this.

Still, even without the ability to stun (or vaporize) unsuspecting peeps from afar, I must admit it’s a pretty cool design. Enough swooshy lines, curves fins and points to make my good graces. Actually just one or two too many. But it still looks cool. And to top it all off, it’s black. Can’t beat black with a baseball bat. (HAH! I’m on a roll! ) That’s what finally won me over…

Photon – [Collectors Edge]

In keeping with the theme of dual hand weapons, I thought I’d talk about another weapon, much closer in form to the infamous “Twin Dragon” blades I talked about, but much much more practical:

Lunar Twins

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Now these blades certainly aren’t as flashy or stylish as the Twin Dragon blades. But what they lack in style, they more than make up for in practicality, an area that the twin blades were severely deficient in.

The general design of this weapon really has few shortcomings. It consists of a pair of forward facing blades, connected by the leather wrapped handle with a generous guard across the grip. Basically, it is the equivalent of carrying two knives, one in a hammer and one in a reverse grip, in each hand. I can see several advantages to this design.

You get the benefit of reach from the top blade, but do not have to sacrifice really close quarters power, as you have the reverse blade below to leverage when necessary. And it’s all capped of by a rather wide knuckle guard, which looks like it could easily do double duty as a knuckle duster. Very simple. Very effective.

*Edit* Another point I forgot to mention was the guards on these are both emblazoned with a very subtle dragon motif! This weapon actually deserves the title of Twin Dragon. Much more than the others I blogged about. And even though I’m not a big fan of extended trinomial nomenclatures, I’d even be okay with calling these “Lunar Twin Dragon Blades”…

Proof that keeping it simple actually works.

Lunar Twins – [Collectors Edge]

The aesthetically cool, but seriously flawed, Twin Dragon Blades I posted about recently reminded me of a much simpler, but considerably more practical weapon from a cool movie I watched a while back. This weapon was used by an equally unique character. Which, given the nature of the movie, may not be saying much. I am talking about the sword used by a character called Kroenen, from another comic-book turned movie Hellboy:

The Sword of Kroenen

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In the movie version of the Hellboy saga, Karl Ruprecht Kroenen, was a Nazi assassin who, obsessed with witchcraft, mechanics and surgery, had turned himself into what I can only describe as an un-dead cybernetic organism. Essentially a killer cyborg zombie. Hey. These things happen ya know…

Anyway one of the tools of his trade with which he showed a remarkable ability was a pair of swords that looked like bladed versions of the Japanese tonfa. If you’ve ever seen police batons with the side handle, you are essentially looking at a fancy modern tonfa. And if you replace everything but the side handle with a razor sharp steel blade, Voila! You’ll have Kroenens lethal sword.

The thing is, tonfa are immensely effective and versatile impact weapons in thier own right. Even without blades. Replacing the impact surfaces with blades actually adds a dimension of deadliness to them that I found appropriately menacing, and absolutely perfect for this particular character. I love it! And the beauty of it is that this is a very, very simple weapon.

The sword has a simple, double edged, double pointed blade. The black, wire-wrapped handle is pinned to the blade, with gold accents in the pommel and at the attachment point. The handle is has a generous swell in the middle, which, in all likelihood would provide for much more control over the movement and/or swiveling of the blade, especially if it is used in the traditional tonfa style.

I also imagine that one might have to develop a new combat style in order to wield this, as traditional tonfa or sword methodology wouldn’t exactly work the same, since tonfas have no blades and can be gripped anywhere along it’s length, and swords do have blades, but they aren’t usually at right angles to the grip.

Even more noteworthy, is that this design has the added benefit of being both a close quarters as well as a distance weapon. By swinging the blade around, and allowing the grip to rotate 180° in your hand, you have access to both a long blade and a short one. It’s genius. And simply beautiful. Why is it that the psychotic evil assassins always get all the cool toys?

The Sword of Kroenen – [Hot Movie Props]

Seeing how many Dragon themed weapons I have been coming across lately, it came as no surprise to find this shameless oddity:

Twin Dragon Blades

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Yes! Twin Dragon Blades! My Life is complete!… NOT!

OK, I realize that in the grand scheme of weapons design for fun and profit, form does not have to follow function. It is only enough that it appear to be designed to perform some specific function. But to be honest, with this thing, I have no idea what that function is…

It appears that what we have here is a set of two s-shaped blades, a larger, main blade with a side handle, and a smaller, identically shaped blade that attaches to the larger one with two round dragon emblazoned medallions by means of magicks unknown.

The larger blade has a handle attached perpendicularly, with a pentagram medallion over the attachment point. Oooh. Scary. Pfft… Thing is, much like the last double bladed throwing thing I blogged about, for the life of me, I cannot figure out what the benefits would be for a weapon of this design. Perhaps for use as bladed, double-ended tonfa… Who knows?

Now don’t get me wrong, I think this thing looks very cool. The black treatment of the blades is nice, even though the flames rising from the edges look tacky to me. And the gold medallions are actually a nice contrast with the black blades. Even if they are the only justification for these weapons to be called “Dragon” blades.

I guess that, being the anal retentive blade nerd that I am, I just like to be able to visualize how a weapon might be used in practice. It kind a gives a weapon a little more validity in my mind. As it is, these seem no more useful than the “Beverly Hills Ninja” wannabe that is pictured posing with them…

Twin Dragon Blades – [True Swords]

I ran across an interesting variation of a Japanese polearm today. Specifically, an unusual naginata.

Dragon Naginata

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Naginata have an interesting history. They were traditionally intended to be used against opponents on horseback. Much like the European halberd, or pike. The naginata was so useful during the age of Japanese calvary, that they became a status symbol.

When the naginata was no longer useful as a battlefield weapon, the naginata was given to the wives and women of the Samurai class in order to protect the household while the Samurai were away at war. The naginata eventually because a status symbol for woman of the samurai class, becoming for Samurai women what the Samurai sword was for the male Samurai. A symbol of honor.

But all of that interesting history aside, I thought this particular design was interesting for a couple of reasons. First, the most common naginata design is essentially a modified mid sized sword on a spear shaft. This head of this naginata is actually closer in design to a broad sword, than a katana. Not completely out of left field, but not exactly standard naginata design either.

And another interesting difference is that the spine of the blade on this naginata has fins, for lack of a better word, which is equally unusual in a naginata, but not unheard of in a broadsword. Last, but not least, I liked the black treatment of the blade. Hey, it’s the details alright?

Dragon Naginata – [True Swords]