Cawood Sword Recreation · Guard & Pommel Samples – Feedback

[Vega]

We are recreating the Cawood Sword.The first samples of the guard and pommel are done. Measurements included.
Any feedback is welcome.

[Jim McDougall]

Interesting, but perhaps you might take a look at the thread at the top of the page posted by our late moderator, Fernando. It is titled 'The Scope of this Forum', and describes our pages as focused on the study of HISTORIC arms, which means actual vintage, antique examples.

You clearly are producing remarkable work, and reproduction arms do reflect serious study on particular forms and often actual weapons. However they are entirely void of the nuance, elements and character of genuine age often discussed forensically as we examine and discuss .

Perhaps if you posted actual examples as well as the research being done in recreating this sword there would be more viable grounds for discussion.

Not intending to be inhospitable, I am respectfully asking that you might respect the intended scope we have tried to maintain here since the forum was initiated in 2008. I am also wishing you every success in the work you are doing, and again, if you might consider adding historic data and research being used in this, that perspective would be more in line with our goals here.

Sincere regards,
Jim

[Interested Party]

Jim, I like the ideas you suggested! I would love to read about this project in an in-depth discussion of the original and the methods used to recreate it. "As is" would this thread be appropriate for the Miscellaneous forum?

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks I.P.,
Actually guys making reproductions OFTEN are pretty well versed in the original forms and examples, and take care to follow the historic character of them. In this respect there is a certain merit to discussing these elements from a historic standpoint, however it is important to focus on these factors more than the production process of the reproduced example.

One of the reasons we have followed this policy here is to avoid the matters in certain other forums which became commercially oriented trade show venues for reproduction vendors.

How good these guys were is best reflected in the case of my good friend the late Eljay Erickson, who was probably one of the foremost restorers and reproduction craftsmen of 18th century swords and basket hilts. We were friends in the 70s and collected these, with him always crafting parts to repair and restore examples. We went separate ways and years later it turned out he had become a great artisan in restoring as well as crafting reproduction swords.
Integrity was important to him and he always initialed his work which was otherwise extremely difficult to tell from authentic weapons. In a thread on a forum, one sword being discussed had consternation about which regiment had likely used it in the Revolution. Imagine the chagrin when Eljay revealed he had made the sword just years before!

I tried to contact him recently, but sadly he had passed. For me he was the epitome of a true sword researcher, craftsman and connoisseur, and the guy I went to with conundrums regarding the history of these swords.

There are always many sides to a story.

[Vega]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Interesting, but perhaps you might take a look at the thread at the top of the page posted by our late moderator, Fernando. It is titled 'The Scope of this Forum', and describes our pages as focused on the study of HISTORIC arms, which means actual vintage, antique examples.

You clearly are producing remarkable work, and reproduction arms do reflect serious study on particular forms and often actual weapons. However they are entirely void of the nuance, elements and character of genuine age often discussed forensically as we examine and discuss .

Perhaps if you posted actual examples as well as the research being done in recreating this sword there would be more viable grounds for discussion.

Not intending to be inhospitable, I am respectfully asking that you might respect the intended scope we have tried to maintain here since the forum was initiated in 2008. I am also wishing you every success in the work you are doing, and again, if you might consider adding historic data and research being used in this, that perspective would be more in line with our goals here.

Sincere regards,
Jim

Thank you very much for the thoughtful and patient explanation.
I’ll compile the points you mentioned and repost them.
Thanks again for your patience.