A swept hilt is a set of steel bars curving out from the guard and back to the pommel, covering the hand without enclosing it entirely. It is the elegant middle ground between a plain cross and a full basket, and it is the hilt that defines the sixteenth century more than any blade shape does.
Where the bars sweep
Ashbraid is a Damascus side sword at thirty eight inches overall with a thirty one inch blade, a black scabbard and brass throat and hanger rings. Oakflank runs thirty nine inches with a thirty two inch blade. Gildthorn is a dueling sword at forty and a half inches with a thirty three and a half inch blade. Brambleguard carries a brass toned swept hilt with an olive pommel and a wire wrapped grip. Gildcage is the Damascus brass hilt rapier at forty three inches, and Nightgild is the Italian rapier at forty seven inches overall. Two flame blades borrow the same hilt: Flamewhorl at twenty eight inches with a blackened swept ring hilt, and Nightflame at around forty inches with a knuckle bow.
They sit in rapiers, with the wave blades in flamberges and the earlier crosses in arming swords.
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Hand Forged
Heated, hammered and ground by hand.
Engraving available
Names, dates or Norse runes on most pieces.
