Bradshaw Hunting Sword

HTMD

HTMD

Joined
Feb 15, 2002
Messages
1,705
I'd like to share three images of a recently completed hunting sword. When Bailey is able to return to the forums I'm sure he'll provide more particulars. It is certainly beautiful, features excellent balance, wonderful clay heat-treat hamon, great materials (ivory handle, sculpted engraved carved blued and gold inlaid hand/thumb guard, clam shell guard and lion's face pomel) - but most importantly it's got soul.

It was the soul part that made me want to try a different approach to photographing it. As Coop said in a post linked below, it's difficult to photograph a long blade of any kind. His post and Megalobyte's (also linked below) do a great job, better than I could do, showing a couple of Bailey's other swords in ways that allow you to see detail nice and clear and close. I was looking for something different.

The first image was a compromise for me. How to show the sword AND a bit more of the detail..................



This second image takes a different approach - direct sunlight on the blade reveals aspects of the clay heat-treat hamon that are not usually so visible. I blew out the highlights on the handle and tried to hide my mistake by inserting the lion pomel..............



But this final image is what I was looking for. If you don't see everything that's in the image, step back from your monitor and take a second look...........



As mentioned above, here are links to two previously posted threads about Bailey's long blades:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=330622&highlight=Bailey+sword

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=324079
 
That is a beautiful piece Buddy. I'll be throwing my "something big" in the trash now :)

I think the guard is what draws me to it. It's difficult to get the scale right on something that size and Bailey pulled it off beautifully. It doesnt get lost and it doesnt detract.
 
what elegance! pure poetry.
Bailey is one of the most versatile Smiths out there he does it all and all superbly!
Congratulations to both Maker and Keeper(cant say owner one doesnt own blades of that caliber..)
 
Looks like a German Hunting sword from the Late 18th century, also used as naval "Hangers" for a while. Based upon your thread title I'm sure that was what the designer intended. For some good information on these check out the book Boarder's Away: Volume One, by Gilkerson. Excellent Work Mr. Bradshaw, that's one amazing sword. Congratulations on snagging that one.

Lagarto
 
That is classic Bradshaw - tremendous design, beautiful lines and an array of truly wonderful details. Thanks for showing us this one.

Roger

P.S. - 10" carbon steel bowies give me fits to photograph - this one would be way beyond my abilities. :rolleyes:
 
Lagarto - You are correct. As Bailey and I communicated back and forth about it I think we just called it 'the hunting sword' for short. On his certificate of origin Bailey states its name as "Hirsh Hanger." As I recall from our discussions there are several historical design elements combined in this one - European, Oriental and African (at least in theme with elephant ivory and carved lion pomel.

I'm told that the clam-shell guard (also called side guard or hand guard) was actually used to retain a small knife and fork in an accessory sheath - retained that is while galavanting through the woods and over the country side, bumping into trees, bushes or whatever.

To quote Bailey, "Pieces like this just come to me .... and they are the pieces I enjoy the most." I'm sure he will appreciate the appreciation evident in this thread.

BTW - has anybody actually seen the ghost lion face in the background? Nobody's commented on it. My wife and son didn't notice it until I pointed it out to them. So, I either did a good job or a bad job with that particular aspect of depicting this sword - I'm not sure. Here's the original without the ghost .... the intense sunlight on the fence was really there - I just used it to anchor the ghost image.

 
This is a very fantastic looking piece. I wouldn't mind having that one. :)
 
I have a 25-26" OAL forged L6 hunting sword with the clamshell and the addition of a D-Guard in heat blued mild steel and a wonderful stag carver for the handle. It is take down construction with a acorn shaped nut at the finial. Bail did it a while back for me and it is the pride of my collection. They are a bear to photograph though. Nice job. Nice score as well.

-Sam.
 
SammyB said:
I have a 25-26" OAL forged L6 hunting sword with the clamshell and the addition of a D-Guard in heat blued mild steel and a wonderful stag carver for the handle. It is take down construction with a acorn shaped nut at the finial. Bail did it a while back for me and it is the pride of my collection. They are a bear to photograph though. Nice job. Nice score as well.

-Sam.
Click to expand...


Got pice?? :)

Roger
 
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