Damascus Arming Sword, Twist Pattern with Brazil Nut Pommel

Start at the wrong end for once. Out of the scabbard and lying next to it, the part that decides how this one hangs is the brass Brazil nut pommel at the back, a rounded lump wider than it is tall. Ahead of it, 31 inches of Damascus over a high carbon core, etched so the twist runs the length. The scabbard is carved leather, acanthus scroll, brass at both ends.

Specification

The blade

Damascus over a high carbon core. Layers forged together, twisted, then etched so the acid bites them unevenly and the figure comes up. The twist is what the turning leaves behind, and the etch carries down the bevels to the edge. The shape is an arming sword, narrowing steadily from the guard to the point. A narrow fuller runs two thirds of the way down, a groove taking weight out of the centre and leaving the width alone. The core is carbon steel, so it darkens with age and spots if left wet.

The hilt

The crossguard is brass, long and straight. The grip is a wooden core wrapped in dark brown leather cord. Then the pommel, the point of this one. A Brazil nut is a rounded lump of brass, wider than it is tall, with real weight in it. Mass behind the hand pulls the balance back off the blade, so a sword hangs differently for a few ounces at the back. The tang runs through the grip and out of the top, hammered until it spreads.

The scabbard

Tooled leather over a wooden core, and the core holds the shape and keeps the edge away from things. The face is carved by hand in an acanthus scroll, leaves turning back on themselves down the length. Brass throat at the mouth, brass tip cap at the bottom, stitched by hand along the seam. It is not a case for storing a damp blade, since leather holds that damp against steel.

Who it suits

Most people look at blade weight and stop there. The back end is what your wrist argues with. This one goes on a wall, never to anybody who means to cut with it.

• Buyers who care where a sword balances
• People who want brass at both ends
• Collectors who own a wheel pommel and want the other shape
• Anyone after pattern welded steel with a carved scabbard

What comes in the box

• The sword
• The carved acanthus scroll scabbard
• A care card
• No stand is included

Every piece is different

Pattern welded steel never comes out twice the same, so the twist on yours sits differently from the photograph. The pommel is filed and polished by hand, and no two lumps of brass end up the same shape. The carving wanders where the knife wandered, and the leaves sit at their own angles on every scabbard.

Looking after it

Wipe the blade down with a soft cloth after handling. Etched steel holds a fingerprint, and a print is where a spot starts. Then a light film of oil. No abrasive polish, because the etch is shallow and polish takes the pattern with the marks. Brass dulls on its own and most people prefer it. If it has been damp, leave the blade out of the scabbard. More on our knife care and sharpening page.

Put a name on it

Laser engraving is 20 dollars per piece. It goes on the scabbard, not the blade, since an etched pattern is no place for lettering. Around 30 characters fits, usually a name and a date. We send a proof image before the laser runs, and it puts another 3 to 5 business days on the order. Free on orders of 10 or more. See the engraving page.

Questions buyers ask

What is a Brazil nut pommel? A rounded lump of brass, wider than it is tall, on top of the grip.

Why does the pommel matter? Weight at the back sits close to your wrist. Weight on the blade sits a long way from it.

What is the fuller for? It takes weight out of the centre of the blade without narrowing it.

Will it rust? It can. The core is carbon steel. It darkens and spots if left wet.

How long does shipping take? Most US orders arrive in 5 to 7 business days.

Can I own one? Laws on owning and carrying a sword differ by state, city and country, so check your local rules before you buy, and we cannot advise on that.

The same shape in plain steel is the arming sword with an iron wheel pommel, and the other carved scabbard is on the ladder pattern sword. Pattern welded steel lives in Damascus swords, with hand forged swords and historical blades alongside.