Description
This short sword is collaboration between Petr Florianek and myself. Petr is a good friend and talented Bladesmith he works from his workshop out side of Prague, he has a wonderful imagination and is a very thorough knowledge of historical forms as well as the fantastical. I really love our collaborations and they represent some of the best Work I’m involved in Making. In this case my blade was just the canvas for Petr to work his magic on. When I handed the blade over to Petr he immediately imagined it as a Dwarven cavalry sword. A blade that a Boar rider from the Iron Hills would carry to battle.
In our collaborations Petr and myself think of our work together like the work of the Dark elves from Norse myth ( Dökkálfar) or possibly the Dwarves or elves from Middle earth. We are trying to make legendary pieces with the work of our hands that transcend the mundane and exist in the world of legends. In the case of Gruntling that world is our favourite one, the one with Elves Wizzards Halflings Orc and heroic Dwarven Boar Riders! The Boar is a strong image to Petr His business is named Gullenbursti after the golden boar of Norse myth and legend. This sword is festooned with Boar images.
Gruntling is a late medieval word for a piglet, a fitting name for a Boar rider’s sword.
This is a sturdy 24inch short sword blade. The blade is patternwelded, there is vintage wrought iron at the spine then there are two Bars of interrupted twist . The interrupted twist shows the laminate striped section of the bar for a section and then a twisted section. One of the bars twisted clockwise and one anti clockwise. There is another layer of wrought iron separating the twists from the edge. The edge is a high layer random pattern Damascus and shows chatoyancy where hammer blows have caused the Damascus steel to flow.
Petr Florianek crafted the handle and Sheath with intricate carvings in bronze and antler, silver and leather. This handle made from Holm Oak and carved in interlacing knot work .the ends of the handle are bound with silver bands.
The guard is a knot work carved piece of antler and has a bronze plate at the front of it.
The pommel is of the same construction with carved antler and Bronze .sitting atop of all that is a wrought iron pommel, a carved Boar with garnet eyes and silver tusks.
The sheath is Oak tanned leather, that has carved Knot work in the leather and Bronze.
The chape is made from bronze and the scabbard mouth has carved knot work in the bronze.
There is a fantastical Anglo Saxon style Dwarven Boar in leather on the scabbard with silver tusks and silver and garnet eyes.
The belt riser is another Boar carved from antler and has silver tusks and garnet eyes.
