The fire cracks fiercely, smoke drifting from its still-damp heart. You wince, pretending that the tear gathering at the corner of your eye is a mere reaction to the acrid plume. The bladeless hilt clasped between white-knuckled hands, however, tells a different tale.
The truth is, you lost a friend today. A stalwart comrade, who has followed your journey from a green squire to an astute fencer. Who has witnessed your triumphs and your injuries – even caused some of them.
Your trusty sword has fallen. And now there are rites to be observed. Tonight you will drink to battles past. And tomorrow, when the first bird sounds from the high pines, you will wrap the hilt in roughspun and carry it into the woods – where already the smith is waiting to restore what has been lost.
∴ Blade Specs ∴
Each Balefire blade is made to order, creating as close a match as possible for your existing furniture. With controlled drilling and sparring in mind, they feature 2mm blunt edges and round, swollen tips.
For durability and historical accuracy, we make our tangs by welding an appropriate mid-carbon steel to the end of the blade tang, which is then tapped to the desired thread or peened as needed. The whole tang is thermally managed throughout the making of the blade to avoid any brittleness creeping in, and is the best solution to tang failures we’ve yet found, especially when allied with a tang structure that doesn’t feature shelving.
Our tangs have been designed with the rigours of regular fencing in mind, avoiding common problems and fracture points. If you require a tang to be made to another maker’s standards, we will happily discuss this, but cannot guarantee the longevity.
Please note, our standard fencing blades feature 2mm thick edges and a swollen tip for safety.
Learn more about our blade pricing here.
∴ Ordering Your Blade ∴
Upon ordering a bare Balefire blade, you will have two options for getting an optimum fit:
You may wish to send us your broken or existing blade, that we can model tang dimensions on. Alternatively, you could send us your sword furniture so we can make a blade to fit it, and build the sword on site. Please note that we cannot cover your postage costs if you choose this option.
If you can’t be parted from your blade or furniture, we will send a form to help ascertain the dimensions of your existing tang. The diagram below will help you to make accurate measurements. Any photos you can provide will also be a great help.
Something specific in mind? Contact us to discuss your fencing needs and sword-wielding dreams.