The most immediately striking thing about this rapier is its decoration: a depiction of surging waves, inspired by Hokusai's masterpiece, The Great Wave of Kanagawa. This was hand-engraved with chisels and gravers, then blackened and selectively polished for a stormy sea-grey finish.
Fine tuned for Destreza style practice, it features a 42" blade and a slight back balance, allowing its tip to move quickly and nimbly without straining the wrist. Its comprehensive guard, based on our Adagio sidesword, allows for confident actions in the close fight with the hand held high. The carved ball quillon tips allow for greater control of the opposing blade and match the wave-carved pommel. Please see our pricing structure for an idea of what a similar sword would cost.
∴ Specs ∴
Total length: 112cm
Blade length: 98.5cm
Blade width at base: 2.2cm
Blade stock: 6mm
Grip length: 8cm
Grip and pommel: 11.5cm
Quillon span: 26cm
Weight: 1100g
Point of Balance: 11cm
Right-handed
Blunt edges
Rounded tip
Fencing flex
∴ Notes ∴
The hand-forged and heat-treated guard and pommel are blackened to a matte finish, with selective polishing to accentuate the carvings.
The hand-forged and heat-treated guard is formed of straight round-section quillons with carved ball terminals. The front of the guard takes the form of a flat-section spiral, swirling up into a knuckle guard. The spiral features hand-engraved waves, based on Hokusai's Great Wave of Kanagawa. The rear of the guard is formed of three round-section bars, sweeping up to meet the knuckle guard.
The oak grip is wrapped in twisted brass wire, finished to top and bottom witj Turk's head knots. The pommel is spherical, and carved with swirling lines to match the quillon terminals and mirror the central wave motif.
∴ Gallery ∴
∴ A Cthonic Connection ∴
You stand alone on the windstruck beach, your silhouette in stark contrast with the white and foaming sea. Towering waves crash against the shore, sending violent sprays of spume into the air, mingling with relentless rain. Your hair is thick with salt, your kimono sodden.
Knowing how much of a wild thing you must look to the fishermen and their wives huddled safe in their homes, you stand fast against the howling wind, gripping the hilt of your sword as if challenging the sea itself.
As the waves surge over the seaweed-strewn sand and recede seething to the depths, your thoughts roil with them. Your path, once certain, is as unnavigable as the ocean. Will you conquer the storm, or be swept away by it?
As lightning illuminates the horizon, you let out a deep breath and sheathe your rapier, resolved to face whatever comes with the same relentless force as the waves.