The Story of Saruman and the Lost Seeing Stones:

This blade does not fit into the fantasy world of Illantul that I created.  Instead, it is based on the novels of JRR Tolken. The blade depicts my representation of Saruman gazing into a Palantir with an image of Middle Earth in the background. 

Actual Design and Construction:

The original blade blank was forged by Windlass Steelcrafts using 1085 high carbon steel.   Both sides are hand etched with my representation of Saruman and middle earth. The cross guard is fashioned from a single piece of ½ inch brass.  The handle is carved from South American purpleheart with inlaid brass accent lines.  The threaded pommel nut I carved from brass and inset an orange cubic zirconia into the tip.  Steel line up pins are used throughout the hilt furniture, I drilled a very small hole through the pommel nut so an 1/8-inch drill bit can be used to tighten and loosen the nut. 

Specifications:

Blade length: 11 inches

Overall length: 16.25 inches

Hand grip length: 4 inches

Blade width at widest point: 1.5 inches

Guard width: 4 inches

Weight: 11.2 ounces

Balance point: 0.5 inch in front of the guard

 Sheath Construction:

The Sheath is constructed of 4-5 oz premium veg tan leather cut to the exact fit of the blade and is hand stitched through a welt at the bottom.  The sheath stained a royal blue with black antiquing and had a small griffon tooled into the bottom on both sides.