The Story of Rebellion :

This Two-handed Longsword is loosely based upon the work of George R.R. Martin’s, Song of Fire and Ice.   Following Robert’s successful rebellion to overthrow the Targaryen dynasty, the lords of Westeros began bending the knee to King Robert.  Those that opposed him during the rebellion called him the Usurper but were now desperate to endear themselves to a new king and looked for any way to curry favor in Robert’s court.  Tywin Lannister, who sat out the war and only chose to side with Robert Baratheon once the war’s outcome was certain, now claimed to have long supported Robert’s Rebellion and the overthrow of the Targaryen Dynasty.  Tywin had his smiths forge the sword, Rebellion, to commemorate the battle of the Trident where Robert Baratheon killed Raegar Targaryen.  One side the sword depicts the Baratheon stag lording over the slain three-headed dragon of the Targaryen’s, surrounded by the sigils of those houses that allied themselves with Robert.  Interestingly, Tywin had his smiths include the Lannister Lion on this side of the sword even though the Lannister’s were not involved in the battle of the Trident.  The opposite side of the blade depicts the stag on the Iron Throne with the sigils of the other great houses bending the knee. Tywin gifted this elaborate weapon to Robert at his wedding feast, when he was married to Tywin’s daughter Cersi.   Robert graciously accepted the gift yet never carried the blade, instead favoring his great war hammer. 

Actual Design and Construction:

I designed this weapon as a two-handed long sword.  The original blade blank was produced by Hanwei forge using 5160 mar quenched spring steel.  I altered the blade to fit my needs.  Each side on the blade is hand etched, with one side depicting the Baratheon victory over the Targaryen’s and the other depicting all the great houses bending the knee to the stag on the Iron Throne.    The guard is made from natural deer antlers which are set into a brass tube and pinned in place.  The tube was then secured between two carved blocks of brass with the entire assembly fitting over the tang.  A steel riser sits atop the guard assembly and three spacers, two steel and one brass, separate the two handle pieces.  The handle is carved from African Blackwood.  Ten steel lineup pins orient and secure all the handle pieces. The pommel is carved from mild steel and etched with the sigils of four houses; it is tapped and screwed down on a threaded tang to secure the entire hilt assembly.    

Specifications:

Blade length: 35 inches

Overall length: 48 inches

Hand grip length: 9 inches

Blade width at widest point: 2.25 inches

Guard width: 10 inches

Weight: 4 pounds, 3.5 ounces

Balance point: 2.25 inches in front of the guard

Scabbard Construction: 

The scabbard was made with a poplar core that is fully lined with deer hide to protect the artwork on the blade.  I covered the scabbard in veg tanned leather (hand -stitched up the back.) I tooled the center of the scabbard with sigils from the Baratheon house and those of his closest allies.  The center is stained black with the sigils painted gold.    The ends of the scabbard are entirely tooled with dragon scales, stained walnut, and then antiqued black.