Classic Tiger Katana

The Tori katana is an all-new design from CAS/Hanwei that incorporates truly elegant furniture with the functionality of our performance series. Featuring a flying crane tsuba, brown leather tsuka-ito over black same and a dark brown/black saya, the Tori is available in three folded steel cutting blade profiles and three Iaito blade lengths. This is undoubtedly one of the most elegant mounts ever crafted by CAS/Hanwei. This is the Tori Katana with a blade from folded steel. Our Katana Blades embody the classical design elements of the most prolific sword design in history. With their strong Shinogi Zukuri shape that accentuates the differential heat treatment, these blades are traditionally proportioned to appeal to the collector but they will also perform well in general cutting of hard or soft targets. KEY FEATURES: Folded Steel Blade Premium fittings Built for Martial Artists MEASUREMENTS: Blade length: 28" Handle length: 11" Overall length: 40" Weight: 2lb 7oz Point of Balance: 5" Width at Guard: 1.34" Width at Tip: 1.03" Thickness at Guard: .25" Thickness at Tip: .16" Sori: 3/4"

The story of King Arthur is one of the most frequently retold stories in the English language. Films, television series, book series, and stage productions all exist of the tale, each giving their own interpretation of the story. And with good reason – if anything can be said to be a mythological history of England, it’s the story of Arthur, the kingdom of Camelot, the Knights of the Round Table – and the mighty sword Excalibur. Tales of Arthur have existed for centuries, though most modern visitors to our website will be familiar with a few of the more recent classics – The Once and Future King by T.H White, for most, which was published in 1958. What few people realize is that this book – and most of the modern retellings of the story – are actually based on a volume written over five centuries ago. Le Morte d’Arthur (“The Death of Arthur”) is a 15th-century Middle English epic written by Sir Thomas Malory, and gathers together various tales and folklore involving Arthur into a comprehensive and cohesive story. Le Morte d’Arthur is the origin of all modern retellings of the tale, no matter how far from the source material they depart, and nowhere is this more clear than in the 1981 movie masterpiece – Excalibur. excalibur-movie-sword-darksword-armory-350x197The 1981 film is directly based on the most recognizable portions of Sir Thomas Malory’s collection, and is a modern classic. Picking up the story even before Arthur was born with the tyrant Uther Pendragon, the film covers the entirety of Arthur’s life in tragic detail. The drawing of the titular sword from the stone, Arthur’s rise to the throne, the betrayal of Lancelot and Guinevere, and Arthur’s death at the hands of Mordred all play out under the artful direction of John Boorman. The film featured famous actors like Sir Patrick Stewart, launched the film careers of Gabriel Byrne and Liam Neeson, and was the breakout role for Helen Mirren, arguably one of the most talented (and definitely the most beautiful) women in Hollywood history. The true star of the film, though, was the sword at the center of it all. Even in a film with exquisite set design, costumes, and period armor (designed by Terry English), the prop Excalibur stands out. Every time it is on screen it steals the scene – shining bright like the sword of legend. When characters react to the sword with awe, the audience believes it. The film and the sword launched many young men and women into a lifetime of obsession with swords – us here at Darksword included. The original prop from the film resides in John Boorman’s home in Ireland, but as fans of the film and as swordmakers ourselves, we felt compelled to make our own attempt to pay homage to the sword that so entranced us when we were young. In the words of Darksword Armory founder Eyal Azerad: “As a collector and bladesmith, the making of Excalibur sword was a deeply personal project. As for many, John Boorman’s 1981 Epic Film was not only my favorite movie but, as a child, my introduction to the ‘Middle Ages.’ This introduction, crystalized ‘The Excalibur’ at the core of my passion and a romanticized vision of the ‘Middle Ages.’ Hence, forging the Excalibur sword, was a passion project for myself and the staff alike. We felt we owed this sword our utmost attention. Making yet another ‘decorative’ Excalibur was not an option. Our recreation had to be classically elegant, vibrant, and faithfully crafted from the original prop. Our goal was not only to produce a finely hand forged sword, but to replicate the lasting legacy of the film.” Excalibur King Arthur Sword The Excalibur is a unique reproduction. A sturdy, double-edged blade suitable for cut and thrust techniques is balanced by a long handle and hefty pommel. The high polish brass guard and pommel is strikingly beautiful, making it sure to stand out in any collection. 5160 High Carbon Steel Dual hardened Total length: 41.5″ Blade length: 34″ Grip length: 6″ Blade width at base: 2″ Weight: 3 lbs 13 oz Please note: The sword will be delivered only with the scabbard, the "matching belt" is not included but can be ordered for an extra charge.

This Sugarloaf Helm has a conical top and an antique decorative cross sporting the cross of the Knights Templar. Made of 18 gauge steel, the helm has a soft, padded adjustable liner inside.The sugarloaf style of helm was the forerunner of what would become the great helm and eventually gave way to the lighter weight bascinet style. Our version is one that would have been found at the later part of the 13th century and the very beginning of the 14th century.Its conical top deflects the glancing blows of a sword, while the antique decorative brass cross on the face sports the cross of the Knights Templar. Made of 18 gauge steel, the helm has a soft, padded adjustable liner inside, which allows for a perfect fit. Height: 15" Width: 11" Weight: 5 lbs / 12 oz