Gun Metal Sword (AH3231) b

I collect swords and that interest can be traced back, in large part, to "Glory Road." It was the first story for me in which the sword was so integral to the hero's journey. It made an impression and I wanted to have a Lady Vivamus to honor that impact. I couldn't afford Albion's sword but when a friend suggested that I make my own, I realized it might be possible. I began an extensive internet search for a sword that could be made into Lady Vivamus. I looked at many hundreds, maybe thousands of different swords. The obvious candidate, a Navy dress sword, is impractical both because the ones with curved blades are valuable antiques and because they all have engraved blades. There are a number of military dress swords and Civil War swords that are available as inexpensive replicas but they all have engraved blades.

I bought several swords that I thought could be converted, including the one pictured above, but they all proved unsuitable.