Five Balefire Swords Inspired by The Wallace Collection

When it comes to creating historically-inspired fencing swords, the Wallace Collection stands out as a treasure trove of ideas. Nestled in the heart of London, the world-renowned museum houses an extensive array of arms and armour. We’ve had the privilege of visiting the Wallace Collection numerous times over the years, spending hours sketching hilts and eyeballing dimensions, and even handling some of their collection. These experiences have not only deepened our appreciation for historical craftsmanship but have also sparked creative ideas for our designs.

The Wallace Collection's accessibility, world renown, and extensive online archives make it an invaluable resource for fencers around the world seeking custom swords. We've received requests from customers to craft close fencing replicas of Wallace Collection swords, as well customers flagging them as inspiration for new custom designs.

In this blog, we’re excited to share five of our favourite swords inspired by our visits to the Wallace Collection. In truth we have created too many beautiful Wallace-inspired swords to truly choose from, but we hope that this selection gives you an idea of the sheer breadth of edged weapons on display at the museum.

Whether you're a fencer looking to commission a custom piece, or simply a lover of fine craftsmanship, we invite you to delve into these Wallace-inspired weapons and discover the historical echoes in each blade.

The Itelhans Swiss Sabre

This beautiful Swiss sabre is a close replica of the Wallace Collection’s A489, dated to the 1530s. One of the world's most prominently cited examples of a complex-guarded two-handed sword, this copy was a commission that we were very keen to take on.

While we were able to visit it at the Wallace Collection in person, its placement in the corner of one of the museum's distinctive wooden cabinets made it difficult to view it from multiple angles, making photos in the Collection's online archive and from fellow enthusiasts a key part of our research.

The original sword, believed to be from Zurich, features a lobed pommel carved into a twisted shape, a horizontally recurved crossguard with diamond-shaped sections, and quillon terminals carved to match the pommel. It has a trefoil-shaped side-ring and forward guards, one of which extends at a right angle with a twisted knob. The knuckle-guard consists of two bars joined by an S-shaped bar. The blade is gracefully curved, single-edged for two-thirds of its length, with a long, partial edge at the top third.

We increased the elaborate guard by about 10% to accommodate our client's fencing gloves, but otherwise maintained the same interplay of square-section bars and layered joins. Even with the larger guard, the weight of this replica is only 8% higher than the original, resulting in a nimble balance that can be readily wielded with one hand as well as the intended two.

For more about the Itelhans Swiss Sabre, check it out here.

The Schwabacher Sword

This Saxon-looking sword is a recreation of the Wallace Collection's A552. The original is displayed amongst similarly hilted swords such as the A438,A485, A528 and A536, demonstrating the brutal martial elegance of this Germanic style.

The 16th-Century original features a blued basket-type hilt with a large mushroom pommel and an oval grip. The straight crossguard has spatulate terminals, and the guard features flat bands that widen at the centers along with an S-shaped counter-guard. The intricate design is notable for its semi-hilt arms, a small shell pierced with two hearts, and a thumb-guard to the rear.

Our commission called for a slightly lighter version of the original, so Chris removed stock from the durable heat-treated bars and crafted a partially hollow mushroom pommel to balance out the extra mass of those wide quillon ends. These modifications maintained the sword's iconic look while meeting the client's specifications, resulting in a wieldy sidesword-like handling with basket-type hand protection.

To learn more about the Schwabacher sword and read the story it inspired, check it out here.

The Sauvage Sword

A fresh take on a perennial favourite, this war rapier is inspired by the Wallace Collection's A535. Alongside its sisters the A531 and A534, this sword has gained cult status amongst particular fencing groups, and the Wallace Collection sees visitors from around the world on a pilgrimage to see the original.

The original features a broad, single-edged blade and an imposing Norman type 43 guard with a thumb ring. Chosen for its blade presence and versatility, the A535 blends the qualities of a cutting blade with the stiffness of a thrusting blade. It has a blued hilt with a spherical pommel and button, and an oval fishskin grip. The crossguard of round-section bars is horizontally S-shaped, swelling into knobs at the ends. Its guard also includes side-rings, hilt arms, three transverse bars at the back, and a thumb ring.

Our rendition maintains some of the stiffness of the original while being safe for measured play. Its large pommel and hefty blade naturally slow down quicker motions, but add presence to both the cut and thrust. Chris added filled ports in the front and counter guards for enhanced hand protection, and a shorter grip, allowing the spherical pommel to sit snugly against the palm.

To read more about our Sauvage sword and the well-loved original that inspired it, check it out here.

The Amfracta Rapier

We've been fortunate enough to take multiple commissions based on the Wallace Collection’s A635 rapier, featuring an iconic spiral guard and dragon-headed knuckle guard. That serpentine spiral grabbed my imagination the first time I saw it in the Collection, and it's good to know I'm not the only one.

The original sword, originating from Solingen, features a semi-swept hilt with a flattened oviform pommel and button. The spiral-fluted grip is wire-bound, and the straight round-section quillons widen towards the ends. The knuckle-bow is doubly curved and ends in an animal’s head with open heart-shaped jaws. This connects to the hilt-arms through a distinctively-curled guard, reminiscent of originals in armouries across Europe. The side-rings are adorned with a pierced shell on one side and a solid shell on the other, providing balanced protection.

For this variant, our client requested a sword that maintained the look of the A635 but with a longer blade and a lighter weight. This is always a challenging combination to work on, as it relies on removing stock from the hilt and blade width to achieve the desired weight. Chris chose a hollow pommel and a long ricasso to reduce weight, resulting in a lightweight variant ideal for bind-centric rapier play.

To learn more about the Amfracta and its matching dagger, check out the full profile here.

The Bespangled Rapier

This elegant rapier is inspired by the Wallace Collection's A569, which is dated to the early 1600s and features a slender blade and a sweeping diagonal guard.

The original rapier features a swept and fluted hilt, a segmented pommel with a flat button, and what is thought to be its original wire-bound grip. The knuckle-guard branches into loop-guards: one joining the straight crossguard, which slightly swells at the ends, and the other splitting into three branches that connect to the hilt-arms. The front ring has a pierced shell. All the bars are round-sectioned, and the outer bars adorned with silver-dotted patterns against a darker background, which was originally gilded.

Chris's version borrows heavily from the shape and grandeur of this guard, with a few custom details requested by our client. For example, the quillons are adapted into flat-sectioned vertical S-curves, adding a unique touch. The pommel is hollow, helping the slender, fencing-safe blade move quickly and willingly. Its balance strikes a versatile middle ground, supporting both dominant actions and quick adjustments.

A standout feature is the meticulously hand-engraved pattern of diamonds and dots. While examining the original A569 at the Wallace Collection, Chris observed that the multi-layered texture was created by carving, blackening, and then adding further detail. He replicated this technique, albeit in a simpler form and without the gilding of the original. While this was painstaking and often frustrating work, the result is dazzling.

To learn more about this splendid rapier, including how it feels in the hand, check it out here.