The Santuario Longsword
- Balefire The Questing Light
- May 14
- 3 min read
This custom complex-hilted longsword was designed with the competition fencing needs of our client as a top priority. The design needed to be fast and lightweight, yet incorporate serious hand protection that could accommodate an armoured glove.
Very much a "complex hilted longsword" rather than a "two-handed sidesword", the finished creation moves swiftly around a close balance point, light and willing in the tip despite the extra mass around the hilt.
The sword is named with the Italian word for "sanctuary", referring to the place of safety offered to the fingers by the complex hilt amidst the frenzy of the fight!
Please see our pricing structure for an idea of what a similar sword would cost.
∴ Specs ∴
Total length: 131cm
Blade length: 100cm
Blade width at base: 3.25cm
Blade thickness at ricasso: 6mm
Grip length: 24cm
Grip and pommel: 30cm
Quillon span: 23cm
Weight: 1725g
Point of Balance: 8cm from cross
Right-handed
Blunt edges & rounded tip
Fencing safe flex
∴ Notes ∴
The hand-forged and heat-treated guard and pommel are polished to a satin finish. The guard is formed of rounded-section bars, with horizontal S-curved quillons and one wide side ring branching into a diagonal swept that meets the knucklebow and a lower bar that joins the left finger ring. The rear guard features a single diagonal bar stemming from the crossguard and meeting the right finger ring. The bar terminals swell to the ends.
The oak grip is wrapped first in line thread and then in royal blue kidskin. The pommel is a faceted octagonal scent-stopper, peened to the top.
∴ Gallery ∴
∴ A Sliver of Safety ∴
The clash of steel echoes through the courtyard like a hammer against the anvil. You circle like a pair of tigers, swords weaving a web of silver, each seeming sudden slash a calculated angle. The onlookers gawp, and you can make out gasps of horror and excitement as your tempo quickens.
Your opponent is a towering man, but his size doesn't hinder his speed as he rains down a flurry of blows. Even a year ago, you would have shied and shrunken under the intensity of his fight. But now you simply smirk, fingers tightening around the royal blue grip of your sword. Any one of his strikes could crush bones, sever fingers, yet the slender silver bars of the guard cradle your hand as closely as any gauntlet.
He swings, a savage blow aimed to sever. But instead of stepping back, you move in, breaking time. The tower’s eyes widen, his rhythm faltering. With a flash, the elegant S of your crossguard catches his, twisting it just enough to send the larger man off balance. He steps back and makes another strike, but hasty and panicked this time - your blade whispers through the air to meet it.
The tower roars, driving his blade downward in a furious arc. You take another step, almost chest to chest now, your left hand reaching to palm your blade as your right fist comes upward in its cage of of steel. With a sickening crunch, you bring the faceted pommel up into the opponent's nose.
The courtyard falls silent, aside from your opponent's curdling cry. Your breath steadies as blood mingles with the dust at your feet. Your fingers are still curled tightly in the cradle of the hilt. Unbroken. Unyielding. Triumphant.
