Drool-worthy Website
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 7:39 pm
I am posting a link to a favorite website of mine. It is the site oif Patrick Barta, a swordsmith in the Czech Republic, who makes the most exceptionally beautiful swords that I have ever seen. I bought one of the very first of his swords to come into this country back in 2001. It was his number 102 Roman Riding Sword, a replica of a sword pulled from a Danish bog in the late 19th Century. I paid $250 plus shipping and that price was an absolute steal as I was later to learn. His current price of 400EUROs for that sword is still a reasonable price, IMO. Ever since I got that sword, I have been saving for another and last November I ordered one. I ordered his number 118 Sword, a reproduction of the sword pulled from the Thames River at Abingdon, England. The guard and pommel are covered in engraved silver and the blade is pattern-welded steel.
Patrick starts with iron ore and charcoal and makes his iron and steel in the same way that they made them back at the time that the swords were originally made. It has been said that he does not make replicas but modern-made versions of the original swords. I have seen and held his reproduction of the sword from the Sutton Hoo burial, his number 115 Spatha sword. It is nothing short of exquisite with all of the inset garnets perfectly hand-cut and fitted. If ever a sword were worth 3200EUROs, this one is. If you think that his prices are too high, perhaps his backlog of work will tell you something of how people judge the value of his work. I am now seven months into a 30 month waiting period for him to get to my sword and he is confidant enough in his market not to ask for any money until the sword is completed. I can assure you that, were I to have to back out at that point, there would be a very ready market for it.
Here is his web address:
http://www.templ.net/english/
Just don't drool too hard on your computer keyboards as they get expensive when they short out. John, take a look at his Roman swords and dream.
Patrick starts with iron ore and charcoal and makes his iron and steel in the same way that they made them back at the time that the swords were originally made. It has been said that he does not make replicas but modern-made versions of the original swords. I have seen and held his reproduction of the sword from the Sutton Hoo burial, his number 115 Spatha sword. It is nothing short of exquisite with all of the inset garnets perfectly hand-cut and fitted. If ever a sword were worth 3200EUROs, this one is. If you think that his prices are too high, perhaps his backlog of work will tell you something of how people judge the value of his work. I am now seven months into a 30 month waiting period for him to get to my sword and he is confidant enough in his market not to ask for any money until the sword is completed. I can assure you that, were I to have to back out at that point, there would be a very ready market for it.
Here is his web address:
http://www.templ.net/english/
Just don't drool too hard on your computer keyboards as they get expensive when they short out. John, take a look at his Roman swords and dream.