Gabrielle's hero sai

A recent addition to my collection: Gabrielle’s screen-used sai used by Gabrielle played by Renée O’Connor during season 5 & 6. Probably one of the rarest props I have ever seen.

Front and back

This sai is an electroplated hero version made of hard resin with a metal rod inside as an armature reinforcement. 

The shinny surface is electroplated, a chemical process of plating is used for many years to deposit a metallic coating to a surface to have a light-weight weapon with a metallic shine for close-ups scenes. Just the hero version of the sai can be seen the distressed marks on the blade clearly.

It is pretty interesting to compare the differences bewteen my Gabrielle's stunt sais made of soft foam for fighting scenes to prevent foand the detailed prop. The sai comes with COA from It’s A Wrap! auction in 2001.

Photos for reference:

Full circle

During these last months I realized that I am living a full-circle moment as collector. Probably last year Holy Grail additions to my collection were totally unimaginable for me 5 years ago. I have always dreamed with a screen-used Xena's sword with scabbard, a screen-used dark chakram or even a screen-used metal Yin Yang chakram... I really don't know if it was just luck, or I just was in the right place in the right moment, who knows...

Xena's Holy Grail props wall: 

Left to right, Athena's stunt sword, Gabrille's Helicon sword signed by Renée O'Connor, Xena's hero metal chakram. On the other side, Livia's sword and Xena's hero dark chakram.

Inside the shadow box, Gabrielle's sai, Kin Con style dagger, Xena's boot dagger, Ghaphyra's dagger, Athena style dagger, lattice dagger, Roman dagger and cannibal dagger. 

In the front, Xena's hero metal sword, Xena's hero resin sword signed by Lucy Lawless, Xena's Todd prelicensed sword and Xena's set used scabbard.

Xena's screen-used Yin-Yang metal chakram

Xena's screen-used resin chakram.

Xena's hero stunt breastplate.

Caesar's screen-used stunt sword

The most recent addition to my collection is the Caesar’s screen-used stunt sword used by Karl Urban as Caesar during the series . The sword is resin with a metal rod inside. Another eBay pick up from the seller: Orbital-surplus: 

"This rubber and plastic sword was identified by an employee of Global Effects, whos earlier job in New Zealand, had been fabrication of many of metal & rubber weapons for the series. This was acquired by Global in a prop trade in the early 2000's, not long after the series ended. The sword was deemed to delicate for rental service, thus being retired." This was written in the listing from eBay.

The hilt is made of solid resin, it is painted in golden tones with an aged effect. The handle is decorated with patterned satin ribbons to differentiate from the rest of Roman swords.

The blade is made of soft foam to prevent the actors get in injured during the the fight scenes of the series. Many of the foam swords were deteriorated over the time due to the kind of soft material that it is, but if you keep it safe and stored properly the sword could keep the same condition as when the series ended.

There were multiples appearances of this sword in season 3 episodes “The Deliverer”, “When in Rome” and in season 4 episode “A good day”. 

This last addition to my collection completed my Caesar screen used costume, hopefully I will display all together soon.

Photos for reference:

Xena's screen-used Yin-yang metal chakram

And this happened today… Xena’s screen-used metal yin-yang splitting Chakram had resurfaced after more than 24 years stored since the show ended.

The first appearance was in the episode “Chakram” from season 5. After Xena merged the two dark chakrams, the balanced chakram appeared, a new throwing weapon able to split in two pieces to be used as melee weapon instead of throwing. The splitting Chakram was also seen in the episode of “Eve” during the final fight scene.

Just a few “split” hero metal chakrams were made since most of the split chakram scenes were CGI shots of the chakram in flight. I believe that just 3 units were produced of this particular version. The brightness of the bronze and gold paint are in good condition although it has signs of wear and chipped paint parts.

A truly Holy Grail prop that I feel more than lucky to have found.

Screen captures for reference:

Senetus's costume

Last addition to my collection is the Livia’s commander, Senetus, costume worn by Paul Glover (also played Menticles, in “The Price”) in the episode Eve from season 5.

 

The costume includes the fabric tunic pieces: shirt and skirt made of a light beige cotton with a red ribbon around and Livia’s army designs painted on the sleeves and the bottom of the skirt.  I decided to took a few photos with the Livia’s sword that is closely related to it.

I just verify that the metal cuffs are same style that the ones used by Brutus in “When Fates collide” from season 6.

Obviously, the metal armour is awesome but my storage capacity almost collapse, so I am complete with Caesar and Brutus’s metal armours.