Athena's sword

My recent acquisition is Athena’s stunt sword prop, used by Athena played by Paris Jefferson and her stunt doubles. Mostly all the swords seen on the series were made of hard resin or foam, only a few exceptions were metal for close-ups. 

 

The foam blades were the safest options in physical contact scenes for the actors and stunts. Athena’s character appeared during three episodes on season 5: “Amphipolis under siege”, “Looking death in the eye” and “Motherhood”. However, the character was very loved by fans but sadly she never appeared again on the series.

The handle is made of hard resin and the blade is soft foam, all cast over a metal rod armature for support and prevent bending. Athena’s sword has 7 blue acrylic gems inlayed, still in mint condition. 

I believe that the prop department had choosen different gem colours for each different god: Ares had in his wardrobe and sword red jewels and Athena blue ones in her sword and costume. The sword is in good condition, although in some parts has chipped paint and sings of being used in fight scenes.

Photos for reference:

 

Xena's hero sword

Definitely here is a unique piece of television history from the Xena: Warrior Princess series. Xena’s hero metal screen used sword, used by Lucy Lawless circa end of season 1 and 2. The prop masters decided that after the first appearances of Xena with her old sword during the first episodes, the evolution of the character needs to be reflected in a changeover to the new sword.

The first Xena’s hero swords were electroplated for lightweight close-up shots before the prop masters of the series started making the aluminum ones during season 3. The sword is quite heavy too. Before I knew how is the electroplated process, I thought it was a kind of painting technique, but my surprise was when I had it on my hands, I realize that there is a metal layer all around the sword that gives a real metallic shine, just because it is metal indeed.

The aged green rust patina over the cross-guard and pommel reveals that it is an early production sword as we have seen in season 1 and 2, they used the golden orange painting later on. 

 

Also, the blade doesn’t look quite battle worn as the last seasons sword design, that makes this sword quite rare and unique. It has slight damage to the electroplated blade on its edge from fighting contact. However, after almost 30 years, the sword is still in great condition.

All paua shells are intact and in the right place. I always loved the paua shells colors, in this case all are mostly green and blue. Maybe the blue ones in the cross guard were chosen specifically to match with Lucy’s eyes. 

 

The leather strip around the handle is still in mint condition. The pommel has the round concho on with the paua intact, the detail of that piece is usually blurred in the resin casts but, this is not the case. 

 

A formidable sword in every single detail. I still can’t believe this happened…

Reference photos:

Screen used metal Hero Hephestus / Prometheus

Hephestus/ Prometheus screen used metal one-of-a-kind sword prop is dream came true recently. This iconic sword was seen in the “Prometheus” episode from season 1 and after, with a different fabric in the handle and a few “faux” jewels changed was seen in the episode “The Quill is the Mightier” in season 3. Also, this sword appeared in the episode “The sword of Veracity” of season 2 from HTLJ tv series. 

The metal prop swords are extremely rare, probably some of those were just one-of-a-kind pieces that after were casted in resin to be used by the actors and stunts to prevent damages. That is also why I believe that this sword was used in the “Prometheus”episode and after modified for the season 3 episode, inspecting a little bit seems that the old “Prometheus” handle fabric is behind the actual one.

Side 1

Side 2

Handle close-up.

Metal sword props were just seen in close-ups and a few scenes that the shine and bright of the sword is required. This awesome sword is quite heavy and very detailed. The handle has a garnet velvet fabric with golden ribbons intertwined. It combines green and red faux jewels in both sides, just missing a pair of them. The red diamond shape "faux" jewel in the pommel is quite awesome and it is in mint condition in both sides.

  

A few close-ups of the handle, pommel and guard of the sword.

The COA reveals that this sword is “Hephestus Ornate Sword” and was used in XWP tv series. I think I need a huge rock to be displayed properly.

Photos & screen captures for reference: