Swords collection update

A quickly entry with this collage with some of my Xena swords screenused and replicas. Which one is your favorite?

Left to right:

Indrajit sword prop
Amazon sword prop
Helicon queen sword replica
Helicon amazon sword replica
Roman short lion head sword prop
Skull sword prop
Xena hero metal sword replica
Xena hero metal retractable sword prop
Roman double lion head sword prop
Roman sword prop
Brunnhilda / Perdicus sword prop
Valkyrie sword prop
Wealthea sword prop
Xena evil sword prop
Centaur metal retractable sword prop
AFIN Xena sacred katana
AFIN Gabrielle katana

Screenused Wealthea stunt sword & sheath

Recently arrived this screenused Wealthea style sword used in the North episodes from season six and used by Xena played by Lucy Lawless in the episode "The Return of the Valkyrie", this episode was filmed in July 2000 in New Zealand so have passed 22 years since then.

This stunt sword combines hard resin in the handle with soft closed cell foam in the blade to avoid damages in the actors during fights. There is a metal rod inside the sword to prevent it from bending.

This sword was probably used in the scene when Xena fight Waltraute arround the fire circle where is a sleeping Gabrielle.

Handle close-up.

The sword is a quite long piece, probably the longest I have with the double head lion sword, read more...

It has a few damages in the blade, however the foam from the blade is in good condition after 22 years... This sword came with a Valkyrie style sheath made of real leather with a braid of rope around, that fits perfectly to the sword.

Sword and sheath.

Photos and screencaps:

Making Xena replicas: Xena Hero Sword

 After a few weeks working on the Xena sword finally I got it finished! Well, its been a hard job: 

Firstly, I have decided to make a resin sword with a cast of my screenused Xena sword, the main problem was that my screenused sword is a retractable one of a kind and I had to used just the handle piece of it. 

Then, I have cast the Todd's Costumes blade and make a few modifications to be differentiate from the original one, and do it as much accurate as I can to the screen used swords seen on the series.

Then, when the raw resin prototype was finished (no paua shells, no painting and no leather wrapping) I gave it to a blacksmith company that made the piece in raw metal. 

When I received the metal sword I had to sand it carefully, before painting I have to add the round concho that is originally attached to the pommel in the screenused sword. So, it was another challenge to find that specific piece, but I did, same size and shape. So, I had to attach the concho to the pommel before it is was painted.

Left to right: Prop replica / Screenused sword

To paint the handle in the right color was an absolutely nightmare. I found plenty of spray mixed tones: light gold, old gold, copper, gold copper... but the the color that I was searching for was a kind of orange gold tone, just the screenused Xena swords seen in the last seasons of the tv series. Finally, I had to order a special spray that mixed the orange gold tone with an extra 10% of yellow/gold painting. And finally, I got it! Was difficult but not imposible. Although, I have another metal raw sword that probably I will try to make the early season painting on it.

Then, I used black and green acrylic painting to make the aged effect and the final step was adding the paua shell in both sides and in the pommel. I already had a few of them at home so that was easy.

Hope you enjoy reading this post. See you soon with more updates!

Making Xena replicas: Breastdagger

 Hi guys! Today I want to share with you my last updates. I have recently started working with a blacksmith that is helping me to make a few metal replicas of my favourite Xena weapons.

Here I leave you a few photos of my Xena new metal breastdagger. In this case I worked over the patina making an aged and oxide effect with a shine blade and a red leather wrapping just like the screenused one. What do you think?

Screenused Double lion head sword

New arrival! In this case, this is an amazing sword, quite large, it's the largest I have and highly detailed. This is the double lion head style sword seen in many episodes from the tv series. It is made of resin with a metal rod inside and the blade is closed foam in mint condition. I can recognize the amazon emblem in the middle of the guard section and the classic lion heads pieces in each side. 

General view.

Handle close-up.

This sword was seen in "The deliverer" hold by a roman officer, "King Con" used by the son of betting house owner when beat up Joxer at the beginning, "Here comes... Miss Amphipolis" hold by the sponsor of one of the contestants, "Looking to the death eye" used by young Octavius and in "The god you know" when Caligula demonstrates his immortality to a villager at the beginning of the episode.

Blade close-up.

Screencaps:

Screenused Indrajit Sword

New arrival! I always loved the India episodes, and I was really interested in finding this style of sword to add to my collection. This is an Indrajit hard resin sword used in the episode "The Way". This sword was used by Indrajit played Rajneel Singh. After his transformation and the appearance of 4 more arms he picks up the swords from the wall and amputates Xena's arms, epic scene!

This sword is short piece, made of solid resin with a metal rod inside. The handle is painted in gold tons with red and white details. The blade has a floral engraving that makes it different and exotic.

Handle close-up.

Blade close-up.

General view

Screencaps:

Screenused Autolycus Hero costume

Hello friends! I come back today with a photo-shoot of my screenused Autolycus costume that I have acquired a few months ago but I didn't post it yet. This screenused updated costume worn by Autolycus played by Bruce Campbell and stunt double, Ben Cooke. Autolycus worn different costumes during the XWP and HTLJ series, this belongs to the last outfit seen in both tv shows and in my opinion, the more elaborated and detailed one.

This costume has 6 pieces: the iconic green suede vest, the black fabric skirt with a detailed flower trim, the leather pants also used by Ares and other male characters, black leather boots, ornated gauntlets, my favourite piece, and green suede belt.

Side view.

Side view 2.

Front close-up.

The Hero costumes used to be labeled with the name of the main actor and sometimes also the character name, this is the case. Also, in the case of the green suede vest I believe that after been used by Bruce Campbell during a few episodes, they left this vest for the stunt actor, Ben Cooke. In the trouser is written: “Autolycus Stunt Double” and in the boots also.

Gaunlet close-up.

Gaunlet close-up.

Trouser close-up.

Boots close-up.

A few years ago, I found a photo with scripts from the HTLJ series talking about the Autolycus trouser with a few polaroid photos of them, they look exactly as mines: the same inside opening and the back of the Auto trouser has the same elastic band in the middle.

Photos and screeencaps: