Has anyone ever made resin copy of the Highlander sword?

[Djinn]

Oh, so you are looking for the Dark Magic Katana



I have seen quite a few copies of varying quality here and there over the years. The knockoffs came around years after people stopped caring about Highlander swords but I remember they were not too bad. Most of the time they were not cast in black resin though.

 

[arwa]

I always wanted to do the third Highlander Connor sword with the broken blade. I have the marto Connor that I picked up extremely cheap with a damaged scabbard that I like, but I don't really feel safe handling it. I would prefer a solid He-Man sword myself.

Is that actually the sword that Kane uses in the 3rd Highlander movie? I have never really paid attention to it, nor was it really emphasized in the movie.

-arwa

 

[Jack T Chance]

Oh, so you are looking for the Dark Magic Katana



I have seen quite a few copies of varying quality here and there over the years. The knockoffs came around years after people stopped caring about Highlander swords but I remember they were not too bad. Most of the time they were not cast in black resin though.

Yeah, I found a couple pics of that. Horrendous. Who is stupid enough to think that sword's hilt was weathered ivory, instead of the stark black hilt it actually had? :confused

Anyway... thanks to a tip someone just gave me on another forum, I did some more google searches, and I just finally found some pictures of Marto's long out-of-production version:

So, I was right! Marto's DID have the red stones in the eyes! And their handguard was a noticeably different design from the one seen on the current recreations. But those recreations also have a single red stone set into the forehead. I don't know which is more accurate to the actual prop seen in the movie. :unsure

But I do know this: I stumbled upon a post on a Highlander forum that indicates that Marto's "Sword of the Sorcerer" is actually of better quality than the "Dark Magic Katana" offered by the man that apparently designed the sword, and is therefore more desirable. So why the HELL hasn't Marto put the thing back into production? :confused 'Cause they are a BE-ATCH to find these days. :unsure

 

[Djinn]

Marto swords are not really much better quality than the Chinese knockoffs.

They are still made from cheap resin tsukas glued onto stainless steel blades.

The tsuba on the Marto Connor Macleod sword is nothing but thinly plated copper. And the gold will rub right off with wear just as quickly as the flea market knockoff tsuba.

 

[knightone]

On the website in question, he describes it having a "blood red stone on it's forehead", but the pictures are of such poor quality that you can't even make out the stone. I seem to remember it having red stones set into the eyes, but it's been so many years since the Marto version was available in stores, that my mind may be playing tricks on me. :unsure

I also remember the Marto version having a rather large blood groove (or "fuller", as they're sometimes called) on it, as well, a feature that is rather unusual on a katana. Not too many seem to have had blades with blood grooves.

The picture above is not of the original model used in H3. It was a follow-on model that came later.

I have an original Marto one that came out when the movie came out. It does just have one single red stone in the forehead. And yes, it does have a large blood groove. It is also actually the second one I ever owned because soon after I bought the first one, the hilt and the handguard broke on it (and I never even abused it in any way). The second one has held up fine over the years, though, so I guess the first one was a fluke.

 

[Jack T Chance]

Marto swords are not really much better quality than the Chinese knockoffs.

They are still made from cheap resin tsukas glued onto stainless steel blades.

The tsuba on the Marto Connor Macleod sword is nothing but thinly plated copper. And the gold will rub right off with wear just as quickly as the flea market knockoff tsuba.

I'm just going by what people said HERE, comparing DeBraga's "official" version to the Marto version. Interesting stuff.

 

[Djinn]

Oh yea, I remember that.

At least there you can compare the Marto to the knockoff on that thread. I guess the white handle could easily be painted flat black.

 

[Mercury]

Marto swords are not really much better quality than the Chinese knockoffs.

They are still made from cheap resin tsukas glued onto stainless steel blades.

The tsuba on the Marto Connor Macleod sword is nothing but thinly plated copper. And the gold will rub right off with wear just as quickly as the flea market knockoff tsuba.

Man, I totally disagree with that statement. To equate the Marto version to the knockoffs is absurd. I have had both back when I wanted one to abuse without the cost. The marto, while it is resin on SS, is of a high quality. At least mine is. The knockoffs tsukas are primarily hollow and vastly oversized, with obvious seam lines. My Marto grip is no larger around than a noraml tsuka and has no visable seam line and appears to be solid cast around the tang. I don't know if it is but it feels and appears to be. As far as the gold rubbing off, I've had mine for many, many, years and have twirled it and polished it as much as you would expect. Still no wear and still looks brand new. I will say I got mine when they 1st released them, so the quality might have varied in later years.

Is it the same as a real dueling katana?, No, but it isn't meant to be. It's a wall hanger and a finely made one.

I respect your opinion though dude, even if I disagree with it.

 

[Djinn]

The underside on mine has some very obvious seam lines. And I do agree with you on the oversized tsuka of the knockoffs. The tsukas are not hollow like the knockoff but they do have a metal sleeve that the blade fits into giving it some added weight. But the Marto is generally made of the same materials and for the outrageous price difference Marto could have done better.

 

[knightone]

Scratch my last. The one I have is the deBraga. I just checked. I just though, since I got the sword at the same time and the same place I got my Marto swords that it was also a Marto.

 

[Djinn]

Looking back at it, I would love a Highlander 3 sword as well. But I have only seen a couple of those in the last ten years.

 

[Mercury]

I wouldn't mine having a version 2 or 3 myself. I see United Cutlery want $300 for their Connor and it's not accurate either but a blending of all 3. Someone should do a run of the handles. Make it a "build a project" run like in the old days. Supply the tsukas alone or all parts needed to make a connor sword.:cool I know I have a blade I could use already. :love

 

[Djinn]

Yea I have at least 3 blades handy at the moment. All I need is the tsuka and tsubas for them. The rest of the fittings I can find as well.

 

[Djinn]

So nobody has tackled this project before?

 

[Minder Thr33]

IrishAmericanlad has.

He's done a scratch build and a screen-cast. I got the scratch build version before he offered the screen-cast. It's still a beautiful piece.

I'm actually surprised he hasn't posted here yet with the recent updates.

 

[irishamericanlad]

whoops, i missed this completly...
here are a few of what i offer...the last one is not the original H2, its a cleaner version of the kyle katana i made, the H2's have fallen under the provision of the lawyer hit list (davis-panzer watch list)... the differance between my remake is that its a thicker handle with the same head built up...

 

[Replicant]

The tsuba on the Marto Connor Macleod sword is nothing but thinly plated copper. And the gold will rub right off with wear just as quickly as the flea market knockoff tsuba.

I agree Djinn, however I must correct one thing..not only does the gold plate rub off (I have had mine for 10 years) the metal underneath is not copper,it is just "white metal" ....so when the gold rubs off, you get silver showing through!


Irishamericanlad......it's about time you chime in and share your talent!
-Brian

 

[irishamericanlad]

well since your my other half (business speaking) feel free to add your tsubas and such! have at it MAN lol

 

[Djinn]

I agree Djinn, however I must correct one thing..not only does the gold plate rub off (I have had mine for 10 years) the metal underneath is not copper,it is just "white metal" ....so when the gold rubs off, you get silver showing through!


Irishamericanlad......it's about time you chime in and share your talent!
-Brian

The copper is underneath the thin plating of silver metal. I know because mine is now mostly copper.

 

[Replicant]

The copper is underneath the thin plating of silver metal. I know because mine is now mostly copper.

Cool,thanks!..So if I polish past the silver I will get a copper color?That may look better than the silver.