Adam Bodorics – Francois Dussack with Scabbard – Heavy Version

This Dussack is part of a very limited supply of these short swords we have from artisan Ádám Bodorics of Landsknecht Emporium. These are some of his high quality project pieces he creates for exploring the tools of defense and war of the 16th and 17th century. His scholastic approach in researching woodcuts, illuminations and museum examples coupled with his skill brings historically informed pieces to life that are rarely seen as production pieces. 

The Francois Dussack by swordsmith Adam Bodorics takes the inspiration for its design from a 17th century woodcut illustration of the French pirate François l’Olonnais. His sabre-bladed Dussack as shown in the illustration would have been a excellent weapon for combat in the tight confines of a ship boarding action and ashore in a colonial port raid. It would be quick, agile and handily capable of vicious slices, deep cuts, and suprisingly deadly thrusts. The 1684 illustration only imparts so much information, so much was left to interpretation and Adam filtered that interpretation through his own experience of handling and inspecting period original Dussacks. This culminated in the creation of two different interpretations which are available separately; the “light” and “heavy” models.

The “Heavy” model shown here isn’t actually heavy – its still quite maneuverable and easy to control but it does have more mass in the blade (and striking power!) than the light version. The blade is very thick at the ricasso and stays notably thicker in the spine than the light version all the way to the yelman, where it then radically flattens for a widened tip and main cutting portion that is ideal for slicing easily into a target and being powered cleanly through with the mass and power that come with the rest of the blade. It is something that would be a grievously efficient slicer and chopper. Adam believes that the “Heavy” model more closely aligns to the dimensions, mass and handling properties of most historical originals of the type. The blade is crafted of 6150 high carbon steel and expertly tempered with multiple fullers.

The hilt for the heavy version has a thick thumb ring that not only protects the topmost vulnerable digit, but is an excellent anchoring point for the thumb that allows for greater control and especially point control for the whole blade. The clamshell gives excellent hand protection and is fitted onto the crossguard with a matching slot for the blade tang which was reinforced with silver soldering. The wooden grip is wrapped in braided wire for a sturdy and highly textured grip as seen on numerous period originals. Adam took care to achieve a fine weight and balance by making the pommel hollow – as seen on many originals. The blade is strongly peened over a spherical peen block to solidly mount the blade and hilt. The sword is matched with a wood-core scabbard which is overlaid in black leather and fitted with a brass chape and locket. Adam emulated the method of attachment for these components by reproducing the method he has seen on period originals of forged U-shaped pins which anchor the brass into the wood and are struck flush.

An excellent performance cutting piece, this Dussack is full of handcrafted character and evidence of hand tooling methodology that all serve to more closely replicate the appearance and feel of the historical originals.