Back in 2018 when I first started getting into rapier, I got myself a basic Darkwood sword so I could get on the field. It was pretty good, but I found that I didn’t like the handle on it too much. It was a little small for my hands, and I wanted a little more leverage than a round handle would provide. Also, I wanted to be pretty.
Drilling a long, straight hole through an existing piece of wood is a hassle, so I decided on a way to avoid that particular issue. Instead, I cut slices of some pretty hardwood in alternating colors, significantly larger than my desired handle. I drilled holes and slots in them to accommodate the tang of my blade, glued them up, and shaped the whole thing on the belt sander until it was what I wanted.
