Product review - Jesse Belsky Stageswords

Aug 27 - ALL subscribers

I said in my introductory issue that I would be doing product reviews, and now we are 8 months later and I’ve not given my views on any equipment. Shame on me, right?

Well, here we go, then. We’ll start off looking at some swords and daggers made by Jesse Belsky.

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Who is Jesse Belsky?

Jesse is a swordmaker and theatrical lighting designer based in Washington, DC.

At an early age, Jesse discovered he loved stage combat. (At an earlier age he discovered a love for swords, but DUH. I mean, look at what we’re talking about here!) He “discovered the rest of theater in high school” and ended up studying theatrical lighting design at Duke University, and then went on to earn an MFA in lighting design at the Yale School of Drama, where he started making his own swords to blow off some steam.

Things snowballed, and now he’s juggling both his lighting design career and his sword making company, Jesse Belsky Stageswords, where he makes swords for theaters and film performers and productions as well as historical fencers, martial artists, re-enactors and collectors.

I first saw Jesse’s work at a nearby HEMA event, and invited him to be the first merchant to have a table at the second Lord Baltimore’s Challenge.

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A pair of fencing daggers

The original antique (vertical) and the copies (angled) made by Jesse Belsky

I own a couple of 16th century parrying daggers, and one of my students decided she wanted a training/fencing version made after one of them for her retirement present to herself. I thought that was a brilliant idea, so I joined her and asked Jesse to make two, please.

Since he lives nearby I was able to loan him my antique for measurements and tracings. He did a fantastic job recreating the look and feel of the original, coming within a dozen or so grams on the weight. Jesse made the hilts, handles and pommels and worked with Balefire Blades to get the dagger blades right. (I’ll write up a product review on Balefire Blades in the future)

At our request, Jesse made the grip a little longer than the original to better fit a hand that might be wearing a thick/padded fencing glove. He also made the hilt slightly beefier to hold up to the rigors of regular swordplay.

For both Wendy and myself, these are our favorite fencing daggers. They are just beautiful to look at and a joy to use.

Stats:

• Weight - 321 grams

• Total length (with cap) - 18.25 inches

• Blade length (with cap) - 13 inches

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Swords

Here I’ll highlight a few different swords that Jesse has made. I’ll start with my own, and then show a couple more that I have easy access to. I’ll finish with a couple show pieces that demonstrate the range of designs that Jesse is capable of.

A pair of Ensuite swords to match the dagger(s) shown above

Over the years I’ve played with the idea of having a completely custom sword designed and made, but I’d not been able to land on what style I wanted. With the training daggers completed, I had a flash of an idea.

I worked with Jesse to come up with a three ring swept hilt design that would be a match to the daggers he’d made, and we again commissioned Balefire Blades to create the blade.

I chose a blade from a rapier in the Wallace Collection as the model. I asked for two swords - a training sword and a matching sharp.

The resulting swords pay an excellent homage to the antique dagger, carrying over both the cut out diamond on the rings and the forward swept, diamond-tipped flared quillon design elements.

Stats - fencing sword:

• Weight - 1308 grams

• Total length (with cap) - 48.6 inches

• Blade length (with cap) - 42.25 inches

• Point of Balance - 37 inches from tip

Stats - sharp sword:

• Weight - 1325 grams

• Total length - 47.5 inches

• Blade length - 42 inches

• Point of Balance - 36.5 inches from tip

Thibault style rapier

A friend commissioned this filled two-ring cross port.

Again, the bladesmith was Balefire, and Jesse did the rest.

Stats:

• Weight -

• Total length (with cap) -

• Blade length (with cap) -

• Point of Balance - xx inches from tip

Early 16th century style sidesword

This sword was another friend’s first sidesword and has been in regular use for a couple years. It’s a very elegant and effective design Jesse has made several times.

The blade is again by Balefire Blades.

18th and 19th century smallswords

Jesse also makes later period swords and has even made a new home for Jacob’s Armory smallsword furniture. The furniture pieces are all cast parts that are a very true to 18th and 19th century sword furniture. Jesse will sell the furniture and let a DIY-er mount it on their own blades, or he will sell you a complete sword.

This smallsword trainer is the property of a student.

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Decorative/fantasy swords

Finally, I want to showcase some of the more intricate work that Jesse has become known for.

Two ensuite sword/dagger sets

Here are two ensuite recreations based on original antiques:

Two fantasy wedding swords

And here are two fantasy swords that Jesse made for wedding gifts:

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Conclusion/My thoughts

Jesse is very easy to work with and does a great job of bringing your wishes/designs to life. He doesn’t make his own blades (except for the aluminum ones he mounts on show pieces and theatrical weapons), so he works well with a variety of blade smiths to produce the sword you want, including Balefire, Hanwei, Darkwood, and Castile.

He also builds swords for general availability when he has the time, and is often found at symposiums with a bunch for sale. And he often has some for sale on his website.

Also note, Jesse makes more than rapiers, sideswords, and smallswords. He also makes longswords and other medieval weapons, daggers, basket hilts, sabers, spadroons, cutlasses, hangers, scabbards, and other equipment.¹

I’m very pleased with my own custom pieces. If I have any criticisms at all, it would be these:

When Jesse makes swords meant for fencing/training, he ensures that they can withstand a LOT of HEMA action. The result it, in my opinion my training rapier’s hilt is a bit beefier than I may otherwise like. The rings in particular could be a little thinner. This is, I think, more an aesthetics thing for me than anything else, so it’s not even really an issue. I know some HEMA fencers that are super happy about this. But it’s good to know if you’re looking for a training sword that’s on the thinner/more delicate side of things that you may have to convince him.

Also note that Jesse uses very modern equipment to achieve his designs. He makes use of laser cutting, CNC machines, 3D printing, and of course tig welding technology in the creation of his swords and daggers. If you’re looking for a sword that’s a little more true to how the originals may have been made, there are others that specialize in hand-forging hilts, pommels, and blades.

I highly recommend Jesse’s work to anyone who wants an attractive sword and/or dagger, especially if it’s going to be used in fencing. They’re beautiful, balanced, they fit the hand, he’s easy to work with, and the hilts will hold up for a long time.

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Next up: 

• Breaking down Capoferro’s plate 8 (Paid subscribers)

• Deciding who wins the bout (All subscribers)

1. Seriously - just go browse: https://jesse-belsky-stageswords.squarespace.com/