The instructions below by Duke Uther Schiemann Der Hunt present a simple fix to add a quillion-style cross guard to a sword that already has a basket hilt. The "hose great sword cross guard" method is used, as it is light weight, cheap and most importantly easy to install!
Get some light weight vinyl, not heavy rubberized hose, 1 1/4" or wider in diameter. For a great sword you would want black rubberized hose, because it would be larger and need to be stronger, but this is not needed for a one-handed sword! OSH sells vinyl hose by the foot for a few bucks; buy one foot. Cut two pieces about 5 to 6 inches. After the basket hit is on the sword, add a bit of hose on each side of the sword right above it; see pictures blow for shapes. Compress the hose tight on the rattan and afix it with strapping tape, making sure to cross the tape in an "X" pattern. Once the hose is on good and tight to the stick, spiral-strap tape the two pieces of hose together firmly to create a round looking cross bar. This gives you the classic looking sword guard; cut it to a size you think looks good! This is how Sir Mark does his bastard swords. For a one-handed sword it does not need to be as large as a cross guard for a bastard sword would be. I would think 2 to 3 inches on either side would be good. Try and use electrical tape or thinner strips of duck tape to clean the look up. DO NOT make it a mass of tape, as this will be messy and will unbalance your sword!
Get some light weight vinyl, not heavy rubberized hose, 1 1/4" or wider in diameter. For a great sword you would want black rubberized hose, because it would be larger and need to be stronger, but this is not needed for a one-handed sword! OSH sells vinyl hose by the foot for a few bucks; buy one foot. Cut two pieces about 5 to 6 inches. After the basket hit is on the sword, add a bit of hose on each side of the sword right above it; see pictures blow for shapes. Compress the hose tight on the rattan and afix it with strapping tape, making sure to cross the tape in an "X" pattern. Once the hose is on good and tight to the stick, spiral-strap tape the two pieces of hose together firmly to create a round looking cross bar. This gives you the classic looking sword guard; cut it to a size you think looks good! This is how Sir Mark does his bastard swords. For a one-handed sword it does not need to be as large as a cross guard for a bastard sword would be. I would think 2 to 3 inches on either side would be good. Try and use electrical tape or thinner strips of duck tape to clean the look up. DO NOT make it a mass of tape, as this will be messy and will unbalance your sword!
