Dr Fabrice Cognot, Phd, Bladesmith Page

Dr Fabrice Cognot, Phd, Bladesmith Page The official page of Dr. Fabrice Cognot, PhD, Bladesmith, Scholar and Martial Artist. Feel free to discover my works. Pièces d'Inspiration Historique.
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I have an absolute no refund policy on commission work and custom orders, effective as soon as work has started on the project, or materials/supplies have been ordered for the project, or specific tools have been acquired or made for the project. This in compliance with French law. Unless you make it really worth it, I no longer accept commission work with deadlines. Similarly, all indication of

delivery time I could provide is non-committing. Fabrice Cognot - Coutelier d'Art, Fourbisseur. Fabrice Cognot - Bladesmith

I can't really say how, why or when my interest in arms and armour and in bladesmithing started. Probably, like so many of us, because of too many books hastily read over and over again, too many films that left me with shiny eyes, too many songs that spoke of fire and steel...

I have been fortunate, through my academic studies, to be able to approach and spend some time with actual, real examples of arms and armour, some of them over a thousand years old. These very same studies that lead me to research - and teach - Historical European Martial Arts : for in order to understand the Sword, I thought it important to know how to use it. And how to make it. And here we are. All this time spent in various public and private collections documenting the (sometimes) barely known riches hosted there, analysing from the very weapons themselves - as they are the first and foremost testimonial of how they were designed, used and created - the minute details of their genesis, looking for every bit of information that would allow a closer understanding of this complicated process nested somewhere between Time, Skill and Art...all this time is now put to some use. All this time I now share with you. Oh : not just the Sword, in fact. Of course, the Sword remains among the most appealing examples of what a bladesmith can aspire to. But there is so much more to Historical European Arms than the Sword - not even speaking of what is beyond the realms of European History ; Space, Time and Imagination are the only limits. Daggers, Knives, Hammers, Spears, Axes : all these weapons that were used in Europe and elsewhere, that are part of forgotten or simply less well-known aspects of European cultures. All of them offer hints to an incredible amount of skill in their making and technicality in their use. All of them are among the riches I studied and the things I want to make. Experimenting, making replicas or re-creations using methods (ideally) as close as possible to what was done at the time : that is at the core of this endeavour, through the greater understanding it brings of the original objects. And inversely, the time and energy spent studying originals allows me to propose what I think can be accurate enough (to my own liking, and some say I’m not too lax in that regard) replicas or re-creations of historical arms. This whole process – in its current aspects, at least – started for me ten years ago when I was offered the chance to study a private collection of river-found Mediaeval arms for my Maîtrise (the equivalent of the British MA) ; at the very same time, the Internet made it possible to access the primary Sources of our current knowledge of the Martial Arts of Europe : the various treatises left by Master-at-Arms of times past. I continued along these paths, obtaining in 2002 a Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies (a post-Master's degree roughly equivalent to the American ABD or the MPhil in the British system) in which I studied a collection of river-found Swords from Southern Burgundy from the point of view of an European Martial Artist in the learning. I’ve been practicing and teaching Historical European Martial Arts through the group I founded and run in Dijon, De Taille et d’Estoc, and the Historical Euopean Martial Arts Coalition (HEMAC). I and De Taille et d’Estoc have the honour to host the annual International HEMA Gathering in Dijon, for which I offered every year since 2006 a creation of my own, based on the principles explained here. I undertook bladesmithing in 2004, and I humbly pay a vibrant homage to all those who were kind enough to share with me their time and skill, and whose work and dedication will remain a constant inspiration. I certainly still have much to learn about Steel. It is a life-long process. All these activities allowed me to teach and lecture in various events and conferences all over Europe, either part of the ever-growing HEMA scene, or part of the academic world, and to write a few articles and publications here and there. They even led me to be an associate commissionner of the exhibit "L'Epée - Usages, Mythes et Symboles" at the Musée National du Moyen Âge in Paris (April to september 2011). I now offer my experience as a Martial Artist, a PhD Student in Mediaeval Archaeology, a Researcher and a Bladesmith. All the historical weapons and objects I make are thoroughly documented and researched ; all their aspects, all the choices made in the making processes – for somethimes, absolute historical accuracy cannot be can be explained and detailed, or simply isn’t affordable – can be developped. And, of course, I don’t limit myself to only Historical European weapons and blades. Sometimes, my Hammer just wants to make things, and I let it loose. As said above, there are no boundaries. This page is merely a link, an opening to the official website, that will hopefully be online very soon. I hope you will enjoy. If anting here raises your interest, or if you think I can do anything for you, feel free to get in touch. Sincerely


Fab




Et en français, maintenant……

Je ne saurais dire à quel moment s’est éveillé mon intérêt pour les armes et les armures, et pour la forge. Sans doute, comme tant d’autres, est-ce à cause de trop nombreuses lectures frénétiques, de trop de films vus encore et encore, les yeux plein d’émotions et de rêve, de trop de chansons parlant de feu et de l’Acier…

J’ai eu la chance, au travers de mes études universitaires, de pouvoir accéder à – et étudier de près – de vrais, d’authentiques exemples d’armes et d’armures, datant pour certains de plus d’un millénaire. Ces mêmes études qui m’ont amené à travailler sur les Arts Martiaux Historiques Européens. Car pour comprendre l’épée, il me paraissait important de savoir comment on s’en servait. Et comment on la fabriquait. Et c’est ce qui nous amène ici. Tout ce temps passé dans ces nombreuses collections publiques et privées, à étudier et analyser ces trésors trop souvent méconnus, à extraire des armes elles-mêmes – car elles sont, après-tout, le premier témoignage de comment elles furent pensées, créées, et utilisées – toutes les informations concernant leur genèse, à l’affût du moindre détail pouvant permettre une meilleure compréhension de ces processus compliqués, nichés quelque part au creux du Temps, de l’Art et du Savoir-Faire ; tout ce temps est désormais mis à disposition. Je le partage avec vous. Oh : pas que pour l’épée, en fait. Evidemment, l’épée demeure parmi les exemples les plus illustres de l’Art du Forgeron. Mais il y a tant d’autres choses merveilleuses dans l’histoire de l’armement européen – sans même évoquer tout ce qui vient d’au-delà même de ces limites d’espace et de temps. L’imagination seule est la vraie frontière. Les dagues, couteaux, marteaux, lances, épieux, haches : toutes ces armes qui furent en usage en Europe et ailleurs, qui participent de ces aspects quelque peu oubliés des cultures européennes ; tous proposent des richesses incroyables de savoir-faire et de technicité, tant dans leur élaboration que dans leur utilisation. Tous font partie de ces trésors que j’ai étudié, et que j’ai envie de partager. L’expérimentation, la création de répliques ou de pièces d’inspiration historique par des méthodes aussi proches que possible de celles utilisées aux diverses époques : c’est là le cœur même de mon projet, pour ce qu’on peut gagner dans la compréhension d’un objet quand on le crée. Et inversement, le temps passé à étudier des exemples authentiques et originaux me permet de présenter ce que je pense être des propositions satisfaisantes historiquement et archéologiquement parlant (et il paraît que je suis assez exigeant à ce sujet) d’armes et d’objets historiques. Ce processus dans son entier – du moins dans ses aspects actuels – a débuté pour moi il y a dix ans maintenant, quand l’opportunité me fut offerte d’étudier un lot privé d’armes découvertes en contexte fluvial dans le cadre de ma Maîtrise d’archéologie médiévale ; au même moment, Internet rendait possible l’accès aux sources primaires et principales de notre connaissance actuelle des Arts Martiaux et techniques de combat pratiqués en Europe aux époques historiques : tous ces traités écrits par les Maîtres d’Armes et autres experts du combat des temps passés. J’ai poursuivi sur cette voie, obtenant en 2002 un Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies au cours duquel j’ai étudié une collection d’épées en contexte fluvial découvertes en Bourgogne du Sud, avec les apports fournis par l’apprentissage des Arts Martiaux Historiques Européens. Je pratique d’ailleurs ces derniers dans l’association que j’ai fondée, De Taille et d’Estoc, et au travers de l’Historical European Martial Arts Coalition (HEMAC). Nous avons l’honneur d’accueillir chaque année depuis 2002 les Rencontres Internationales d’Arts Martiaux Historiques Européens de Dijon, pour qui je réalise chaque année une pièce de prestige suivant les principes ici expliqués. J’ai commencé l’étude des Arts du feu et de la coutellerie en 2004 – j’en profite d’ailleurs pour rendre un vibrant et sincère hommage à tous ceux qui m’ont laissé profiter de leur temps, de leur patience, et de leur générosité, et dont le Savoir-Faire et le Talent demeurent une source constante d’émerveillement et d’inspiration. Il me reste certes encore beaucoup à apprendre sur l’Acier. Et toute une vie pour ce faire. Toutes ces activités m’ont permis d’intervenir dans divers évènements, colloques, séminaires, conférences à travers toute l’Europe, que ce soit en tant qu’instructeur d’Arts Martiaux Historiques Européens ou doctorant en archéologie médiévale ; j’ai également eu le plaisir de produire quelques articles et publications liés à toutes ces occupations. Elles m'ont même mené à être commissaire adjoint de l'exposition "L'Epée - Usages, Mythes et Symboles" au Musée National du Moyen Âge - Hôtel de Cluny, d'avril à septembre 2011 à Paris. Et je vous propose désormais mon expérience de pratiquant des Arts Martiaux Européens, de doctorant en archéologie médiévale, de chercheur et de Coutelier d’Art. Tous les objets et armes historiques que je crée sont basés sur un long travail de recherche en amont. Chacun de leurs aspects, chaque détail de leur création, chaque choix dans leur élaboration peut être commenté et explicité à partir d’exemples authentiques – y compris dans les impératifs techniques ou matériels liés aux contraintes d’historicité. Et, bien sur, je ne me limite pas aux seules armes historiques européennes. Il y a des fois où mon marteau a envie de s’exprimer, et où je le laisse faire J. Comme il est dit : il n’y a pas de limites. Cette page facebook est simplement un lien, une ouverture vers mon site officiel qui verra le jour tout bientôt j’espère. J’espère, en tout cas, que vous appréciez ce que vous trouverez ici. Si certains de ces objets vous intéressent, ou si vous souhaitez faire appel à ce que je peux vous proposer, n’hésitez pas à me contacter. Sincèrement

Fab

Hello thereBack from the Compiègne History Market, where nice chats were had and good friends seen - thank you all for y...
18/11/2024

Hello there

Back from the Compiègne History Market, where nice chats were had and good friends seen - thank you all for your appreciation of my work, and for your support.
And thanks to the Association Pour l'Histoire Vivante for running all this
Bit cold yesterday though

And so, these swords here remain to be spoken for - see the relevant posts for details or message me !

Stay safe

Fab

Hello thereAll set up, waiting for you now, come have a chat and buy my stuff !Stay safeFab
16/11/2024

Hello there

All set up, waiting for you now, come have a chat and buy my stuff !

Stay safe

Fab

Hello thereCompiègne is Coming, and to Compiègne I come.This will be visible and available for sale. A Schlachtschwert, ...
15/11/2024

Hello there

Compiègne is Coming, and to Compiègne I come.

This will be visible and available for sale.

A Schlachtschwert, late XVIth/early XVIIth century.

Spring steel blade, oil-blacked cross and pommel made of mild steel, and vegetable tanned leather over wood for both grip and the sleeve thing that comes over the ricasso. All hand-forged, filed, carved and decorates.

165.2 cm long and about 10 mm thick at its base, tapering to about 2 mm near the point ; cross span is 39 cm, weight is 2951 grams, and point of balance is right at the lugs, as should be.

Exploring yet another variant of cross and pommel style here.

Contrarily to the popular belief, and even though they ended up in such a role in later times, these were not just processional swords, but powerful weapons of war.

Now at five thousand euros, shipping not included.

Stay safe

Fab

14/11/2024

Compiègne is Coming
.. and things don't really go according to plan, unless the plan was to have things not go the way they should.

Ah well. I'll still have new stuff on my booth for your enjoyment, including this dagger.

And things are bound to be better once the shop is finally moved and up and running at the house.

So...see you at Compiègne ?

Fab

Compiègne is Coming I should be able to finish this one, though even if the puncture on my finger isn't that serious, fe...
13/11/2024

Compiègne is Coming

I should be able to finish this one, though even if the puncture on my finger isn't that serious, fewer and fewer of them fingers remain untouched.

So.. wish me luck.

Stay safe

Fab

Hello therePushing this one again, which  you'll have the opportunity to see at the upcoming History Market at Compiègne...
13/11/2024

Hello there

Pushing this one again, which you'll have the opportunity to see at the upcoming History Market at Compiègne in a couple of days now.
But I'm offering free shipping worldwide on it until then, to make it up for those of you who won't be able to attend the Market because of geography.

Still at thirty two hundred units of the European currency.

See the relevant post for details and description.

Stay safe

Fab

At the Eleventh Hour, on the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month.Lest We Forget.
11/11/2024

At the Eleventh Hour, on the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month.

Lest We Forget.

Bolt Thrower's "When Cannons fade" from the album "Those once Loyal"

Hello thereCompiègne is ComingAnd this one will be visible at my booth next week, all yours for the taking - unless one ...
09/11/2024

Hello there

Compiègne is Coming

And this one will be visible at my booth next week, all yours for the taking - unless one of you claims it by then

Claidheamh dà làimh dhubh
A Black Claymore, in the West Highland style, second half of the XVIth century.

Inspired by a variety of surviving examples, this one shows the classic features of the type, with quadrifoils at the end of the downturned quillions of strong rhombic section, fileworked central langets, hollow pommel and top finial. The swelling on the grip is inspired by the sword kept at the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow and is leather over wood - most grips visible in such swords nowadays are modern replacements.

Fittings are mild steel, oil-blacked.
The engraved blade is spring steel, made after the various examples of German productions.

See Tony Willis, "the Scottish Two-Handed Sword", Bulletin of the American Society of Arms Collectors 120, pp. 35-69.

Overall length is 1405 mm, blade is 1020 mm long and 45 mm wide, and shy of 5.4 mm thick at its base.
Cross span is 145 mm.

Weight is 1809 grams, point of balance 17 cm from the cross.

Thirty two hundred euros and it is yours.

Stay safe

Fab

Hello thereIt's time for me again to share this, and ask you for help - either by sharing this campaign, or even contrib...
07/11/2024

Hello there

It's time for me again to share this, and ask you for help - either by sharing this campaign, or even contributing

Moving the living area from the apartment to the house is 99.99 % complete, but the shop is still at the soon-to-be old address because Compiègne is Coming - lots of stuff I want/need to finish in the next 7 days.

Hopefully, we'll get major things done by the end of the month. I'll keep you posted anyway.

So.... thanks and thanks again, and stay safe.

https://gofund.me/ec092141

Fab

(English first, then French) Hello there After all the turmoil an… Fabrice Cognot needs your support for Bladesmith on the Move (Le Grand Déplacement)

Hi friendsJust a reminder that this is still on !Any help appreciated (sharing with a few introductory words, commenting...
04/11/2024

Hi friends

Just a reminder that this is still on !

Any help appreciated (sharing with a few introductory words, commenting, contributing even maybe) though you can also help me by helping yourself to my current stock (browse the photo albums on my Fabrice Julien Cognot profile - I'll comment here under this profile - to see what's available)

I'm working hard to bring new stuff to the Compiègne History Market, so the upcoming two weeks will be rather loaded for me - wish me luck !

(English first, then French) Hello there After all the turmoil an… Fabrice Cognot needs your support for Bladesmith on the Move (Le Grand Déplacement)

Hello there !So, I heard you liked   ?Well here are all the swords I currently have in stock, though hopefully more are ...
27/10/2024

Hello there !

So, I heard you liked ?

Well here are all the swords I currently have in stock, though hopefully more are coming in the next few weeks !

Feel free to message me for details

Stay safe

Fab

EDIT see end of postHello thereHere it is,  finally finished (though the idea of a scabbard is really,  really pleasing)...
25/10/2024

EDIT see end of post

Hello there

Here it is, finally finished (though the idea of a scabbard is really, really pleasing):

A Light Longsword, late XVth century

Inspired by various examples - especially those swords I saw during my latest visit at the - and by the numerous effigies of the late 1400s from the Holy Roman Empire, more specifically this very specific type of grip with saltire-shaped risers and a leather flap over the middle of the cross.

Spring steel blade, heat-greyed fittings, grip is leather over wood with linen thread risers.

It is on the smaller end for such swords, but still rather powerful.

1140 mm long, blade is 906 mm, cross is 213 mm, and weight is a mere 927 grams still with a lot of punch. Point of balance is 12 cm from the cross.
Blade starts short of 6 mm thick, tapers gradually and then thickens a bit at the reinforced point, as should be.

I'm offering it for two thousand units of European money, adding six hundred for a scabbard.

I'll bring it along to the Compiègne History Market, maybe..

Oh OK I sooo much want to make a scabbard for it that I'm offering the whole set at 2500 euros and free shipping worldwide provided it is purchased before this next Sunday.

Stay safe

Fab

P.S.: I still have a GoFundMe running to help me with moving both living quarters and workshop to the same one place - work has been slowed down considerably because of that, so any contribution is welcome.
https://gofund.me/ec092141
Thanks

23/10/2024

Hello there

Pommel got scratched just before assembly, so I gave it a new round of surface finish, heating softly to dark red and allowing it to slowly cool in air.
Oxides thus form on the surface, but don't scale off, and create those dark blue-grey hues.

Stay safe

Fab

Hello thereWhile the move is still going on but reaching the end, at least for the living space, there is still work bei...
21/10/2024

Hello there

While the move is still going on but reaching the end, at least for the living space, there is still work being done, yet the randomness of the situation is unsurprisingly having consequences on the flow.

That's why even though I'd have loved to show you this one all finished today, you'll have to bear with me a little bit longer. I still hope you like what you see.
It will be available for purchase as soon as it is finished (end of week hopefully), though the most eager among you may message me for details at their leisure.

I might even give it a scabbard and bring it along to the upcoming Compiègne History Market.

And remember, if you want to help me with the moves, just check my previous posts with a link to the current GoFundMe - share, contribute, tell your friends. We're almost there.

And stay safe

Fab

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