The Making of the Original Atlantean™ Sword

Based on Ron Cobb's production drawings, Jody roughed out the blade and created a blade-shaped insert to use as a base for creating the hilt components. The hilt components of the Atlantean™ sword were carved by noted prop designer Tim Huchthausen (pronounced "hook-tao-zen").

While Tim was carving the hilt components, Jody was finishing the blade. To create the effect that John Milius was looking for, Jody chose 440 stainless steel, hardened to 48 rockwell. He ground each of the original 3 blades by hand on a BurrKing belt grinder. Known as a "double hollow grind", this blade is a complicated and difficult shape to achieve.

After the blade had been made to Ron's original specifications, it was engraved by Daniels Engraving (at that time in Glendale, CA). A process known as "EDM" was used, where specially designed electrodes and an electrolytic salt solution deeply etched the runes into the blade on each side.

The runes on the blade were in a runic script invented by Ron Cobb, and Ron says that they have no meaning. In Conan the Destroyer, the same runic inscription was reproduced on the scabbard Conan used.

The bronze hilt components were cast at Sun Foundry. Jody spent three days cleaning up the castings prior to fitting the sword together. After an initial rough polish on a Scotchbrite wheel, the hilt components were chemically "antiqued" and then the highlights were buffed for an aged, worn look.

The grip on the Atlantean™ was made of canvas micarta and was left bare by Jody for wrapping by the propmasters at the studio. The propmasters chose a nylon parachute cord to wrap the grip, antiquing it to look like worn leather.

When Jody was finished with the Atlantean™ sword, it had a high mirror polish. John Milius wasn't happy with the "newness" of the look, so Jody then refinished the sword using Scotchbrite (an abrasive pad) to give it a more "old" satin finish and feel.
In all, 3 steel Atlanteans™ were made by Jody for the film, and several more were cast in fiberglass for various scenes. At some point during filming, additional steel Atlanteans™ were required and a Spanish company was hired to make steel reproductions. We do not know how many of them were made.

In 1991, Jody (who was then working with Tony Swatton at The Sword and the Stone Galleries) was asked by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Planet Hollywood to make 5 replica Atlantean™ swords for display at the theme restaurants. The swords were not exact duplicates of the originals, but were very close copies. The blades were made by Jody, the hilt components cast from John Milius' personal Atlantean™ sword, and Tony's shop did the assembly and wrapping of the grip.

No exact replicas of the Atlantean™ Sword have ever been available to the public before, though the basic design has often been imitated.

© 2003 Conan Properties, Inc, all rights reserved
Conan™, Father's Sword™, Atlantean™ Sword, Subotai's Sword™ and Valeria's Sword™ are registered trademarks of Conan Properties.