Fulvio Del Tin - The Man and His Swords
Interviewed by Björn Hellqvist
July, 1998.

In Italy, in the foothills of the Alps some 60 miles north of Venice, lies the town of Maniago. This has been a center of cutlery manufacture for 400 years, and since 1966 also a prime source for sword replicas. Del Tin Armi Antiche was started by Silvano Del Tin, father of Fulvio Del Tin, almost by accident. He was a switchblade maker, who in 1965 made a few swords and halberds for himself. These came to be on display at an exhibition in Florence, where they became a success. This made him decide to change his production to replicas of antique weapons the year after, assisted by his older son Flavio. The other two sons joined a few years later; Fulvio in 1970, Maurizio in 1973. Silvano Del Tin passed away in 1975, leaving the company to his sons. In 1977, Del Tin Armi Antiche relocated to the current workshop. For many years, Fulvio and his two brothers worked there, but in 1988 Flavio left to become an antiques dealer, and Maurizio left in 1992. Today it is operated by Fulvio alone, assisted by several skilled craftsmen working in their own workshop in Maniago.

When asked if it was an obvious choice to take over the business, Fulvio tells me that he has always had a passion for old weapons. "I remember that in the 60's, my father and I went to visit the Doge Palace Armoury in Venice and I was very impressed by it". As a boy, he spent much of his spare time in his father's workshop, where he made toys, belts and other things from various metals, wood and leather. This formed his basic training, and one day he was to make his first weapon, something that he has fond memories of: "I made my first dagger under the supervision of my father when I was 11, and I still have it in my show-room". Today, Fulvio makes all the weapons, apart from the stages in production made by his assistants. He keeps a constant eye on the manufacturing process to ensure only the highest quality. To make the blades, Del Tin uses the method of stock-removal, where lengths of spring steel are ground to the right shape. This is a way of making the swords affordable, as hand-forged blades require a lot more work. The delicate task of tempering the blades is something he does himself. The results have many of the traits of the originals, down to the Rockwell hardness of the blades.The Krupp CK55 steel used for so many years was dropped a few years ago in favor of the 50CrV4 steel, which has proved to be an improvement much appreciated in re-enactment circles.

Over the years, many thousands of swords and daggers have been shipped to customers all over the world. But Del Tin has made much more, like halberds, axes, warhammers, maces, spears, crossbows, helmets, shields and suits of armor. While Del Tin has to become synonymous with replicas of European swords, it has not always been so. During the early 70's, there were katanas and tantos to be found in the Del Tin range. However, they were discontinued in 1976 in favor of the European weapons. For the last couple of years, the demand for swords and daggers has been so great that Fulvio has concentrated on blade weapons, temporarily dropping the production of pole-arms and other hafted weapons. There is a constant drive to add new swords to the range, and as an effect, some models are discontinued. This is the result of Fulvio's policy to improve the aesthetic and functional aspects. Still, there are a few swords and daggers that have become classics, having been around since 1980. Among these are a couple of one-handed swords (#2144 and #2157), a Schiavonesca sword (#2152), and a main gauche (parrying dagger; #2172). (Featured left is an Italian schiavona).

As the weapons from Del Tin combine both looks and function, they've become a common sight in movies with swordplay. Big Hollywood productions like "The Three Musketeers", "Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves" and "Braveheart" have used Del Tin's swords. In the case of "Braveheart", the blade of the very sword Mel Gibson used (to devastating effect!) came from the Maniago workshop. As a consequence, the "Braveheart" sword made by Del Tin is the best replica around, easily outperforming the various copies made by other manufacturers.

One of the hallmarks of Del Tin's weapons is the no-nonsense style. Compared to the gaudy wallhangers from Spanish manufacturers, the Del Tin's look plain. The more authentic look is an effect of the close attention to detail and the thorough research made. When asked what he looks for when deciding on a new model, Fulvio responds: "All the pieces I make are a selection of the many swords I find in museums and private collections. I sometimes visit museums such as the Doge Palace Armoury in Venice and the Stibbert Museum in Florence, among others. I spend a lot of time to look at the pieces in detail. The choice of a new piece is determined both by my taste and by requests from my customers." When asked if he uses books on swords for inspiration, his answer is simple: "Printed sources themselves are not enough; knowledge is given only by seeing the pieces directly. But of course my books supply some good help." The cooperation with museums has led some of them to become customers of Del Tin, one of them the prestigious Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, U.K.

During the last couple of years, Fulvio has come to rely on his computer in the everyday running of the business. The ability to eMail has made the contact with his customers more efficient. Like so many others, Fulvio has discovered the potential of the Internet. His website features several photos of his most popular swords, as well as a history of the firm and some other articles. I asked him when and how he discovered "The HIGHLANDER Sword Shopper's Guide". "Last year (1997) I was searching the Internet", he says, adding, "I discovered the HSG and found it a very interesting site that provides much information about sword manufacture." The changes made in early 1998 didn't go unnoticed: "I can see this site has improved a lot since January", something Fulvio himself has contributed to, being a visitor to the Sword Forum where he answers questions on his swords. The new contacts with the sword enthusiasts on the HSG has resulted in a new model: the "Gothic Hand and a Half" sword (#5155). As Fulvio himself says: "Thanks to the many requests for the "Gothic Hand and a Half" sword, formerly available in the USA with a Del Tin blade, I decided to make it. I copied the details of this sword by studying the original, which is on display in the Royal Armouries, UK. Anyway, in order to follow the requests of my customers, I decided to make it with a shorter blade to provide good handling." The first batch of the eagerly awaited swords premiered in the U.S.A, all five of them sold to "Highlander" fans. It has proved to be a very good sword, or as Fulvio puts it: "I am quite satisfied how this work came out."

If anyone thought that just any request will be met, well, be prepared to be in for a disappointment. Fulvio will not change his way of how to choose a new model. "I do not like to make fantasy swords", he says, preferring pieces copied from originals or inspired by the iconography of the time. As for custom swords, Fulvio prefers to make modifications on existing models. While the swords from Del Tin are, just like the originals, quite serviceable as weapons, there's one thing Fulvio won't do. As he says on the issue of live steel weapons: "Safety comes first. I do not accept to make sharpened blades or stilettos, as they may be dangerous. I do not want my pieces to be considered as real weapons to be used against other people, but merely pieces of art and for re-enactment fighting." Still, it's through use that the swords have improved. The feed-back from re-enactment groups has proved to be an invaluable source for improving the performance. It has resulted in the change of steel quality, as well as the possibility to get a somewhat thicker edge.

I asked Fulvio if there is a special story that he would like to share. Not surprisingly, Fulvio had one that he found very moving. "A few months ago, I recieved this e-mail from a customer: Four years ago my twin brother was diagnosed with leukemia. I gave him my bone marrow as part of a bone marrow transplant. The treatment was a success and the most recent tests indicate that he is cancer free. We bought your medieval sword #2140, with the bronze pommel, and had the blade engraved with the following: 'He fights for the lives of his patients with courage and compassion', and presented it to our doctor. He was thrilled. I tell you this story to show you how much we value your work." (Story reprinted with permission. Featured right is the Del Tin #2140 Medieval Sword.)

Fulvio confesses to be no swordsman himself: "I do not practice medieval swordfighting, but I can say that I do have a special feel for swords when I handle them." That, and the experience from 30 years in the business, has made the name "Del Tin" come to stand for affordable, tough swords that appeal to the collector and swordfighter alike. The swords have been copied but never surpassed, and Fulvio's master's mark on the blade is a guarantee that you get the best for your money. Not bad for a company that started because of a few swords and halberds back in the mid-60's.

Click here to go to Del Tin's HSG Sword Maker Profile, or here to see other Sword Makers profiled on the Guide!