As Connor MacLeod is known as the Highlander, bladesmith Vice Evans recently relocated from the island of Keaau, Hawaii (as the Islander) to the ice-crusted mountains of Showlow, Arizona. "I'm now a Highlander again!" A Highlander fan, Vince Evans - of Scottish descent - specializes in not merely a few particular blade styles as some. His skills are used to create weapons of great variety and authenticity.

What drew me initially to Vince's work was of a fabulous wire-wrapped hilt Knight Sword, whose forged hilt and pommel featured a cold blued finish. The blade was forged out of AISI 5160 steel, and while the sword was more of the armor-crushing category in terms of its weight, the sword, being in the $1,000-$1,500 range, was of exceptional quality and balance.

Vince's research and love for swords also extends towards Chinese style weapons. He had begun pioneering pattern-welded damascus interpretations of traditional Chinese dao swords. Each of his work is distinctive, well-made, and an excellent bargain.

His concept of creating authentic period weapons comes from his experience with restoring antique swords. While some of the antique weapons have been Persian and Turkish, a great amount have been Chinese swords. His expertise has guaranteed him to work on almost all serious restoration problems with respect to Chinese weapons, and this has forged (no pun intended) an excellent relationship with America's premiere dealer of exotic Chinese ancient weapons, Seven Stars Trading.

When creating solid steel swords, Evans prefers AISI 5160 steel due to its inherent toughness and flexibility. Oriental weapons generally have a harder edge and a softer spine, whether or not they are clay-tempered like Japanese katanas. It is not uncommon in a Chinense sword for the cutting edge to be so hard that a file would not be able to scar it (files run 64-65 on the Rockwell "C" scale!).

Evans brings his Chinese style weapons' edge up to 62-63 RC. A sword of that incredible degree of hardness could theoretically cut through chain mail. (However, it is easy for any untrained user to damage any kind of differentially heat treated weapon like Evan's daos or Japanese katanas.) Evans indicates that AISI 1050 steel can reach a maximumum of only 58 Rockwell, due to its mere 0.5% carbon content as opposed to AISI 5160 which has .60% carbon, which will quench up to 64 Rockwell. AISI 5160's 2% chromium gives it "deep hardening" property and thus allows for a better temper - which is why 5160 is used for truck springs. "Any steel that can maintain its shape while being bounced around under two tons of truck would theoretically make a good sword, when you're talking flexibility," relates the bladesmith.

So how much does he like Highlander? He loves each episode he gets to see. In watching Highlander the series, Vince observed that the claymore used in one episode ("Homeland") was not completely realistic in that it had a brass crossguard. "Brass," indicates Evans, "is too soft, and can be cut through by an opponent." Anything you like in particular about Highlander, Vince? Speaking from his Scottish roots (Clan MacLellan), Evans says, "I like the scenes when he's in Scotland the most!"

I asked the bladesmith what he found most inspiring about Highlander. "I see many Christian parallels in Highlander, which is encouraging, because I'm a Christian myself. Any time I run into a technical problem, I ask God for divine help or inspiration, and the answer comes to me - sometimes in between hammer blows!" The result? The inspiration that was "quickened" to him for his Kilij (a Turkish sword ) won Blade Magazine's prestigious "Award For Best Forged Piece." Well done, Vince!

Vince Evans
6301 Apache Trail
Showlow, Arizona 85901
520-537-9123