The Hunter Set: Cursum Perficio

The completed custom sword and dagger set featuring green leather, brass fittings, and emerald accents.

The Commission

Commissioned: 2022–2023
Maker: Jamie Lundell, Dragon’s Breath Forge

This custom sword and matching dagger were commissioned to serve as a modern heirloom for the Hunter family. The design bridges historical Scottish lineage with personal symbolism, featuring high-complexity pattern-welded steel, precious stones, and a unique twist on the traditional family crest.

Heritage & Symbolism

Clan Hunter

The design draws heavily from the historic Clan Hunter of Scotland.

Motto: Cursum Perficio
Translation: Literally “I accomplish my course” or “I finish the race.”
Family Significance: In the context of the Hunter surname, this is often interpreted distinctively as “I complete the hunt”—signifying the successful end of a pursuit.
Traditional Arms: The crest typically features a greyhound sejant (seated) and hunting horns.

The Custom Crest

The gold inlay “Cursum Perficio” and the custom “Cat” family crest.

The throat of the scabbard features a custom-cast bronze emblem of the Hunter Family Crest.

Customization: While the traditional Hunter crest features a greyhound, this version was customized to feature cats, reflecting a personal preference while maintaining the heraldic layout.
Inlay: The motto is inlaid in gold directly into the fuller of the blade, contrasting starkly against the etched steel.

The Smith: Jamie Lundell

The set was crafted by Jamie Lundell, a master swordsmith and co-owner of Dragon’s Breath Forge in Wolcott, Connecticut.

Background: Jamie is a celebrated smith known for his expertise in historical reproduction, particularly Viking-era weaponry and complex composite pattern welding.
TV Appearance: He rose to national prominence as the champion of “Forged in Fire” Season 1, Episode 7 (The Roman Gladius).
Specialty: Lundell is renowned for his ability to combine pattern-welded steel (Damascus) with intricate lost-wax casting.

Construction & Design

The Steel

The blades are crafted from custom pattern-welded steel (Damascus). The process began with raw billets that were stacked, heated, and forged to create the intricate layers.

The raw billet of pattern-welded steel before being forged into shape.

The final blades feature a complex “Wolf’s Tooth” or multi-bar twist pattern near the spine, transitioning to a high-carbon edge for functional durability.

Detail of the complex pattern welding prior to final polishing.

The Hilt Assembly

The guard and pommel are cast brass with a warm, satin finish, featuring elegant, recurved quillons. Before the final casting, the fit was tested using prototypes to ensure perfect balance and alignment.

Early fitting of the guard components.

The Finished Hilt

The grip is wrapped in deep forest-green leather, referencing the “Vert” (green) often found in the Hunter clan heraldry. The pommels are set with genuine emeralds, adding a piercing green accent that complements the leather.

The finished brass guard, green leather grip, and emerald pommel.