This is a very battered example of a cut-off Xena sword used for strictly for scabbard scenes. The shortened blade is light foam joined with a paua-inlaid resin hilt that features a grip wrapped with real leather lace, all cast over a metal rod armature for support. The blade is wrapped with a kind of scrim tape with the adhesive side turned outward, in order to stick to the inside of Xena’s scabbard and hold it in place. The sword came with the original certificate of authenticity from the 2001-2002 It’s A Wrap! Auction.
This shortened or “cut-off” prop is one of the sword varieties used only for scenes in which the sword remained sheathed on Xena's back, in order to keep the costume accessories as lightweight as possible for Lucy Lawless' comfort. If the sword needed to be drawn in the scene, it would have been swapped out with a full-length sword between takes. If the condition is any indication, this sword saw a lot of use on set!
