A collection of weapon illustrations created for Reality Blurs RPG setting "Iron Dynasty". The client wanted the weapons to be unique but historically accurate, so most of the fun I had lies in the tiny details, things like the patterns of design in the tsubo or hilt, or the caps on the scabbards. Make sure you check out the full-view Download version to see all the fiddly bits. Even when I had a weapon fall into the same category (for instance, hand axes and throwing axes were effectively the same thing) I created a unique version. I've left out the couple of firearms I designed for 'em, as those were more unique, fictional designs.
Each weapon is in scale to the others (I used the base katana to establish the scale), with the exception of the polearms and the bows... in order to make them fit on the page, I had to shrink 'em down by something like 75% in comparison to the others.
I had a surprising amount of fun with this job, it wasn't particularly difficult but it let me play around. I should hunt down more gigs like this.

All drawn in Manga Studio EX v.3
©2010 Reality Blurs/Ben McSweeney
*looks up 'Iron Dynasty'*
Anyway, nice looking illustrations and some sweet pen & ink work.
Keith