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By Ryan Pfeil February 04. 2016 5:13PM Medford's Castille Armory is on the cutting edge for sword lovers Mark Howland grinds the blade of a sword at Zenergy Metal Works in Medford. Mail Tribune / Denise Baratta Much of the equipment in Castille Armory's Medford workshop is fairly standard: lathes, planers, saws, belt sanders. The swords are what stand out: the claymores of Scottish highlanders and the rapiers of musketeers, among others. They aren't actual weapons — no pointed ends or sharp edges — but are accurate recreations beyond that, custom made for enthusiasts drawn to historical recreation groups such as the Society for Creative Anachronism.  "You think of sword people being like hot roddists and golfers," Castille founder Sam Yaskovic says. "They're as into it as any other enthusiast. You'll never find a hot rod guy building a show car and cutting corners, and just in the same way, you won't find a lot of these martial arts groups cutting any corners." The quest begins Yaskovic's affection for historic weaponry has, in some ways, been lifelong. Born in Astoria and raised in the McMinnville area, he spent much of his childhood pretending to be a knight. "I was that kid that always had some sort of a fence-post sword in my hand and was off fighting dragons and things like that," Yaskovic says. As he grew older, he pined for something more realistic. The SCA, described on its website as "a n international organization dedicated to researching and recreating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe," was the answer. "The SCA captured me when I was still very young, and it provided a real backdrop for those kinds of fantasies you have when you're a kid," Yaskovic says.  Yaskovic was particularly drawn to the combat element, participating in massive mock battles with other enthusiasts. The battles are a lot like Civil War reenactments, with accurate period weaponry and dress, though there are regulations for the combat so participants are kept safe. Yaskovic recently returned from such an event in Indiana. "That's where these bruises come from," he says, gesturing to his elbow and shoulder.  Sword making While studying mechanical engineering in college, he began to study sword play, churning through books such as "Italian Rapier Combat" by Ridolfo Capo Ferro and "Fencing: A Renaissance Treatise" by Camillo Agrippa. He also got into metallurgy. At about age 22, he made his first sword.  "I just kind of made them as a hobby on the side," he says.  That changed.  Yaskovic moved to the Rogue Valley about five years ago, originally serving as head engineer for a boating company before he was let go. He jumped into making swords full time in 2013, when he founded Zenergy Metal Works, and the Castille Armory was born. "Passion just kind of pulled me in a direction, and I followed," Yaskovic says.  Making the pieces starts with a blade, made from a chrome vanadium alloy purchased in Portland that is heat-treated before being shipped to the Zenergy factory near the airport. Yaskovic designs the blades on his computer, first cutting what he calls a blade blank from the stock using a water jet at Water Jet Solutions in Central Point. The blades are then ground down to their more specific designs. Blades and handles are cut, shaped and designed separately before the whole piece is welded together and polished.  "The trickiest part of the whole process is probably the fine details," says fabricator Mark Howland. "The really minute stuff that we have to look out for, because it totally detracts from the final product if we're not really keeping an eye on it."  Most of the pieces go to combat enthusiasts, but some have been purchased for stage productions and television specials.  Li Burditt, who handles the business and ordering side of things at Castille, says it's fun to get responses from satisfied knights.  "I'm lucky, I get to see all the emails," she says. " 'You guys are great,' 'Thanks so much.' I just got an email this morning saying, 'I just got my sword, it's awesome, I walked into a major SCA tournament and did really well. Thanks for the mojo.' I mean, we get those kind of emails I'd say almost every day." The journey ahead The business isn't all that keeps Yaskovic busy. He still teaches sword combat at a Southern Oregon University club. There's also plenty of travel. "Three times a month I'm traveling somewhere, either putting on a seminar, or fighting in a war, fighting in a tournament," he says. And when he isn't participating in historical reenactments, he's helping other SCA enthusiasts to have more authentic experiences of their own.  "Most people, when they ask us what we do, of course, we get the initial, 'You do what? I'm sorry?' " Burditt says. "But it's neat, because then we can answer. "It's kind of special to know that we're unique."  Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160204/NEWS/160209810 © 2016 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->