There is a current eBay auction in which a sword is being marketed as “the Hero Bronze sword used by Ephialtes in the film 300”.
The auction (Item # 300126771921), “FRANK MILLER 300 original film prop Hero sword Ephialte“, from eBay seller “www.rareprops.com” (RareProps, also selling on the website www.RareProps.net), shows a photo of a sword that appears to be of the same style of swords also used in the film, Troy.
Full Auction Archive: RareProps 300 Sword Auction Archive
As noted, the style and design of the sword pictured strongly resembles, in my opinion, swords used in the film, Troy.
Here is a link to a currently available original prop sword of what appears to be the same type and style (though it’s an SFX version) offered by The Prop Store of London: Troy Spartan SFX Sword
Here is a comparison between the two swords:
Higher Resolution Comparison: RareProps “300” Sword Compared With PSoL “Troy” Sword
Though RareProps does offer swords from Troy as well, I did not see one of this style currently for sale on www.RareProps.net.
However, using Archive.org (“The Wayback Machine”), I did find a historical snapshot of the www.RareProps.net site in which a sword of this style was marketed by RareProps as a sword used in Troy: Link to Archive.org Historical Snapshot (January 27, 2007). [OPB Archive]
Obviously, the photo is low res, but here is a comparison between the RareProps “300” sword offered on eBay today and the RareProps “Troy” sword offered back in January and earlier:
Higher Resolution Comparison: eBay “300″ Sword Compared with RareProps “Troy” Sword
More Questions
To my eyes, even given the low quality of some of the photos, the sword offered today by RareProps on eBay, marketed as a “300” sword, certainly looks remarkably similar to the two swords offered by both RareProps and The Prop Store of London that are attributed to “Troy”.
None of those credited for work on props in Troy and 300 appear to have worked on both films, according to iMDb.com. But, of course, not everyone involved is necessarily credited.
I would find it interesting to learn more, to see if the same props were perhaps reused, or the same molds. And there is always a chance that propmakers came up with similar designs for weapons used in the same periods. In looking at the photos, however, there are many unique details reflected in both pieces, so it seems unlikely such characteristics could be realized so precisely, with development of both pieces being completely independent of one another.
To confuse matters even more, in looking at some older eBay auctions by RareProps for additional swords from “300” (LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK), the scabbard in one of the auctions looks very similar to those paired with swords that are marketed by RareProps as used in “Alexander” on the www.RareProps.net website.
Example: RareProps eBay Auction – “FRANK MILLER 300 original film used prop sword” [ARCHIVE]
Example: RareProps Website Offering – “Alexander Sword” [ARCHIVE]
In any event, I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who worked on any of the productions (300, Troy, and/or Alexander) to learn more about what props were used in which films and if there were any crossover use of props and/or resources and/or personnel between any of productions. If props were reused, how would a collector be able to distinguish between, say, a sword used in 300 and a sword used in Troy?
Jason DeBord