Olivier Armstrong's Sword, FMAB - Overview

28.12.20

Introduction

Welcome to the Overview for a project to make a cosplay prop inspired by General Olivier Armstrong’s Sword from FMAB, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood.

Here I can offer you a little insight into the blade that demanded attention, and the character that brings it to life!

While this unlicenced replica is intended for decorative purposes or for use as a cosplay prop, the main reason for building it is because it caught my eye and I want one!

Check out the links at the bottom of the page for full detailed build guides, as well as the Assembly Guide if you’re thinking of Printing It Yourself.

General Olivier Mira Armstrong

Between the mountains of Drachma to the North and Amestris to the south lies the impenetrable fortress wall of Briggs, where only the strongest survive; to show weakness is to invite death. At the flint and steel heart of this icy wall beats one of the best characters in anime.

Duty-bound, pragmatic and utterly unyielding, General Armstrong eschews most tropes in anime and represents everything great about solid characterization, enraged dialogue, and what it truly means to display strength. She has earned the undying loyalty of her men through authoritative leadership and understanding the actual cost of battle, sacrifice and life itself.

The world of Full Metal Alchemist is filled with super-humans, over-the-top powers, and mystifying events, yet she stands tall as a human with no secret powers.

Nothing more than her sheer iron will, ferocious swordsmanship and a seemingly steel heart. And yet, she can calmly walk into the snake’s den in Central, stand toe to toe with a homunculus armed only with a sabre (and maybe a tank…) and aggressively put down even the Strongarm Alchemist, verbally or physically. Ice and steel; strength and resolve.

Don’t make me laugh! Your bloated muscles are worthless without a spine!!

I had only recently fallen in love with FMAB, so I had a mentality that I am sure a lot of people can empathize with – when you’re in a fever pitch of enjoying some kind of media, creating things from that world is a pleasure. And so it was with this!

Olivier Armstrong’s sword stood out because of the character that wields it, and the beautiful blend of intricacy and simplicity of its design. The engravings would be a challenge, both on the design front and the post-processing, but they looked like the only part that may cause problems.

And speaking of the design, when you’re watching through the series having recently made or (in the process of making) the sword, it becomes acutely apparent that it changes a fair few times! Sometimes it appears as a straight blade, other times slightly curved. Sometimes the cross guard had a stud on it, other times it has an intricate carving. So many swords, they make you check and check…

I referenced several images, but one of the main sources was this screenshot and photo: