In the end, the design can work well without an added guard, with a minimal guard, or with a full basket guard ( at least it should in my head). If I have one regret, it would be making the handle fit exclusively for a right-handed user, as it means that when making multiple, I wouldn't be able to have a set of matching swords, since there's no way that'd be comfortable to hold in the left hand. It also means that I couldn't lend any sword with this handle to a left-handed user. The tradeoff is a very unique look, but I'm not confident that the tradeoff's worth it.