This thing is loong and thin, personally I think you're better off modeling the "head" and the guard, and putting it onto a piece of PVC pipe or wood. You know, since it's what, 4 or 5 feet long depending on the height of the wielder? Straight up pep (even hardened) won't have the strength to hold it all together.
Also, I'll be glad to unfold this when the model is done, just let me know. I'd love to have a nice one of these on my wall, been too lazy to build my own.