Implemented the ItemMeshDefinition for the Sentient Sword, allowing for me to make the sword enchantable while still allowing the texture to change. This may be expanded to other items.

src/main/java/WayofTime/bloodmagic/client/mesh/ItemSentientSwordMeshDefinition.java

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+package WayofTime.bloodmagic.client.mesh;
+
+import net.minecraft.client.renderer.ItemMeshDefinition;
+import net.minecraft.client.resources.model.ModelResourceLocation;
+import net.minecraft.item.ItemStack;
+import WayofTime.bloodmagic.item.soul.ItemSentientSword;
+
+public class ItemSentientSwordMeshDefinition implements ItemMeshDefinition
+{
+    @Override
+    public ModelResourceLocation getModelLocation(ItemStack stack)
+    {
+        if (stack != null && stack.getItem() instanceof ItemSentientSword)
+        {
+            if (((ItemSentientSword) stack.getItem()).getActivated(stack))
+            {
+                return new ModelResourceLocation("bloodmagic:ItemSentientSword1", "inventory");
+            } else
+            {
+                return new ModelResourceLocation("bloodmagic:ItemSentientSword0", "inventory");
+            }
+        }
+        return null;
+    }
+}

src/main/java/WayofTime/bloodmagic/item/soul/ItemSentientSword.java

@@ -40,8 +40,7 @@ public class ItemSentientSword extends ItemSword implements IDemonWillWeapon
         super(ModItems.soulToolMaterial);
 
         setUnlocalizedName(Constants.Mod.MODID + ".sentientSword");
-        setHasSubtypes(true);
+
-        setNoRepair();
         setCreativeTab(BloodMagic.tabBloodMagic);
     }
 
@@ -129,14 +128,19 @@ public class ItemSentientSword extends ItemSword implements IDemonWillWeapon
         return true;
     }
 
-    private boolean getActivated(ItemStack stack)
+    public boolean getActivated(ItemStack stack)
     {
-        return stack.getItemDamage() > 0;
+        NBTHelper.checkNBT(stack);
+        NBTTagCompound tag = stack.getTagCompound();
+
+        return tag.getBoolean("activated");
     }
 
-    private ItemStack setActivated(ItemStack stack, boolean activated)
+    public ItemStack setActivated(ItemStack stack, boolean activated)
     {
-        stack.setItemDamage(activated ? 1 : 0);
+        NBTHelper.checkNBT(stack);
+        NBTTagCompound tag = stack.getTagCompound();
+        tag.setBoolean("activated", activated);
 
         return stack;
     }

src/main/java/WayofTime/bloodmagic/proxy/ClientProxy.java

@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 package WayofTime.bloodmagic.proxy;
 
+import net.minecraftforge.client.model.ModelLoader;
 import net.minecraftforge.client.model.obj.OBJLoader;
 import net.minecraftforge.common.MinecraftForge;
 import net.minecraftforge.fml.client.registry.ClientRegistry;
 import net.minecraftforge.fml.client.registry.RenderingRegistry;
 import WayofTime.bloodmagic.api.Constants;
+import WayofTime.bloodmagic.client.mesh.ItemSentientSwordMeshDefinition;
 import WayofTime.bloodmagic.client.render.RenderAlchemyArray;
 import WayofTime.bloodmagic.client.render.RenderAltar;
 import WayofTime.bloodmagic.client.render.entity.SentientArrowRenderFactory;
@@ -43,6 +45,8 @@ public class ClientProxy extends CommonProxy
 
         ClientRegistry.bindTileEntitySpecialRenderer(TileAlchemyArray.class, new RenderAlchemyArray());
         ClientRegistry.bindTileEntitySpecialRenderer(TileAltar.class, new RenderAltar());
+
+        ModelLoader.setCustomMeshDefinition(ModItems.sentientSword, new ItemSentientSwordMeshDefinition());
     }
 
     @Override

src/main/java/WayofTime/bloodmagic/registry/ModItems.java

@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ public class ModItems
     public static Item sentientArmourGem;
 
     public static Item.ToolMaterial boundToolMaterial = EnumHelper.addToolMaterial("BoundToolMaterial", 4, 0, 10, 8, 50);
-    public static Item.ToolMaterial soulToolMaterial = EnumHelper.addToolMaterial("SoulToolMaterial", 4, 0, 7, 8, 50);
+    public static Item.ToolMaterial soulToolMaterial = EnumHelper.addToolMaterial("SoulToolMaterial", 4, 520, 7, 8, 50);
 
     public static void init()
     {
@@ -327,8 +327,8 @@ public class ModItems
         renderHelper.itemRender(soulGem, 4);
         renderHelper.itemRender(soulSnare);
 
-        renderHelper.itemRender(sentientSword, 0);
+        renderHelper.customItemRender(sentientSword, 0);
-        renderHelper.itemRender(sentientSword, 1);
+        renderHelper.customItemRender(sentientSword, 1);
         renderHelper.itemRender(sentientBow, 0, "ItemSentientBow");
         renderHelper.itemRender(sentientBow, 1, "ItemSentientBow_pulling_0");
         renderHelper.itemRender(sentientBow, 2, "ItemSentientBow_pulling_1");

src/main/java/WayofTime/bloodmagic/util/helper/InventoryRenderHelper.java

@@ -56,6 +56,25 @@ public class InventoryRenderHelper
         ModelLoader.setCustomModelResourceLocation(item, meta, new ModelResourceLocation(resName, "inventory"));
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Registers a Model for the given Item and meta. This does not call
+     * setCustomModelResourceLocation, to allow the implementation of
+     * ItemMeshDefinition.
+     * 
+     * @param item
+     *        - Item to register Model for
+     * @param meta
+     *        - Meta of Item
+     * @param name
+     *        - Name of the model JSON
+     */
+    public void customItemRender(Item item, int meta, String name)
+    {
+        ResourceLocation resName = new ResourceLocation(domain + name);
+
+        ModelBakery.registerItemVariants(item, resName);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Shorthand of {@code itemRender(Item, int, String)}
      * 
@@ -69,6 +88,11 @@ public class InventoryRenderHelper
         itemRender(item, meta, getClassName(item) + meta);
     }
 
+    public void customItemRender(Item item, int meta)
+    {
+        customItemRender(item, meta, getClassName(item) + meta);
+    }
+
     public void itemRender(Item item, String name)
     {
         itemRender(item, 0, name);