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TEMPL Celtic Sword
Original: Late 3rd/early 2nd century BC, Continental Europe

A solidly Middle La Tène II sword, dating from Roughly the low 200s BC to perhaps the 180s BC. During this portion of La Tène II one typically finds Celtic swords of this form. The blade is usually slender, with a slow graceful taper curving gently to a point. These swords emphasized cutting and slashing, but retained quite serviceable thrusting ability. Hilts were some form of organic material, and generally all that remains in grave finds is a small "pommel button" over which the tang is peened, and a curved subcampulate plate at the blade shoulders.

This replica features a lentoid section blade of steel hand-made by the smith, pattern-welded in a historically appropriate "piled structure" with high-carbon steel edges. The blade is toward the upper end of the spectrum in breadth for this period, but well within reason for the type and style. The hilt interpretation is somewhat free, with the large angular pommel nut being atypical in size and shape for the period. The walnut pommel and guard execute a variation on the traditional "double-lobed" theme seen in contemporary carvings and statuary. Grip is antler.

The scabbard is executed in iron, as appropriate for a Continental Celtic sword. Throat decoration borrows heavily from the Swiss sword style, with its partial chagrinage and emphasis on trikeles. The decorative crimping at the edges is a bit rare in period, but decorative crimping can be seen on some scabbards from France and a small number of swords from the Carpathian basin.

The throat reinforce and chape were separately made by John Heinz of Herugrim Custom Ironwork. These are based directly on elements found on La Tène II scabbards from the La Tène site.

See our hands-on review for more information on this sword.

Nathan Bell's Collection

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