At long last!

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More here:

http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion/ne...spatha.htm

Best,

Howy

Wow, news at Albion, and a very interesting ones!

The sword looks really fantastic, at least to me.

Simply gorgeous. The dark colored grip is just beautiful! Another success at Albion!!!!

I've been looking forward to this particular sword for some time and it looks great!

How rigid is the blade on this sword?

I've been looking at this sword for some time as well. The only thing that surprises me is how close the balance point is. Granted, the only other organic hilted sword I own is a Del Tin celtic longsword, but the balance point is twice as far out on my Del Tin than on this Albion. I'm curious as to how well one could cut with such light blade combined with a relatively close balance point.

Beautiful! I love how the hilt turned out, especially the grip. Those colors go great together. Bravo!

Wow another great piece from albion to drool about for a while. I've been looking forward to see albions spathas for years now so I cant wait to see how the other ones turn out aswell. Keep up the good work guys :D

There are not enough swords of this type on the market. Good work.

M.

I ordered the Decurio, so looking forward to that :D Looks great!

Looks awesome. I'm looking forward to the Alaris as well myself.

Thanks all for positive response!

I am very glad to now see the Spathae reaching waiting customers and curious enthusiasts.
These have been long in development, for several reasons. Now that I have access to a 3d program so I can supply designs in a digital format, rather than drawings, means blades can be developed quicker and also adjusted or changed with less delay. Shorter time laps from concept to completed blade blank, means quicker R&D.

in the case with these spathae, the long developing time has actually worked out to their benefit. I have continually studied roman swords in the mean time, and learned new things along the way which has been implemented in the designs. I have had opportunity to make research trips especially to study roman swords to museums in Denmark, Netherlands and Germany (as well as studies on some roman blades found in Sweden). I´ve also attend a conference on Roman Military Archaeology which was a wonderful learning experience as well as great fun.
Another important factor is that two major works on the roman sword has been published since the concept drawings. Jørgen Ilkjaer´s last two volumes on the Illerup Ådal find deals with the sword blades exclusively, and includes a detailed typology of spathae found all over Europe.
Also Christian Miks´ two volume work on the roman sword during the imperial period have provided crucial information on dating, types and hilt forms.
Both of these works are must haves for the serious enthusiast of the roman sword.
The spathae that now are reaching the market have matured in their development several times over: they are much more authentic now than they would have been if they had been completed earlier.

To Chris: The blade is pretty rigid. You can force it to bend if you want to, but with its moderate length and sturdy section is is a stiff and lean sword. It is interesting to not that there are similarities between the roman spatha and the early chinese jian!

To Josh: Placing of balance point does not compromise cutting power. I have described the feeling of the sword as you hold it in your hand like this in the text on Albion´s page:
"Our Auxilia has a comfortable heft that balance liveliness with hitting power. Overall weight is low and the distribution of mass results in a soft forward pull that helps direct the edge during a cut. It is easy to understand why swords such as these were essential weapons for the roman cavalry man."
This is an honest attempt to describe what the sword feels like and how it behaves.
These new spathae are built after the example of surviving originals. Their dimensions are genuine for their types. They behave like originals would when new. It is not like the military minded romans would have manufactured cavalry swords that did not do their job.... :cool:

I have never handled the Del Tin celtic long sword and do not know how well it compares to actual original swords.
I have documented about a dozen celtic swords by now, and I can assure you they are not heavy or cumbersome, but much more agile and light than one would expect from the face view. As with the roman swords there are subtle but very important things in distal taper and details in cross section, that has an crucial impact on how these swords handle. As with all these things there is variation, but in general, celtic swords are not heavy bashers, but quick, agile and acutely cutting blades for skillful sword play.

Thanks for all your comments and questions!

Peter,

Thanks for the additional information!

I'm a big fan of the Chinese jian and in flattened-diamond cross-section swords in particular. This one is especially interesting to me because I know nothing about the detailed characteristics of the spatha blade and how it actually handles. It sounds like the type of handling characteristics I prefer in a sword.

I'm adding this one to my short wish-list.

Well, heck. I guess it's time for me to start laying money aside for another sword. The Auxilia's really quite attractive, though it might be prudent to see what the other spathae'lll look like.

Well...

THIS IS SPATHAAAAAAA!

Sorry. Couldn't resist. I feel better now :)

Seriously, the wooden grip is really beautiful. I feel an urge to touch it just looking at the photos... Very attractive finish. I wonder how the others will turn out too, their blades seem to be more complex... which would make them even more attractive for me.

Regards,

It IS rather beautiful. I like the sound of how it handles. Peter's description of how it handles reminds me of the spatha in the novel "Sword at Sunset". It sounds ideal. I can't wait to see how the other ones turn out, I agree with Vincent on the more complex blades.
With the handling characteristics it makes me wonder just how complex their blade techniques were. Have we been underestimating our ancestors' abilities or philosophy of the sword?...