What with travel, jet-lag, my wife having a trip to the hospital (she's fine), and getting back into the swing of things, it;s been a while since I've posted.
Anyway, I've just added two new pieces to my collection-- both from the Bronze Age Foundry.
The first is a replica of an Irish Middle Bronze Age sword, from the Pitt-Rivers Collection. The hilt-work was done by Paul Binns, and is of elm-wood (which I am told is the most split-resistant wood native to Europe and thusly a fair guess as to the original material used). The disc pommel is of antler. Over all, I think his work is quite good-- it sits in the hand very nicely and emulates the Bronze-Age "look" quite well. The sword itself is a real cutter-- just over 2 lb in weight, but with a hefty blade-presence. The rest of the stats follow:
Total Length: 22.75"
Blade Length: 17.5"
CoG: 5"
The second makes use of a replica of a Middle Bronze Age tanged spear-head from the Arreton Down Horde. While I have yet to take a picture of the whole thing, the spear, from tip to butt is 7' long. This one I did myself (and had a lot of fun in doing it).
Over all, the spear is 7' long, with a shaft of ash. I shaped the shaft itself using a spoke shave, tapering it towards both ends (it is 1" in the centre and tapers down to 3/4" on each end). Again, Paul Binns gave this advice-- archaeological evidence is nigh non-existent for Bronze-Age shafts (or Iron-Age for that matter), but looking at other cultures, he felt the tapered shaft would be a likely one, especially with a lighter spear. One sees the same idea in modern javelins as well. An added bonus is, it doesn't look like a glorified curtain rod. I stained the shaft with some blackberries (simple but effective) and then applied a coat of linseed oil. After affixing the tang into the shaft I wrapped it with wet rawhide which has now tightened in place securing the head from the sides. The balance feels good-- Over all I'm pleased with the look (although at some time in the future I may redo the binding).
There isn't much more I can think to say about that... now I just need a couple of Celtic, Roman, Migration/Viking Era, and (a few more) Medieval pieces and I might be satisified. As it is I am grooming myself in the art of patience (or am being groomed, insofar as I haven't the money to spend now). Perhaps some day soon...
David
![](images/icon_clip.gif)
![Picture 004.jpg](files/picture_004_116.jpg)
![](images/icon_clip.gif)
![Picture 008.jpg](files/picture_008.jpg)