I retired from jousting last May and took some time off to go race bikes again.

Late last year I got back on the horses and started work on a new period for me, Ancients. In particular Ancient Greek and Scythians.

I've been merrily buying and making equipment. I purchased the bronze Thracian helm and made the spolas. I still have scales to add to the front upper chest and the rear of the yoke.
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I had a go at making a Scythian sword and a war hammer.
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Still making clothing for both impressions. I have spent the last few months training my stallion Athos and working on my bareback riding.
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I’m not qualified to comment on the gear or the horsemanship, but I think this is really cool and I’m excited to see someone working with this stuff and this time period, and sharing photos and info here with us! Please keep this up, and let us know what your attitude is towards any future heavy cavalry or lance/sword and shield use while riding bareback! I’m looking forward to future additions to this thread.

Quick question: how does one compensate for accuracy or stability while riding hard or fast bareback? Even if you move the hips and use the low back and legs, don’t you still get a good amount of bounce? Doesn’t that hurt your spine after a while? I have very limited riding experience, so I just don’t know.

COOL!! I've got that same helmet, and I think it's pretty impressive for "Made in India". Love that spolas, too. (Though I will say that I'm wondering if the presence of scales indicates a more "composite" construction than we think, since scales only need a thin backing and don't make *as* much sense over *heavy* leather.)

And I don't know much about Scythian stuff, but that hammer is terrific.

VERY cool!! Thanks for sharing the photos!

Matthew

I am also enjoying this thread. It is nice to see your kit on display, and then in action. Looks great. Well done!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=49RvCXJwIZY

Thanks guys, I'm at work at the moment, so can't reply properly. But I forgot to link this video this morning.

Thanks for sharing this!
Really great work at controlling your horse bareback and the amour and helmet looks great as well.

Yep, I got mine from MFC. It is the bronze version.

Matthew, is this spear set any good?

http://www.ancientreplicas.com.au/prod_desc_GAH3529.html?sno=298

Thanks Matthew, I ended up getting this set half price :D

http://www.reenactorswarehouse.com.au/product...p;cPath=63

Oh, excellent! Deepeeka's newest parts, surprisingly nice, I'm glad they're available. I've got a set of those myself, waiting for me to stick them on a pole. Can't have too many spears.

Matthew

The kopis and spear set arrived.

I have already attacked the blade of the kopis and reshaped the blade and thinned the blade out. It was 1200g when it arrived and I have it down to 960g. There is definitely more meat in the blade to be removed.


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Dory mounted up.
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Man that looks like so much fun. This thread is really great.

Matthew Amt, are there many reports (ancient literature or excavation reports) about what woods were used for ancient spears (mostly the smaller guys; not really looking for the long sarissa guys)? Maybe whether they were coppiced or split? Do we have reasonable measurements or estimates for maximum shaft width, if they were tapered in one or two directions?

EDIT: Forgot to add--Rod, are you planning on a gorytos?

I am planning to make a gorytus, just need to set aside some time to do it.

I've used ash for the shaft of my dory. I had some 28.6mm here so I used that. I tapered the spear end, but it could do with being tapered from the balance point forward. I'll have to do that at some stage.

I stripped the kopis/falcata scabbard and hey! Turns out it is made from some sort of wood cardboard hybrid!
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Anyway, recovered it in layers of glue and calico and sealed it with a lacquer to give it some sort of waterproofing.

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Made the baldric from cotton, (lets pretend it is goat hair), and attached to new leather hangers. Reused the brass chape and mouth.
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I was going to remake the opening so it had the mouth that encased the first part of the hilt. But there was no point. I'll make a proper scabbard when I make a better kopis.

I love this one.
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I know that thread necromancy is generally frowned upon, but I was wondering if it would be possible to have the photos of Rod’s kit reposted, or at least have a link posted? I wanted to ogle them again, but they’re no longer supported/available.

Hi Kai, since the last post I have had bronze greaves made and I just finished making new clothing.
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