Finally got around to finishing this one up this weekend....again. Much happier with the results this time. Many of you know the story already, but here it is again. It is based on an original blade I had the chance to study and I matched it with a hilt from Vimose II that had a similar blade. Figured cherry hilt, inset guard plate, 31" double fullered blade, and 40" overall.

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http://www.ironagearmoury.com/spatha.htm

Now I can finally get back to working on my celtic stuff once again. Hope to finish my etched lenticular blade by my round table coming up soon. From there I have a Port style double fullered blade to mount as well as a La Tene I blade. Julie has a rondel that will be finished by the round table and wil then start on a Roman gladius with a re-enforced tip.

Shane Allee

Your Vimose II looks beautiful, Shane. Well done.

I have to say Shane, This work looks very well executed. The form and proportion seem nicely layed out. Are you going to stain the hilt at all?

Shane,

Beautiful work! I can't wait to see this piece in person.

Best,

Matt

The wood you used for the hilt really does give the sword added class, especially with the way you set the way the grain runs. The horizontal lines on the guard and the rounded ovals on the handle and pommel give the whole hilt added detail.

Gorgeous sword, and an excellent match to the original:

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Great job :)

Thanks for posting the picture of it Jeroen, and thanks everyone for the comments.

No stain for this one, they tend to muddy figure in woods. I'm not sure when stains first started being used, but for this time period I would guess that oils would be about it. They could have used something like walnut husk mixed with oils to darken wood, but I would imagine that they would just have just stuck with natural colors of the wood.

Shane