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Luke Royle





Joined: 15 Dec 2014

Posts: 9

PostPosted: Mon 15 Dec, 2014 3:38 pm    Post subject: TFW Roman Gladius         Reply with quote

Hello there, I'm a new collector, so please have some mercy on me. I have been looking for a Roman Gladius to add to my rather small collection (which contains one rather poor Deepeka Seax). At the most I am willing to spend $400 (around £255 for me). After looking for a bit, I found a Gladius made by someone called TFW. I had never heard of them before but the Gladius looked good, at least from my novice perspective. It's already sharp which is a bonus. I then put it into my cart to see how much it would cost if I were to buy it. It came to around $418 (£267) including the shipping, which is $74. Would any experts here say that this sword was worthy of such a price or if it had any accuracy, I would be grateful. If I did get it, I would not use it a whole lot, just swing it around for a bit and then put it back into display.

TFW Roman Gladius
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...n+Gladius+

I was also looking at a cheaper alternative that caught my aye, though I imagine that the historical accuracy of it is appalling. But I have a fetish for sheaths.

Windlass Gladius
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...s+Gladius#

A gladius was my second option to a Heavy Cavalry Sabre, but my dreams were denied by the UK having a law that stops curved blades over 50 centimeters being imported. Many thanks to anyone that helps, have a good day.
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Luka Borscak




Location: Croatia
Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Likes: 7 pages

Posts: 2,307

PostPosted: Mon 15 Dec, 2014 4:40 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Well, than why wouldn't you buy from UK stores? Quite a bit of choice...

Roman:
http://www.theknightshop.co.uk/catalog/swords...61700aee3b

Sabers:
http://www.theknightshop.co.uk/catalog/swords...61700aee3b
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J. Nicolaysen




Location: Wyoming
Joined: 03 Feb 2014
Likes: 32 pages

Posts: 795

PostPosted: Mon 15 Dec, 2014 5:12 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I've been happy with my Praetorian from Valiant Armory. On sale now too, at 280 USD. If you want a more elaborate scabbard, I know he is able to do something. I think the steel is better than either option from KOA.

http://www.customswordshoppe.com/shoppe/produ...0qpbbd2bk6
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Matthew Amt




Location: Laurel, MD, USA
Joined: 17 Sep 2003

Posts: 1,456

PostPosted: Mon 15 Dec, 2014 6:45 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

As far as historical accuracy goes, unfortunately, none of those are worth the money. I would not let any of my legionaries carry them at a public historical event without EXTENSIVE modifications, and the Windlass one is a total loss. Sorry...

Your best bet for something "off the shelf" is the Deepeeka "N" Series Pompeii gladius,

http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=AH4211N

It's not perfect (the grip is too long, for one thing), but it's worlds better than anything else I've seen.

Two other possibilities are the Deepeeka Mainz gladii. I have not gotten my hands on the latest versions, so I don't want to swear to their accuracy, but the photos look all right. The scabbard for one of them used to be kind of huge, don't know if they've tweaked that or not. Deepeeka does get feedback from reenactors, though they don't always listen to it, and details can change without notice.

http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=AH2005

http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=AH4209

Just as a word of warning, it seems that items with long-winded "history lessons" are likely to be LESS historically accurate than those with a brief description! And it's also a safe bet that ANY "ancient" item from Windlass is a movie prop at BEST.

Deepeeka gladii are kind of an "industry standard" in Roman reenacting. Some of us fuss more about the details than others, but they have the benefit of being readily available. They can actually cost less than swords that are LESS accurate. As has been noted, there are vendors in the UK so you can save a ton of shipping, though I've heard that Kult of Athena has a good reputation.

Oh! My Legio XX site:

http://www.larp.com/legioxx/gladius.html

(Needs a little updating, but should help!)

Good luck and Vale!

Matthew
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Lance Morris




Location: NYC
Joined: 17 Aug 2013
Likes: 2 pages

Posts: 186

PostPosted: Mon 15 Dec, 2014 10:24 pm    Post subject: hello         Reply with quote

Kult of Athena has a Del tin gladius.
That's solid. In your price range and highly recommended to last.
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J.L.A. Sereno




Location: Manila, Philippines
Joined: 12 Oct 2014

Posts: 8

PostPosted: Mon 15 Dec, 2014 11:04 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Just as a bit of insight, TFW has a reputation for making very good blades (very sharp, durable, balanced) but also a reputation for being horribly inaccurate (their "Claymore" is really an Anduril prop design made into a real sword). So if you're the type to do cutting and don't mind the historical inaccuracies too much, go get it. If you're buying it for the historical accuracy, and if you want it for display, maybe not.
Omnia in bonum
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William M




Location: Buckinghamshire , England
Joined: 01 Dec 2004
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Posts: 267

PostPosted: Tue 16 Dec, 2014 2:05 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hi Matthew,

I see on your website you say "NOTE: Deepeeka is modifying their gladii, and the much-improved versions should be available shortly."

Has this happened and do you know what we should look out for?

Thanks!
William
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Encho Yakovchev




PostPosted: Tue 16 Dec, 2014 2:32 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hello Luke.
I would second Del Tin, but you can also have a look here:
http://www.outfit4events.com/eur/product/9000-gladius-fulham/
If you ask they can make the grip shorter and the pommel - round. You can also choose the sharp blade option.

This https://www.armamentaria.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_2&products_id=131 could also be an option and it comes with a nice scabbard.

Unfortunately I can't comment on quality and historicall accuracy, but I hope others will share opinion.

Good luck with your choice and please, don't forget to show us the new addition to your collection.
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Matthew Amt




Location: Laurel, MD, USA
Joined: 17 Sep 2003

Posts: 1,456

PostPosted: Tue 16 Dec, 2014 7:16 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

William M wrote:
Hi Matthew,

I see on your website you say "NOTE: Deepeeka is modifying their gladii, and the much-improved versions should be available shortly."

Has this happened and do you know what we should look out for?

Thanks!
William


Yipes, okay, been too long since I updated that page! Must be a reference to the "N" series, which has been out for quite a while. (Sorry, been too much into Greek stuff lately, so I have no time or inclination to bother with that icky Roman dreck, ha!)


Encho Yakovchev wrote:


http://www.outfit4events.com/eur/product/9000-gladius-fulham/
If you ask they can make the grip shorter and the pommel - round. You can also choose the sharp blade option.


Huh! Hadn't seen that one before. Not bad at first glance, though I see that the scabbard is dark stained wood (rather than covered with leather or something), and that grip doesn't seem to be real bone. (Wood is fine, if that's what's available.) The blade shape isn't quite right--that profile is all too common on Indian-made gladii.

Quote:
This https://www.armamentaria.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_2&products_id=131 could also be an option and it comes with a nice scabbard.


Now there's some lovely work! My only question is that it seems to be a Pompeii blade with a selection of Mainz-style scabbards. Perhaps the blade is based on some new find, but there doesn't seem to be any reason to call it an "early Mainz" when it's shaped like a Pompeii.

Matthew
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Mark Griffin




Location: The Welsh Marches, in the hills above Newtown, Powys.
Joined: 28 Dec 2006

Posts: 802

PostPosted: Tue 16 Dec, 2014 11:00 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

where i the UK are you? Happy to help advise, I'm in Wales.

Quote:
Heavy Cavalry Sabre


If you mean the 1796 heavy cav sword then they are easy to get, i have many as I'm in 1RD (Waterloo prep going very well!) or the 1796 Light cavalry sabre which is available here too.
[url]
http://www.militaria.co.uk/militaria.asp?CatN...d=1623#PIC

Jeremy lists the sabre as a sword. Which its not!
[/url]

Currently working on projects ranging from Elizabethan pageants to a WW1 Tank, Victorian fairgrounds 1066 events and more. Oh and we joust loads!.. We run over 250 events for English Heritage each year plus many others for Historic Royal Palaces, Historic Scotland, the National Trust and more. If you live in the UK and are interested in working for us just drop us a line with a cv.
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Gagan Agarwal




Location: India
Joined: 29 May 2005

Posts: 5

PostPosted: Thu 02 Apr, 2015 12:59 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Yes, I am working on 6 Roman word models right now. We are changing them quite a bit. They should be ready to show off at the end of this month.

Gagan

Deepeeka India
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Encho Yakovchev




PostPosted: Sun 16 Aug, 2015 7:18 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Gagan Agarwal wrote:
Yes, I am working on 6 Roman word models right now. We are changing them quite a bit. They should be ready to show off at the end of this month.

Gagan


I'm wondering if this http://deepeeka.in/fulham-gladius-mainz.html is one of them? If so, when will they be available in Europe and where?
More images will be great, but for now I like what I see.
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Lance Morris




Location: NYC
Joined: 17 Aug 2013
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Posts: 186

PostPosted: Sun 16 Aug, 2015 8:37 am    Post subject: Mark morrow         Reply with quote

Hey!

The del tin gladius is very good and solid but fits a very small hand

I have several gladii

The best is albion with angus trim blade
Then BKS custom (decent blade, nightmare people to work with )
And mark morrow

Check him out. His tough historical work is also beautiful and roughly in your price range
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Timo Nieminen




Location: Brisbane, Australia
Joined: 08 May 2009
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PostPosted: Sun 16 Aug, 2015 3:50 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hmm. From playing with Viking swords and tulwars where I like a snug grip, I think 7.5-8cm might be ideal for my average sized hands, so I might find the Del Tin gladii very good.
"In addition to being efficient, all pole arms were quite nice to look at." - Cherney Berg, A hideous history of weapons, Collier 1963.
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Michael Beeching





Joined: 22 Jan 2014
Reading list: 2 books

Posts: 270

PostPosted: Tue 18 Aug, 2015 3:40 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

If you're up for a hobby project, I actually think getting a tempered Maintz gladius blade from Albion would be a good way to go. I wish I knew more about the construction of the gladius in general, but it seems to me that most of the hilt construction is wood with few other metallic parts - only the peen and the guard face are of apparent metal construction, with the guard face most likely being bronze. If I'm wrong on any of these assessments, I sure someone here could point out the problems.

The Albion blade should cost you about $200 USD if you go that route.

I'd also like to throw in that, while Windlass may be in the B or C grade range as far as absolute quality goes, you do get a lot for your dollar spent. If you are interested in using a weapon against a pell or swinging target, a Windlass product is really hard to beat as one you didn't have to sink a large sum into. In fact, you might want to consider the Windlass Qama as a "poor man's gladius" for a striking trainer. I will personally recommend that particular sword, owning one myself; I do not think you can buy a better sword for the meager cost of $40.
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