Sword of Odysseus by Albion Redone -- myArmoury.com

Kirk Lee Spencer

Hi all…

To celebrate so many big budget, quasi-historical movies this summer (Alexander, Arthur and Achilles)
I thought I would post my Bronze Age Odysseus Sword by Albion.

I have included archeological drawings of the original on the top…
Below that is a picture of the original in the British Museum (known as the Woodhouse Dagger).
Below that is the sword as it looked from Albion.
And below that is my version of the sword.

ks

Kirk Lee Spencer · Posted: Mon 10 May, 2004 9:15 pm Post subject:

The first thing I did to the Albion sword was grind off about 1.5 lbs of bronze from the blade and hilt.
I’m convinced that this brought the shape and weight into a range comparable to Aegean Bronze Age
swords.

Measurements and Specifications

Weight: 2 pounds 8 ounces
Overall Length: 19.45 inches
Blade Length: 13 inches
Fullers: 3 fullers 0.2 inches wide
Guard Width: 4 inches
Grip & Pommel: 4.5 inches
Grip Length: 3.75 inches
Point of Balance: 2.5 inches from guard

This is obviously a weapon for hacking, chopping, slicing and dicing at lose quarters. The large
pommel makes sense in this context. It is surely not needed to balance the blade. Rather it
seems to be a weapon in itself… for deflecting an opponents blade or smashing them in the face
at very close quarters.

(The bronze also makes your hands smell like garlic but I’m not sure that would have any offense value,
even at close quarters. Actually this is probably what sweaty Greeks smelled like Worried

.)

ks

Kirk Lee Spencer · Posted: Mon 10 May, 2004 9:18 pm Post subject:

Albion had done an admirable job replicating a sword reportedly found in Ithika Greece. Because this
sword is from the time of Odysseus (13th century B.C.) and was found in his hometown of Ithica, it is
often called the “Sword of Odysseus.” The main problem is that it is only 16 inches long. As such, it is
really “The Really Big Dagger of Odysseus” (or Odysseus’ backup weapon to his back up weapon).

Albion’s version added about 3 inches to the total length of the original, most of it in the blade.
In doing so it passed over that fuzzy line between dirks and long daggers and into the range of
short, short swords.

ks

Kirk Lee Spencer · Posted: Mon 10 May, 2004 9:22 pm Post subject:

Reconstructing the grip plates and pommel was an interesting project. In trying to find an accurate
design, my two points of reference were archeological finds and the shape of my hand. I first found
as many pictures and drawings of original Aegean bronze swords as I could. Many of these finds
have rivets still attached. Though all of the organic parts of the hilt are long gone (in most cases)
the ends of the rivets do give a point of reference for the surface of the grip plates. The original
Woodhouse dagger has rivet holes through the tang to show the placement and relative size
of the rivets.

Although there is no cooper wire binding left on the Woodhouse dagger, I have added it because it
has been found (occasionally) on similar swords. Also I believe the narrowing of the tang above and
below the grip would make room for such binding. And, with the binding partially filling these indentions,
the grip seemed more comfortable. Also, many contemporary swords have grooves and linear patterns
cut in the side of the tang, which may mimic such older bindings. And lastly, there is a small groove on
the side of the tang at either end of the grip. I have interpreted these grooves as a channel for a single
strand of the wire binding to give a little extra hold.

The problem with the earliest Bronze Daggers and Rapier-Type Swords was that they had no tang.
The butt of the blade was simply riveted to a wooden handle. They were designed for thrusting.
You would just punch it into your opponent. However in the heat of battle with not enough room to
get a good thrust, it was natural to swing side arm or from above into your opponent. Rivets are not
going to hold under such torque. Many of the rivets of these early thrusting type swords are bent and
ripped out of the sides of the blades as testimony to such inappropriate hacking with a thrusting blade.

So swords with tangs developed… and with them the many strategies for trying to get the grip plates to
stay on the tangs. This version of the Sword of Odysseus shows three of the strategies:

1. Riveting the grip plates to the tang
2. Crimp the sharp flanged edges of the grip and pommel into the edges of the wooden grip plates.
3. Bind the grip plates to the tang with wire

ks

Bill Grandy · myArmoury Team

That is gorgeous, Kirk! I'm not usually a fan of ancient Greek weapons, but this one really grabbed my attention!

Can you share any information about the grip making process?

Kirk Lee Spencer · Posted: Mon 10 May, 2004 9:29 pm Post subject:

Interesting you should ask Bill.... I am still uploading this post and that was the next topic.
Here goes.

Lastly I would like to discuss the interesting “horns” or “hooks” extending from the shoulders
of the blade. When holding this sword, it is only natural to want to extend your index finger into
one of these hooks. When this is done the whole feel of the sword changes. This slight
change in grip gives much more leverage and control, especially in a chopping or slashing mode.
(I notice a similar change when using the thumb ring on my Schiavona.)

When the index finger is pulled back behind the horns, the horns become an efficient lower guard to
catch an opponent’s blade. The possibility of such finger maneuvering was important in creating a
design for the lower portions of the hilt. (A part of the hilt, which I had little archeological evidence to
go on.) I tried to form this part of the hilt in such a way that the wood would give good support to the
finger in the hook but would not interfere with removing it. Surprisingly as I shaped this part of the
hilt to accomplish this, a pair of horns appeared which seemed to go nicely with the sword as a
whole. It also recalled many similar shapes in Minoan art which supposedly influenced Mycenaean
art in the time of Odysseus.

ks

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Mon 10 May, 2004 9:41 pm Post subject:

Very attractive, but I just want to know were you got the time machine. (Joke)

Again impressive work!

Peter Johnsson · Industry Professional

Kirk,
Top notch work!
Research and craft in harmonious combination.
Beautiful result.

Thank you for sharing!

Ben Sweet · Posted: Mon 10 May, 2004 11:48 pm Post subject:

What an amazing job... Your Odysseus is one heck of a beauty!

David McElrea · Posted: Tue 11 May, 2004 2:10 am Post subject:

Hi Kirk,

That is an amazing sword-- and your workmanship is beyond impressive! Although I'm not overly familiar with swords of this culture, it is a really appealing piece and believable. The shape and decorations just look "right"-- as per Jean's comment, I could almost believe you did find a time machine!

David

Jonathon Janusz · Posted: Tue 11 May, 2004 8:26 am Post subject: i've got to say. . .

beautiful. i've watched your work grow and improve over time on the forums and this is, in my opinion, your best work to date. congratulations on a job well done. some of my friends were wondering the value in this piece after looking at it (and its price) on albion's web site a long while back; i would gladly use this thread as proof.

also, for anyone interested, i had a chance to handle one of these on a trip to albion's shop and my strongest impression is that it is a hefty, solid little beast of a sword. my six-foot-something, lumberjack-looking, railroad-working biker companion had a particularly evil look in his eye contemplating the effect of two-fisting a pair of these like one would swing a pair of small axes. . .

the biggest thing i was left wondering was if sharpened and or work hardened (if possible) how well would it cut?

in any case, thumbs up on the beautiful work and my recommendation overall on the sword.

Kirk Lee Spencer · Posted: Tue 11 May, 2004 9:05 am Post subject:

Bill, Jean, Peter, Ben and David...
Thanks so much for your feedback and encouragement.
Being able to share your work with kindred spirits makes a wonderful hobby even better.

ks

Joe Fults · Posted: Tue 11 May, 2004 9:26 am Post subject:

Wonderful workmanship.

Kirk Lee Spencer · Posted: Tue 11 May, 2004 9:47 am Post subject: Re: i've got to say. . .

R. Laine · Posted: Tue 11 May, 2004 10:03 am Post subject:

I agree with the others who have posted in this thread: absolutely stunning work!

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Tue 11 May, 2004 4:58 pm Post subject:

Kirk;

Maybe Albion can tell you what bronze alloy they used and if work hardening is even possible.

If you can get a sample of the same bronze you could risk seeing if you can work harden it without something unfortunate happenning. (If it reacts like a piece of glass!)
I would not risk it with the current one.

If you make another one you could start the project by workhardening it before you put in all that work on finishing it.

Best wishes
JEAN

Matt G. Meekma · Posted: Tue 11 May, 2004 6:19 pm Post subject:

Kirk,

ConGratz on a wonderful Job and a great looking sword.

I Am Jon's, lets how did he put it...ah yes.. six-foot-something, lumberjack-looking, railroad-working biker companion, and i just love what you have done. If you ever feel like doing another for someone else, Just let me know...Probally wouldn't take too much arm twisting to have that some one else right here.

Gratz again.

Nathan Bell · Posted: Wed 12 May, 2004 4:13 am Post subject:

That is quite, quite nice! I didn't really care for the design before, but seeing it complete, it looks quite attractive.

I may have missed it above, but what sort of wood did you use for the grip panels? It looks quite nice with the bronze, in "character" and grain.

Nice work, do you take commissions? Big Grin

Jonathon Janusz · Posted: Wed 12 May, 2004 4:30 am Post subject:

thanks for the insight, Kirk. I have to agree with my good friend, Matt, in that this sword has made it somewhere on my buy list. . . after i get a few irons out of the fire. . .

my thoughts on the cutting ability came from the refinement on the edges (or lack thereof) on the example i examined; i'm guessing this is where about half a pound of the pound and a half of bronze that disappeared came from. i guess i had never thought of this sword as being just a blank before.

two more questions - first, how are the grip plates attached? are they epoxied or are they held in place simply by the pins and copper wrap?

second, is the Achilles Thrusting Sword somewhere on your projects list? with how nice this piece turned out i would like to see your take on that one Cool

. . . always did like bronze. . .

thanks again!

Kirk Lee Spencer · Posted: Wed 12 May, 2004 7:58 am Post subject: