Pompei Gladius Modification -- myArmoury.com

Luke Zechman · Posted: Mon 02 Aug, 2010 2:00 pm Post subject:

Progress. Cross pieces, and pommel have been fitted to the tang. I included a picture showing the side profiles to show the tapers towards either end of the hilts. So far I have done everything by hand with help here and there from my drill and Dremel tool. Included a picture showing the fit around the tang where it and the blade meet. Everything is snug. I need to manufacture a washer and peen block, and find a bone to make the grip.

Luke Zechman · Posted: Thu 05 Aug, 2010 12:43 pm Post subject:

The grip is shaped. I shaped it out of some very lightly colored Hickory that I have. The cross section is octagonal. I still need to drill it out to receive the tang.

Luke Zechman · Posted: Sun 08 Aug, 2010 11:48 am Post subject:

For the most part the hilt is built. I have included a picture of the grip fitted onto the tang, after some soaking in linseed. The color has changed, and is no longer offensive white. I think if and when I do a Mainz style blade that I will do the entire hilt in hickory, because it is tough and lightly colored. I have made a washer for under the peen block that will complete the form of the pommel. Now I just need to polish and sharpen the blade, followed by a peen.

Julien,

As a response to an earlier comment. Sorry I am so late. I am classically trained in art (drawing more specifically). I have a standard four year bachelors degree in traditional art, so I hope I should be able to draw. Laughing Out Loud

Either way it is something i have been doing all my life. Thanks for the compliment.

I am still working on the photography aspect of all this. I have a sub par camera. This picture still doesn't do the cherry any justice.

Luke Zechman · Posted: Wed 15 Dec, 2010 8:30 am Post subject:

Hello everyone,
I have been tied up in a professional semester, and have not had much time to get on these projects I have strewn about my room. Good news is that I am only 4 months from being a certified biology teacher. Christmas break is two days away, and I plan to finish this gladius. I have had a little time to work on the polish of the blade, and the hilt pieces have been finished and ready fro months now. All I need to do now is decide on a peen block that will compliment the design, finish up on the blade (final stage polishing and sharpen), and assemble. Looking forward to constructive feedback, and to have another finish sword. Check back soon.

Happy Holidays ALL!

Luke Zechman · Posted: Tue 21 Dec, 2010 12:17 pm Post subject:

I assembled the fulham gladius today. I ran into some problems peening the sword. Initially I had a collar around the protruding tang. I peened it down. and the pommel and grip had some torsion play. I was mad. I hacked the peen block in half with a hack saw, and started over. This time I just peened it into the washer at the end of the hilt. The hilt is tight with no wiggle or movement. I ended up splitting the end of the peen a little, so it does not fit into the recess perfectly. The peen is thick enough for me to fell comfortable swinging this little sword. I was thinking about filling in the little gaps of the peen area with some solder. Would this work?

I pictured the fulham next to its sister sword the pompei that you are probably all familiar with. I lined up the junction of the blade and hilt to show the length differences in both blade and hilt. Right now the POB is about 4.5inches from the hilt. This will creep back a little bit when i finish polishing and sharpening the blade. The tip is still quiet thick, and will lose some substantial weight.

Matthew Amt · Posted: Tue 21 Dec, 2010 8:25 pm Post subject:

Hey, looking good! I like the shape on your Mainz blade. Looks like that's all coming out nicely. No point in worrying about the peened end of the tang, and no way you'd be able to get solder to adhere without enough heat to burn the wood. If there are any sharp or catchy bits, just give them a few strokes of a tiny file and call it even.

Now you need scabbards, ha!

Congrats and Vale,

Matthew

Luke Zechman · Posted: Sun 26 Dec, 2010 11:43 am Post subject:

Thanks Matthew. I do not really know a whole lot about soldering, so the advice is appreciated. I like the way this sword turned out so far. I still need to finish and sharpen the blade. Overall it feels good in hand, and sturdy. I guess I should start working on some scabbards. Big Grin

Luke Zechman · Posted: Tue 27 Oct, 2015 9:50 am Post subject:

It has been some time since I have worked on this project, and I have a few new questions. I have begun to craft a scabbard for this sword, and was wondering... Would it be completely wrong to have a Pompeii glad jus scabbard where the entire edge of the scabbard is covered by the "gutters"? I know there are examples of Maintz, and Fulham scabbards with fully framed scabbards, but I have yet to see a Pompeii containing this feature. My second question is... Do any roman scabbards contain SPQR?

Matthew Amt · Posted: Tue 27 Oct, 2015 10:13 am Post subject:

Luke Zechman · Posted: Tue 27 Oct, 2015 6:30 pm Post subject:

Thanks Matthew! I have the wood core finished, and now I'm gathering brass, and looking around for 3oz leather. I wanted to do something that isn't reproduced as often, and as usual, I'm ok with a historically plausible outcome. I always appreciate your knowledge, and am very familiar with many of your informative web pages

David Lewis Smith · Posted: Wed 28 Oct, 2015 5:33 pm Post subject:

I missed this whole project,

It is fantastic,