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Leo Todeschini
Industry Professional
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 Posted: Sun 11 Jan, 2015 3:26 pm Post subject: Gladius Reproduction with a reinforced point |
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HI All,
I have been a bit quiet of late and have not been able to get into a workshop much for the last 5 months but have recently finished this gladius.
It is an interesting weapon that has a slim and rather typically plain 1st century gladius blade except for the reinforced point. This is a feature I have not seen before on a gladius (this was based on an extant example) and in fact the point comes to a star section rather than perhaps a square that you may expect. It of course makes for an effective stabbing weapon and I have shown a gentle stab into spruce to show the point profile.
The sword also features a curios 'tang button' of a folded sheet clasping four rings that are all free to move. This is based on a find from Mainz I believe.
The guard and pommel are in elm and the spacers and the grip are in box.
I hope you like it.
Regards
Tod
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Roger Hooper
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| Posted: Sun 11 Jan, 2015 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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That's beautiful work. The reinforced point makes it an even better stabbing weapon, which of course, was the primary function of a gladius.
The tang button is certainly unusual. Does its weight have much effect on the balance of the blade? I wonder if those rings have any function? It reminds me a bit of the ring that sometimes appears on Migration swords, though there can't be any kind of connection between the two types. Was there any date assigned to the original on which you found that button?
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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J. Nicolaysen
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| Posted: Sun 11 Jan, 2015 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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Well that is the most interesting Gladius I've ever seen and I really like it! It doesn't sound like these features are commonly found, but it is great to see them done so well. Very nice choice of woods also. Will you make a scabbard? I'd be interested to see it.
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David Lewis Smith
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| Posted: Mon 12 Jan, 2015 7:43 am Post subject: |
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Very nicely done:
Do you have a link you could share to the sword you based this on? If I understand you correctly you reproduced a historical piece and I am very curious about the rings in particular.
Your work is very impressive, !
Is this an 'in stock item' or was it made for someone on a custom order?
David L Smith
MSG (RET)
Last edited by David Lewis Smith on Mon 12 Jan, 2015 8:00 am; edited 1 time in total
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Luka Borscak
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| Posted: Mon 12 Jan, 2015 7:48 am Post subject: |
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I recently developed a certain liking for gladii, but pompeii are my least favorite ones. This one is so interesting though, with the tip and these pommel rings, that I would not object at all if I owned it... 
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David Lewis Smith
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| Posted: Mon 12 Jan, 2015 7:53 am Post subject: |
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I am really impressed by the work on the button pommel and the rings,
David L Smith
MSG (RET)
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Leo Todeschini
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Mon 12 Jan, 2015 11:57 am Post subject: |
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Thanks very much guys.
I like this sword too, very small and very handy in a very Roman way.
Roger Hooper wrote | Quote: | | The tang button is certainly unusual. Does its weight have much effect on the balance of the blade? I wonder if those rings have any function? It reminds me a bit of the ring that sometimes appears on Migration swords, though there can't be any kind of connection between the two types. Was there any date assigned to the original on which you found that button? |
I don't think the rings really have any function that I can see. Perhaps one ring may have had a purpose such as a lanyard or some such, but I can't see the reason for four. Symbolic perhaps? or maybe just pretty.
I am afraid that I was working from a package of information from my client; my knowledge of this period is a little sketchy and it works out better that I have a full information pack. The blade is at Leeds here http://www.royalarmouries.org/early-warfare/single-object/193
I have scanned back through our rather long correspondence and at first glimpse can't see anything, but I think either the rings or the blade was found at Mainz.
The blade and the rings are from two separate swords, but the blade is clearly of a 1st C Pompeii style save the tip. The client knows his stuff to the n'th degree, so I am certain the ring find would be contemporary to this.
I have posted up a picture of the original blade tip and a drawing of the full blade. There is also link to the ring here http://www.pinterest.com/pin/303359724874071225/
Tod
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Robert Mason
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| Posted: Mon 12 Jan, 2015 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Leo Todeschini wrote: | | The client knows his stuff to the n'th degree, so I am certain the ring find would be contemporary to this. |
Yeah, I wouldn't say that, but I do try my best. What this sword is trying to replicate is the weapon of the Herculaneum soldier. He and his equipment were fried by the eruption, and the sword is fused into the scabbard. By the profile it is of the "Pompeii" type so I asked Tod to use the Leeds/Guttman blade as a basis. The grip is based on the profile of the Herculaneum find, although there were bits of iron involved and the whole thing was probably covered in silver, which sounded unpleasant so I asked Tod to leave that off! Rings of this nature are found on the original, although they are typically found on Mainz-pattern gladii (e.g. https://www.academia.edu/1189962/Gladii_from_Dubravica_A_contribution_to_the_study_of_Roman_swords_on_the_territory_of_Serbia).
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David Lewis Smith
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| Posted: Mon 12 Jan, 2015 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you Robert:
I found this sword fascinating as soon as I saw it.
David L Smith
MSG (RET)
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Fabrice Cognot
Industry Professional
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This is a standard topic