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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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?

I've never really been drawn to the gladius... until now. That has enough unusual features to capture my attention!

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.

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?

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... ;)

I am really impressed by the work on the button pommel and the rings,

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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Thank you Robert:
I found this sword fascinating as soon as I saw it.

Very, very nice. Well done.