03-23-2011, 08:06 AM
Below are a couple of prototype reproductions of the early Alanic/Roxolanic sword mentioned by Tacitus. He was referencing an ice battle on the Danube in which the Roxolani lost, their swords "long and two handed." His description matches the swords I found illustrated on the Orlat Battle Plaque. They were either Chinese-built or Chinese-influenced. Here is the sword as it shows on the belt plaque:
[attachment=401]wusuncavalrysword010.JPG[/attachment]
The scabbard slide was an Altai Saka invention, then borrowed by the Chinese sometime between the 5th to 3rd century BC. I used a slide almost identical to the one pictured in the Ospray book, The Sarmatians. It carries three small jade stones:
[attachment=402]wusuncavalrysword012.JPG[/attachment]
The scabbards and grips of the two swords are ebony wrapped with lacquer-impregnated cotton, dyed natural brown. The grip check follows the Orlof plaque in design, a variation that first shows on bronze Chinese swords and then continues through the Han Dynasty and into the Three Kingdoms period. I gave it four Indic garnets:
[attachment=403]wusuncavalrysword013.JPG[/attachment]
The disk pommels differ on the two prototypes, one a medium jade with smaller jades in a "wheel" pattern, and the second a pinned 30mm stone. The sword blades are 22" carbon steel and 26" folded steel, both charcoal forged. After experimenting with both lengths, I'll probably go with a 24" blade on the final sword.
The "Wusun Cavalry Sword" has been my 2010 project, and I thank Kane Yang and the Longquan forge for making the blades and raw fittings. The swords were finished in my shop. The finished model will have a 40mm pinned jade on the pommel.
[attachment=401]wusuncavalrysword010.JPG[/attachment]
The scabbard slide was an Altai Saka invention, then borrowed by the Chinese sometime between the 5th to 3rd century BC. I used a slide almost identical to the one pictured in the Ospray book, The Sarmatians. It carries three small jade stones:
[attachment=402]wusuncavalrysword012.JPG[/attachment]
The scabbards and grips of the two swords are ebony wrapped with lacquer-impregnated cotton, dyed natural brown. The grip check follows the Orlof plaque in design, a variation that first shows on bronze Chinese swords and then continues through the Han Dynasty and into the Three Kingdoms period. I gave it four Indic garnets:
[attachment=403]wusuncavalrysword013.JPG[/attachment]
The disk pommels differ on the two prototypes, one a medium jade with smaller jades in a "wheel" pattern, and the second a pinned 30mm stone. The sword blades are 22" carbon steel and 26" folded steel, both charcoal forged. After experimenting with both lengths, I'll probably go with a 24" blade on the final sword.
The "Wusun Cavalry Sword" has been my 2010 project, and I thank Kane Yang and the Longquan forge for making the blades and raw fittings. The swords were finished in my shop. The finished model will have a 40mm pinned jade on the pommel.
Alan J. Campbell
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb