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+--- Thread: Gladius Hispaniensis. (/showthread.php?tid=22355)
Gladius Hispaniensis. - Gaius Julius Caesar - 03-27-2013
I have had a blade (2 actually)from Mark Morrow waiting to be hilted for several years now,
With expert guidance, I managed to botch this hilt together over a three day period.
It is a bit rough still, and while not as fancy as I would have preferred, it is functional, I think.
Once some final sanding and then oiling of the wood is done, I hope it will look ok.
[attachment=6816]521486_10151290614907132_1287802072_n.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=6817]299296_10151290617497132_591505680_n.jpg[/attachment]
Any thoughts?
Gladius Hispaniensis. - Robert - 03-27-2013
Yep, nicely done as it is an appealing simple design. There is precious little evidence for the early handle shapes. I know, as I am currently researching a handle for just that period for a very nasty Fontilet (Miks)I will be doing after I get a Falx finished. He doesn't "do" Hispaniensis, so some of the blades he calls Fontilet spatha's have all the makings of a stabbing sword.
The guard looks to be made of beech, what is the pommel made of?
Gladius Hispaniensis. - Gaius Julius Caesar - 03-27-2013
Thanks Robert. Both are the same wood. And yes, beech.
I was hoping to put a bit more design on it, but time gets away when you become absorbed in these things!
Still, simple, so no tears.....
This is quite a long blade, closer to spatha in length.
Gladius Hispaniensis. - Robert - 03-27-2013
Gladius Hispaniensis unfortunatly is not described in Miks as a type, but indeed I have also noticed these blades are longish compared to gladii of the Mainz variaty. Miks classes them as Fontilet spatha, I presume because of the blade length. But if you look at the point, it is also very much a stabbing sword. So it is no small wonder your Hispaniensis is a bit long. Is your blade based on any specific find?
I would go no further then perhaps adding a ring to the pommel and leaving it at that. Could you do us the whole sword with a yardstick to see the length :wink: ?
Gladius Hispaniensis. - arklore70 - 03-27-2013
Bryan,
I think it is very well done! Like Robert, I would like to fully see the blade as I bet its a real beauty.
Gladius Hispaniensis. - Gaius Julius Caesar - 03-27-2013
Yes, i did not see the word mentioned in the section with the hispaniensis, but they are easy to recognise. The Delos plus 3 - 4 others are shown on the one page.
It is also similar to another blade shown further on.
I would like to be able to post more pics, but I left it wrapped as I still have further work to do
on it.
If I had had te time, a more elaborate ring set up would have been preferable, but
as this was very much a learning curve, I was over cautious on much of the fabrication process.
I think the final peening was done as the time raan out.
Fortunately Owen was patient.
And excellent to see his work.
I'll see if there is a picture on Mark Morrows website to give an idea.
Gladius Hispaniensis. - Gaius Julius Caesar - 03-27-2013
http://02a045c.netsolhost.com/swordsmith/images/stories/roman/October%20sword%20photos%20015.JPG
I would say the blade shape is very much identical to this one, more or less!
Gladius Hispaniensis. - Gaius Julius Caesar - 03-31-2013
Hmm, I cannot edit my posts??
@ Robert, when you said add a ring to the pommel did you mean metal ring or a carved ring in the wood?
That had been the plan, but as I said, I was running out of time.
Possibly I will add it later. Also a second ring on the guard.
Gladius Hispaniensis. - Robert - 04-08-2013
Oh no, not metal! A carved ring in the wood is what I meant.
Gladius Hispaniensis. - Gaius Julius Caesar - 04-08-2013
I realised that after, but initially thought you were talking about the ring attachments on the peenblock (which I had originally considered, but left it to olate in the planning stage). 8-)