400 AD sword choice?

[John Conyard]

A close up picture of one of Stephen's pattern welded blades is on the Comitatus events page, for the Ryedale event earlier this year. I use it in a Germanic Type I hilt because it is a very long lived design. These were generally left as simple simple organic hilts, but were sometimes covered in silver or gold foil. An alternative hilt would be a generic simple spatha design. But you can vary the wood used in the hilt. I like walnut for "Roman" hilts, and ash, elm and birch in "Germanic" hilts. I use both designs, but vary the scabbards and sword belts depending on the dateline I'm representing.

Good luck with your design.