05-30-2013, 03:58 PM
That's very kind, I'm on the mend now settling my stomach with a bit of mashed potato for tea! Simkins mentions the scabbard too:
"the remains of the scabbard were removed by the finder ...however since the blade ... has suffered the worst corrosion approximately two-thirds of the distance from the shoulders, the scabbard was most probably of the Pompeii type, ie. a scabbard with separate locket and chape metals, with a length of exposed wood and leather sheathing in between, the latter giving the least protection to the blade in its centuries of burial."
"The hilt parts are all of elephant ivory. The guard is almost circular in plan, the slight oval being dictated by the section of tusk from which it was cut. The underside was recessed in the usual fashion: however, there is no trace of a bronze guard plate being installed and it mus be assumed a pad of hide or hard wood was used. The handgrip is not of the normal pattern, while the hexagonal section can be found elsewhere (Colchester Castle Museum) there are also 3 raised ribs in this case. It appears the grip was split slightly at the upper end when the hilt parts were mounted on the tang. Caused by driving wooden slips down between the tang and the ivory. To cover the fault a strip of tinned bronze was wrapped around the damaged area".
He goes on to say the ivory pommel was irregular, either badly drilled or a design feature to stop it blocking the wrist when sword held extended.
Thats all Simkins has to say on the sword now. Good luck Larry!
"the remains of the scabbard were removed by the finder ...however since the blade ... has suffered the worst corrosion approximately two-thirds of the distance from the shoulders, the scabbard was most probably of the Pompeii type, ie. a scabbard with separate locket and chape metals, with a length of exposed wood and leather sheathing in between, the latter giving the least protection to the blade in its centuries of burial."
"The hilt parts are all of elephant ivory. The guard is almost circular in plan, the slight oval being dictated by the section of tusk from which it was cut. The underside was recessed in the usual fashion: however, there is no trace of a bronze guard plate being installed and it mus be assumed a pad of hide or hard wood was used. The handgrip is not of the normal pattern, while the hexagonal section can be found elsewhere (Colchester Castle Museum) there are also 3 raised ribs in this case. It appears the grip was split slightly at the upper end when the hilt parts were mounted on the tang. Caused by driving wooden slips down between the tang and the ivory. To cover the fault a strip of tinned bronze was wrapped around the damaged area".
He goes on to say the ivory pommel was irregular, either badly drilled or a design feature to stop it blocking the wrist when sword held extended.
Thats all Simkins has to say on the sword now. Good luck Larry!
Paul Elliott
Legions in Crisis
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/17815...d_i=468294
Charting the Third Century military crisis - with a focus on the change in weapons and tactics.
Legions in Crisis
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/17815...d_i=468294
Charting the Third Century military crisis - with a focus on the change in weapons and tactics.
