Baldric

[Peter Raftos]

I must admit some confusion here. I thought the xyale was a spear shaping tool with a curved blade ( See this lovely Czech reproduction
[url:3tmym0x0]http://www.livinghistory.cz/images/uploads/lakedaimon2005_10_06/lakedaimon5.jpg[/url] )

and the Spartan xyale was larger than those from the rest of Hellas. But the laconian xiphos / Spartan short sword was considered encheiridion / dagger type affair. Again a lovely example from the Czech site based on the Osprey photo.
[url:3tmym0x0]http://www.livinghistory.cz/images/uploads/lakedaimon2005_10_06/lakedaimon1.jpg[/url]

I'll find the Osprey image for comparison.