Find It Fulham Scabbard Re-Fit - Work In Progress

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Hey, now that looks pretty sharp! really unique!

[maius]

Damn, thats nice! Great job!

Maius/Bill

[Marcus Mummius]

Looks perfect!

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

It's a very good looking work!! Bravo!

But... I think were better in that kind of sword to use a complete frame with side guttering. I think there are one sword with the bottom palmettes and side guttering, so why don't try to put a side gutters and over the chape and the mouth. I think in that way will be even more beauty, and more historical accurate.

It's my opinion, of course...

[M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER]

It's a very good looking work!! Bravo!

But... I think were better in that kind of sword to use a complete frame with side guttering. I think there are one sword with the bottom palmettes and side guttering, so why don't try to put a side gutters and over the chape and the mouth. I think in that way will be even more beauty, and more historical accurate.

AFAIK, there are two Mainz type swords, featuring scabbards with this design on the bottom - the Porto Novo gladius from Corsica and the Rajkova-Mogila gladius from Bulgaria (plus one Pompeii type gladius from...Pompeii). Both Mainz type scabbards feature the ending piece that Barry so masterfully recreated, a palmette above it, side guttering, and metal plates covering the front of the scabbard.

[sulla felix]

Thanks for the comments!

Cesar - yes I agree that I am going a little bit out on a limb here! However, in my defence what I am trying to do with the scabbard is show the transition between Mainz (non-repousse) scabbards, and Pompeii scabbards. As Alexander points out the two known swords with the openwork chape design also have elements that most often appear on Pompeii type swords including the palmette(s). They also seem to have simple geometric punched locket plates. If you look at the cross section of the Porto Novo scabbard it does not really appear to have side guttering, but merely the front metal scabbard covering overlaps the rear covering. I did not think it too outrageous to substitute the metal covering with leather and not have "side guttering" along the entire length of the scabbard. But I have to say that even at this stage I have offered up into place some full length side guttering and have considered putting it on!

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

The guttering it's not only a question of estetic. The sense of put that metal reinforce is to avoid the point can cut the sides of the wooden sheath. The Pompei have less point and for that reason only the upper part is protected. The Mainz, Fulham and hispaniensis have a long point, so need a side guttering.

I have to congratulate you, again, for that master work and for choose an alternative style of sword, runnig away of the triada Mainz/ Fulham /Pompeii.

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

I'm seeing the Porto Novo pictures, and seems the sword have'nt side guttering: It have a complete metal plate covering, like some Mainzs swords, ant the back plate overlaps the front one. Over that thin plates it's positioned the chape and mouth piece in contrasting metal colour.

[M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER]

Cesar,

Could you please email me the pictures of the Porto Novo sword to kyrychenkoATlineoneDOTnet or direct me to them if they are online? Thank you.

I was basing my judgment about the guttering on the diagrams and photos from Miks. I now see you point, and I think I might have misinterpreted the diagrams. It is not quite clear to me yet whether the swords mentioned above had the guttering. Below are the diagrams and photos of the Porto Novo - what do y'all think?

[M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER]

And the Rajkova-Mogila sword:

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Alexander, those are the drawings i have. I have interpreted the white zones with little dots as remaining of thin metal plates. The pattern is the same as the chape and mouth piece are represented, so i guess is the same material.

And if you see the cross section depicted, it's ilogical and dificult to bend the wood in that way.

Mikks in his description says the same, but with interrogations, because probably he haven't saw the piece directly. He says is bronze, so probably not contrasting colours, and all the piece is gold coloured.

About the second sword, you can see some remaining of a metal plate under the suspension band and over the blade (black colour in the picture). Under the palmette of the chape, seems too litle remaining of plate.

I don't know why (fashion?) but the covering with metal plates were very popular for Mainz swords.

[M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER]

Cesar,

Thank you for your explanation. So, you think that the Porto-Novo sword's scabbard was fully covered with metal plates on the back (as well as on the front)?

[brennivs - tony drake]

Thanks for those pics Cvrvis It looks like they may have used a belt plate stamp on the wolf and twins on the Rajkova scabbard, Here is a compare of them both,

If any one has pics of the belt plate versions It would be interesting to see lol: It just does not seam it was intended for a scabbard too square, compared to the other ones like this found. :? lol:
Regards Brennivs

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Brennus, i always have thought that the belt plates and the Fulham sword are very similar. And, of course, both scabbards are quite similar.

Alexander, yes, i think the Porto Novo have both front and back plates, the borders of the back over the front plate. In this way, the scabbard is very similar (in conception) to another mainz scabbards.

The back piece folded and superposed to the the fron one are very used in celtic metal plate scabbards, and in some roman ones like this:

http://romancoins.info/milit-gladius-griff2.jpg

[sulla felix]

Cesar,

I have to admit I interpret the Porto Novo the same as you - metal plates front and back. I think it would be very interesting to see a reconstruction of this whole scabbrd one day and a blade that fits the scabbard.

Alexander - excellent pictures! The Rajkova-Mogila scabbard is very interesting indeed! At least now I can claim that my scabbard chape is based on an authentic finds (including the palmettes to the side guttering) . What dating is given to that sword in Miks?

I am just about to make the scabbard suspension pieces and what I find very interesting is that both the Porto Novo sword and the Rajkova-Mogila sword have seemingly identical designs for these which are quite unusual. They seem to be slighty triangular in section with a row of raised dots along the apex. Quite plain and a little easier to make too!