Hod Hill scabbard mouth

[Caballo]

Does anyone have a drawing or picture of the original scabbard mouth found at Hod Hill as per this reconstruction from Leg XX?

Really appreciate your help!

[Crispvs]

It is illustrated in Brailsford's original report on the Hod Hill excavations if you can get hold of a copy.

Crispvs

[Crispvs]

It is illustrated in Brailsford's original report on the Hod Hill excavations if you can get hold of a copy.

Crispvs

[Caballo]

Thanks, frater Crispus- pic found of that and the other Hod Hill finds.

I now have the prototype Hod Hill sword and scabbard- I'll bring it to the event on Saturday and then do a write up.

Pommel, handle, and hilt look good. "Blade grip" (below the guard) needs reducing in size, and the blade may be a bit long. The wood shape is conjectural, but works ergonomically, with the central metal oval's diagonal lines providing a grip. I certainly prefer it to the Manning Imperial version with the flat handle.

The scabbard needs some alterations- removal of guttering, addition of palmettes, changed chape etc, but now I have a model for the scabbard mouth which means that I can (hopefully) get the whole sword and scabbard replicating items found at Hod Hill- so giving the same time and place in terms of reconstruction.

Anyway, here is the reconstruction drawing from Miks (Studien zur romischen Schwertbewaffnung in der Kaiserzeit), and the latest prototype reconstruction which I have been developing with Suhel of Al Hamdd.

[M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER]

Does anyone have a drawing or picture of the original scabbard mouth found at Hod Hill as per this reconstruction from Leg XX?

The original of the reconstruction piece shown on the picture in your first post is not a part of the Hod Hill find, but of the Waddon Hill find (see Miks, B314.2, shown on the same page as the above diagrams of the Hod Hill finds).

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

It looks a nice replica!

I'm not sure about the two pieces of wood replicating the central metalic ring with a ridge protuding. I think probably were better to do simple cilindrical pieces of wood. I think so because there are some celtic sword with a central ridge in the handle, so the central metalic ring are maked to do that ridge, ant not to do a "anatomical" grip like roman swords.

http://www.sheshen-eceni.co.uk/images/c ... %20bm1.jpg
http://www.mnarqueologia-ipmuseus.pt/im ... 17197g.JPG
http://www.templ.net/pics-weapons/126-c ... 6-hilt.jpg

[Tim Edwards]

Are you 100% sure that find is for a scabbard?

It looks to me rather like a decorative plate to cover the guard of of a sword itself , which may have been misinterpreted in the sheath reconstruction.

It would then serve the same purpose as the decorative plate on the guard of your reconstruction.

I would double check to see if the original line drawings show it demonstrating either a narrow slit to accept the blade, or a broad slot for the tang.

Anyway, great work so far!!

[Crispvs]

Of course, if it is designed as part of a scabbard, it might be designed to mirror the decoration of the guard which rested on top of it.

Crispvs

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Very Nice sword reconstruction Caballo! This is a Roman sword designed along Celtic fashions?

[M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER]

Are you 100% sure that find is for a scabbard?
It looks to me rather like a decorative plate to cover the guard of of a sword itself , which may have been misinterpreted in the sheath reconstruction.

The drawing in Miks interprets this Waddon Hill piece as a part of the guard.

[Caballo]

Yes, Byron- identified by Stead as a native British sword strongly influenced by the Romans- and the find spots of this (and similar "cockade" pommels) strongly indicate a Roman military rather than native use. Mike Bishop also has this as a Roman auxillary sword, as does Miks. I'll do a full write up over the Bank Holiday and after the Chalfont St Giles event.

Cheers

Caballo

[Tim Edwards]

'The drawing in Miks interprets this Waddon Hill piece as a part of the guard.'

I'd make the same interpretation! (very bold of me...!)

I'd recommend looking elsewhere for scabbard fragments to copy, the gladius sheath at the start of the thread seems a little misinterpreted.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Are these going to be for sale?
I may be tempted to cross over to the dark side for this..... :lol: 8)
Assuming they make a decently weighted blade for it.... wink:

[Caballo]

That would be the plan- but quite a few modifications need to happen first....