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LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS · 11-11-2004, 07:34 AM

Salve 
 
I have make a reproduction of the pompei sword of Mainz. 
 
www.geocities.com/avitianus/pompei.jpg 
 
<img src="http://www.geocities.com/avitianus/pompei.jpg" style="border:0;"/> 
 
I have aplied the decoration in strips soldered,, maked of thin brass. I have seen this method in the ermine's swords, and in a close look of the original ones, seems to be the method employed to obtain that lot of ridges. 
 
Now i have to put the suspesion bands, but i have very troubles to make the ridges. Any suggestion? 
 
VALE

Lucius Aurelius Metellus · 11-11-2004, 10:48 PM

Hi Lucius, 
That is absolutely gorgeous work! Outstanding! You have done a very good job. Lucius Aurelius Metellus, miles gregarius, Secunda Brittanica

11-12-2004, 08:53 AM

Lucius, I know two ways to do this. The first is to use a piece of brass that is much larger then the crossband itself, an you secure it to a big piece of wood with screws. Now it won't move while you work it and it is just matter of using hammer and chisel. 
The second way is much like the first, but in stead of using wood, you use a 'detaining substance'(don't know if it is the right word) available at the professional jeweler's appliances store. You don't need screws here, you just have to warm it up until it melts, pour it on a work surface and put your workpiece on it. When the substance cools down, it will become hard and your workpiece won't be movable. Now you can work it and when it is finished, just warm it up again and retain your workpiece. It's always best to start with a blank that is bigger then what you want to make, you can trim it to the right size later when it is finished. 
 
Success! 
 
Jurgen/Quintilianus

FAVENTIANVS · 11-12-2004, 12:32 PM

Master Avitianus is emerging as a new genius on ancient craft making, just wait few years and we'll all discover a new dimension in re-enactment.

Daniel S Peterson · 11-21-2004, 11:54 PM

Lucius, 
A very nice replica. Congratulations. When I first saw this sword in the Mittelrheinisches Landesmuseum (loaned from the collector who found it), I seem to recall it also had two wide cupric alloy bands around the undecorated middle part. They seem to have vanished later on, but I believe they were authentic to the original. When everything is unpacked I can see if I have those photos. 
 
Did you also duplicate the unusal tear drop armor piercing point of the original? 
 
As you know this is an extremely narrow, light and petite gladius, much better suited for true fencing than hacking. The style is uncommon, though I have a nearly identical blade recovered from the Danube. 
 
Dan

11-23-2004, 06:17 AM

Ave, 
 
Your craftsmanship is beautiful indeed. I can't wait to see a picture of the finished item. 
 
My friend Julius uses a machine vise that has a groove in it, on each side and a piece of square steel rod that fits in the goove. Then he places the brass in the vice and sets the steel rod in so when he tightens the vice, it crimps a ridge. Then he moves it to the next ridge. He uses the same technique to make the band that goes around the scabbard, and for the verical gutters. Using this method he makes straight strips, which he bends to shape, solders the ends together, and nails on. 
 
Vale, Florentius

LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS · 01-20-2005, 04:19 PM

Well, the sword is yet finished. 
 
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/avitianus/mia.jpg" style="border:0;"/> 
 
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/ ... us/mia.jpg
 
Now, i'm working in fix some troubles at another one, based in a exemplar from Valkenburg 
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/avitianus/losdos.jpg" style="border:0;"/> 
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/ ... losdos.jpg
 
Thanks all for your words and tricks. Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=luciusalfenusavitianus@romanarmytalk>LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS</A> at: 1/20/05 5:21 pm

01-20-2005, 05:25 PM

Very nice, Lucius! You conquered those cross bands after all, hey? 
 
Jurgen/Quintilianus

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