Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Gladius Weight and Balance
#1
Ave,<br>
<br>
I have a cheap Gladius that I bought for $8 at a flea market. I realize that this is probably a piece of garbage, but I like it. Do any of you know how accurate this is in terms of size and proportions? How about weight and balance? This Gladius seems a bit tip heavy...<br>
<img src="http://www.geocities.com/alcreadia/Gladius.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
-Spatha <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=spatha190>Spatha190</A> at: 2/8/05 6:22 pm<br></i>
Reply
#2
Actually it doesn't look too bad, at least to me, though I'm no expert by any means. It sort of looks like an older Deepeeka model. <p></p><i></i>
Reply
#3
except the handle is better. I have to totally redo mine.<br>
<br>
I think a gladius is supposed to be tip-heavy. At least it would make sense. It isn't a fencing weapon, after all, it's for stabbing and slashing. <p></p><i></i>
Der Kessel ist voll Bärks!

Volker Bach
Reply
#4
Avete,<br>
<br>
Given that the Roman sword blades I've seen pictured have simply a long, thin tang, there's no way they could be balanced the way, for example, a Medieval sword with a solid pommel would be; that is, of course, unless the pommel of a Roman sword were filled with lead or something. One of the experts would have to answer to this question. Carlton is right anyway, balance is certainly important for a long weapon like a broadsword or a sabre, but I would suspect a light, short stabbing weapon like a Gladius wouldn't have nearly as much need for it.<br>
<br>
As for your Gladius, Spatha, mine was much the same- but I modified it based on real artifacts. It started out like this:<br>
<br>
<img src="http://img147.exs.cx/img147/3512/gladiia9wt.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
<br>
with all kinds of flaws- the black leather on the scabbard, its chape and locket, and I wasn't happy with the handguard, handle and pommel- so, I re-worked it all, and now it looks like this:<br>
<br>
<img src="http://img177.exs.cx/img177/9075/pompeiigladivsnew2a0md.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
<br>
It was a fair amount of work making the new parts and altering the brass hardware, but it wasn't that hard, wasn't terribly costly, and it makes a huge difference.<br>
<br>
Vale<br>
<br>
Matt <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=mattl@romanarmytalk>Matt L</A> at: 2/13/05 5:13 am<br></i>
See FABRICA ROMANORVM Recreations in the Marketplace for custom helmets, armour, swords and more!
Reply


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Scutum balance point Spartacus13 7 1,838 12-16-2014, 03:48 AM
Last Post: richsc
  Pompeii gladius weight question zlatev 3 2,813 02-10-2011, 05:22 PM
Last Post: pmel018
  Gladius balance Anonymous 10 6,652 01-13-2004, 04:59 PM
Last Post: Hibernicus

Forum Jump: