Mainz or Fulham?

[Tiberius]

I just received my completed Mainz. Blade by Mark Morrow, hilt, pommel, and grip by Matt Lukes, and scabbard by Len Morgan. The blade measures 2.5 inches in width, and 21 inches from guard to very sharp point. My question, to be sure, is this. What is the exact difference between the Mainz and the Mainz type "Fulham?" (By the way, Mark and Matt, superior workmanship. Thanks again!)

Tiberius/Jeff
LEG~XX

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v734/ ... adius1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v734/ ... zgrip1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v734/ ... agina2.jpg

[Marcus Mummius]

Very nice sword and scabbard! Can I ask you how many you paid for that Fulham scabbard by Len?

[Tiberius]

The scabbard came with a Mainz gladius I ordered from Len for about $250 some four years ago. The problem was that the blade of the gladius was made out of cheap, unworkable steel. I sent the blade to Mark Morrow earlier this year with the instruction to copy its dimensions into a superior quality steel blade, which, of course, he did. The I sent it off to Canada to have Matt Lukes put on an appropriate pommel, grip, and guard, which he also did excellently.

If you want Len to make a scabbard to fit your gladius, I suppose you will have to send him a reasonable copy of your blade to insure a proper fit.
But I am sure that there are other skilled people closer to home who might accomodate you.

Tiberius/Jeff
LEG~XX

[Marcus Mummius]

That's a very good deal for such a fulham scabbard. Even if the original blade it came with was crap

I know Mark's and Matt's craftmanship very well. I have a pompei gladius and scabbard that was made by the joint forces of these two

As I live in Europe they aren't the closest sources but they deliver the best products for the best price. Well worth the higher shipping costs!

The difference between a mainz and a fulham blade by the way is that a mainz gladius has a pronounced waist while the edges of the fulham are almost parallel.

You can see this in this diagram (from Matt Amt's Legio XX site)

http://www.larp.com/legioxx/blades.gif

Your scabbard is the Fulham scabbard. Mainz scabbards were in most cases completely enchased in metal plates.

Kind regards,
Jef

[Matthew Amt]

Right, technically the Fulham type has parallel edges and is 2" wide, but flairs at the hilt to 2-1/4" or 2-3/8". The Mainz tends to be wider and waisted. But it's a fine distinction, and I believe there are blades that could go either way.

Great sword, by the way! Now all you have to do is bring it out to an event, eh?

Vale,

Matthew (Your Beloved Commander!)

[Tiberius]

I hope to bring it to a workshop! But you will see me in 2007. I promise.

Your loyal milite
Tiberius/Jeff
LEG~XX

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Nice sword and scabbard!

The fulham is a sword found in England, in the Thames. http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compa ... id=OBJ1233

It has a paralel sides blade, like a pompei, but his point it's longer, like a Mainz. Some call it "transitional type", but i think we don't must to make rigid clasifications.

The scabbard make by Len Morgan it's exactly the one from Fulham. The classic Deepeka's Mainz its based in that sword, but with many incorrections. You can use that sword in a Claudian impression, but probably at flavian time, too, thinking in a long perduration for such an object.

You says the original blade was made by a low quality steel. I think some of the steels used in roman swords not were of very high quality... :roll: