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I need advice,I have a bit of a problem. I can't decide which to get. I wan't somthing that is historically accurate. When It comes to falcatas I have read that the historical ones were always curved but I seen one that is slightly curved. I don't know much about this machaira except that Xenophon recommended it for cavalry. Here are the 3 items. WHAT IS MORE HISTORICALLY ACCURATE?
Machaira
![[Image: 500730.jpg]](http://www.kultofathena.com/images/500730.jpg)
Slightly curved falcata
![[Image: IP0862.jpg]](http://www.kultofathena.com/images/IP0862.jpg)
Curved Falcata
![[Image: 500062.jpg]](http://www.kultofathena.com/images/500062.jpg)
Please help.
Thank You
Anabasis
A.K.A. Michael the Thinker/Tinkerer
"Those who do not choose to see past the veil of lies
and accept the truth of the realities around them are doomed to
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Greetings Anabasis,
take a look
here
the Macedonian kopis varied slightly.
The second one I would say.....but there are others with more knowledge than myself... :wink:
regards
Arthes
Cristina
The Hoplite Association
[url:n2diviuq]http://www.hoplites.org[/url]
The enemy is less likely to get wind of an advance of cavalry, if the orders for march were passed from mouth to mouth rather than announced by voice of herald, or public notice. Xenophon
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Wow! I am going to look into this.
Thank You
Anabasis
Anabasis
A.K.A. Michael the Thinker/Tinkerer
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Hi Michael,
Plaese add you name to your signature - it's a rule here on the forum.
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hmmm there we go
Anabasis
A.K.A. Michael the Thinker/Tinkerer
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Dear friend the term machera is used loosely by Xenophon.
It does not necessarily means kopis.
If you plan to reanact a cavalryman then yoy need a long blade.
The 14 inch or longer xiphos in the market is historically accurate.
The traditon comes from the Mycenean that used long blades and the tradition was carrie to the aristocratic horsemen of the later era.
If you re-enact a footman, any of these exmaples you presented will do
Kind regards
Gaius Decius Aquilius
Unregistered
Stephanos,
I own #3 on the first post. How far does it go back? On one of the pics you posted on the Crete thread, as I recall I saw some Archaic hoplites with long straight swords that had a "T" shaped pommel. Still fretting over the proper sword for my circa 625 panoply.
LYKAON
(Ralph Izard)
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Ralf,
The kopis we have in Athens is dated roughly 600 B.C.
Some in Olympia are 10-20 years earlier.
The West Greek colonies were already establiished by the time you mention.
So even "spanish" type falcatas would be available to colonist hoplites and hoplites of seafaring/trading city states.
Remeber 7th century hoplties were mostly men of afluence.
Kind regards
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Stephanos,
Have you ever seen a strait falcata like number #2 before in Classical History?
Thanks
Anabasis
A.K.A. Michael the Thinker/Tinkerer
"Those who do not choose to see past the veil of lies
and accept the truth of the realities around them are doomed to
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Stephanos
I believe seen on on a vase painting I try and find it
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Thank You all for the Info, I have made my decision and I chose #3, can't wait to get it. Hey, would you happen to know what cleaner is the best for it? It's 1045 high carbon steel.
Thanks Again
Anabasis
A.K.A. Michael the Thinker/Tinkerer
"Those who do not choose to see past the veil of lies
and accept the truth of the realities around them are doomed to
suffer for all time" -Michael
Gaius Decius Aquilius
Unregistered
Ummm...
No 3 is shipped with a high polish and is not quite as sharp as it should be. I first thought there was some varnish coat on the surface. Then we had a rainy season and spots began to show. This is best cleaned with a Japanese volcano dust bag, and rice paper cleaning kit, as available from your local martail arts supplier. Clean a lot and do not cut yourself... I would have it sharpened first, by someone with expierience in this and who has the proper oils and stones. Like your local kinfe store where they have "Mountain Man" supplies. You can make the polish more authentic, that is less "chrome looking" by running some jewler grade 600+ grit paper over it followed by a 1200 grit paper that is sold on a stick like thingie. Or use a buffing wheel with Tripoli" wax and then red rouge.
The sheath is an odd affair with the back open between the two sets of suspension rings. You simply lift the sword up and out. I have no idea if this is accurate or not. I would reenforce the throat on both sides with a bronze strip. This is shaped like an ininverted 'L 'on some wall paintings. this gives a spring like rigity to the throat, and keeps the whole rig in place. Anywhere else you see examples of bronze decoration that might enhance the strength of the sheath I would do also.
LYKAON
(Ralph Izard)
who is suddenly under attack by Ramsese the Cat while trying to type...
