Mainz gladius scabbard

[Caius Titius Verus]

Hello there,

I was wondering, everywhere I look I see these mainz scabbards completely made out of "messing". Is this the only type of scabbard recovered? For on this example "Binsveld" used a wooden one only decorated with messing, or do my eyes cheat on me...

http://www.binsfeld-replikate.de/pix/Gladius3_kl.jpg

Anyone know if there is any evidence for this? Or did he just misplace the name on his site?

Best regards,
Caius

[Celer]

Salve,

'Messing' means brass. I think this was a pretty generic material for Mainz sword scabbards, though, as I know of a couple of Pompeii-type scabbards that were made from iron (such as Segontium), there is no reason to suppose that Mainz-type scabbards were not as well. Maybe other members of the forum have more info.

Vale,

Celer.

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Hello,

The scabbard of your link is based in one make by the Markus Junkelmann armourer (M. Junkelmann, Die Legionen des Augustus, taffel 52)

Junkelmann says that is hypotetical:

"es sind wohl auch einfachere scheiden vorgekommen, die keine groBflächige Metallverkleidung besaBen und deshalb im Fundgut nicht nachweisbar sind. Die Schwertscheide unseres signifer ist die hypotetische Rekonstruktion eines solchen Typs" Junkelmann, 183.

You can find some mainz swords make of brass side guttering, and another wits silver or brass plate, with or without decoration.

The decoration can be made by repousse, with some propagandistic messages. One kind of sword of that type is the Fulham sword, and many recovered at germany.

Sword of that type:

http://www.exploratio.org/image_databas ... P5080a.jpg

http://www.exploratio.org/image_databas ... 031_29.jpg

[url:330qyzvh]http://www.romancoins.info/a-2005-sword%20(10).JPG[/url]

Another type have plain plates with a chape and "mouth" decorated with opus interrasile (brass with some pierced decoration)

Swords of that type:

http://www.exploratio.org/image_databas ... gp3091.jpg

[url:330qyzvh]http://www.romancoins.info/a-2005-sword%20(9).JPG[/url]

http://www.romancoins.info/milit-gladius-griff2.jpg

http://www.rom-museum.de/Grafik/13.jpg

Probably there were some more simple swords, but is dificult to say what of the more simple fragments have belong to a Mainz sword.

But i think brass, or copper alloy, is the metal used more usually. I don't know scabbards frame of iron for that kind of sword.

[Caius Titius Verus]

Thank you Both!

( I didn't quit know if messing had a meaning in english too...apparently not ;-) ) )

But if I get it right the only scabbard found, clearly associated with a Mainz gladius, is the totally consisting out of brass repousse scabbard? So a reproduction would best be such a scabbard?

Best regards,
Tom

[Matt Lukes]

Salve Tom,

No, there are a number of artifacts associated with mainzensis/ fulhamensis swords besides the one with the wolf and twins/ acanthis vines plates- the so-called Sword of Tiberius is one, and I have images of a number of others. If you give me your email address, I can send you what I have and we can discuss which you might want for your scabbard

[Caius Titius Verus]

Hehe thanks Matt!

my adress is: tom.pinceelatstudent.kuleuven.be

Best regards,
Caius

[Dean Cunningham metalsmim]

Are there any books or online info with good pictures or line drawings of scabbards? I want to finally finish my own redo of a mainz gladius from some parts I came by years ago.

[brennivs - tony drake]

Dean it depends on what type of finish you want :?: guttering,reposse ect
http://www.romancoins.info/MilitaryEqui ... ttack.html
They are some on this site.
Regards Brennivs

[Dean Cunningham metalsmim]

I'm not sure what I want yet but I've seen that site and it doesn't have details. I have a detailed drawing of a couple of the scabbards on this site but I don't think they are for the Mainz type blade rather the fulham type blade. I would rather have something plain but there appears to be nothing plain I can find for the mainz type blade(wide scabbard)

[brennivs - tony drake]

Dean now I now what you are after I have a lot of scanning to do so I will send what I have that is plain.
Regards Brennivs

[Matt Lukes]

I'm not sure what I want yet but I've seen that site and it doesn't have details. I have a detailed drawing of a couple of the scabbards on this site but I don't think they are for the Mainz type blade rather the fulham type blade. I would rather have something plain but there appears to be nothing plain I can find for the mainz type blade(wide scabbard)

The 'Fulham' is a Mainz actually Tom- I think some consider it a subtype, but I don't honestly see it as anything more than a standard mainzensis, all its characteristics falling nicely in the range for the type. In fact, side-by-side it looks little different from the 'Tiberius'.

Working from a good photo of the Fulham blade printed out at life-size, I can find a distinct waist on one side. The other does appear fairly straight-edged, supposedly the distinctive feature of the 'type', but that seems to be simply because the portion on that side where the edge widens again just beofore the point taper begins is just gone. It's clearly present on the other side, so I'm not sure just how the idea got started that it's its own type. If you look down the length of the blade at a shallow angle, the waist is definitely there, and it's no narrower, at the guard end than an the 'Tiberius', an admitted mainzensis type blade.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I reckon it just saw more use than other finds, and perhaps was sharpened into a non-standard shape through long useage! That has always been my impression Matt. Basically.....