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We are trying to do a scissor gladiator, but we are bit confused with the odd shaped weapon that appears depicted on left arm (the armored one qith the crescent-moon blade).
First of all does it have a name?
Second, it appears to be a manica that covers all the arm and end in that weird blade. But my main concern is how is the blade secured in the arm.
Does it have a grip inside? Is it just welded to the bowl?
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That same sort of knife is still used by leatherworkers, and by some cooks. In Italian, it's called a "mezzaluna", IIRC, and a "head knife" in leather work. The leatherworker type is so sharp on the curve it's frightening.
I thought about it, and decided it must have had a "T" shaped grip inside the tube. Otherwise, it would be hard to get any force through it. And I suspect that hooked backside was sharpened, too, to aid in cutting through the net. Without that edge being sharp, it would get stuck more often than help.
Ars Dimicandi uses one of those. Anybody out there want to let us know how you did it?
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
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It would be very interesting to know how the crescent blade was really made, but i had already assumed that there werent any finds about it.
My question was really how do the groups depicting scissores do it.
I have seen a video of a scissor made by ars dimicandi and the scissor fighting style is very similar to the renascence sword and dagger style. The fighter would use a rapier and a "main gauche" dagger wich was used to parry incoming strikes. It is a very effectice style of combat but the main gauche like any other weapon has a grip.
If the crescent has a grip how is the hand gripping it? Like a dagger or like that hook that dock workers use to unload bags (dont know the name of it but the metal rod passes through the fingers when making a fist.)
But if the crescent blade was welded it would seem that the scissor might not have much control over it if he recieved a mighty blow.
On a side note i just realised how the crescent reminds me of a pirate hook, and started to wonder if scissores could be gladiators that had lost their left hand (perhaps in some sort of judicial punishment).
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I suppose - like David - that the Secutor took it on a T-handle. This style can be use by several daggers too (even the pugio!). With a more distinctive T-handle this Secutor-wappon has been very dangerous .....
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Patrik Pföstl
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As far as I know there are no images of a net armed retiarius so we cant assume that the knife was used to cut the net but ... it is a rasonable hypothesis, as most images of Retiari show no net.
There is one illustration which shows the knife and tube dropped on the ground so we can assum ethat it was gripped inside the tube rather than attached to the arm or corset.
Also we must be sware that they appear to have founght each other also.
Conal Moran
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Most depictions of retiarii show them at the end of the fight when the net is thrown. But there is one relief which was found in Chester and is exhibited today at the Saffron Walden Museum which shows the net in the hand of the retiarius.
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Quote:Conal:jt8ufl2h Wrote:There is one illustration which shows the knife and tube dropped on the ground so we can assum ethat it was gripped inside the tube rather than attached to the arm or corset.
Could you post that image here please.
I dont have a facility to post the image but it is in the Junkelman book Das Speil Mit Dem Todd.( please excuse spelling ) The Scissor has grabed the trident with his left hand and is using his sword/dagger offensively.
Conal Moran
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By the way: There is no prove just two hints that the gladiators with this weapon was named Scissor! There are just two text fragements speaking from a Scissor! On in context with a slave who is stripping dishes and named Scissor and a second where are listed several gladiator types. Among others the Scissor.
But of course the suggestion that the gladiator with this dreadful weappon was named Scissor seams to be obvious.
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Salve Patrik,
You were faster than me before Jasper could raise my limit of uploading pictures 8)
My text was referring to your scan 0003-1.jpg because that the one where the tube with the crescent blade is seen lying on the floor.
Vale,
