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+--- Thread: Early Alanic Sword Reproduction (/showthread.php?tid=18586)
Early Alanic Sword Reproduction - Alanus - 03-23-2011
Below are a couple of prototype reproductions of the early Alanic/Roxolanic sword mentioned by Tacitus. He was referencing an ice battle on the Danube in which the Roxolani lost, their swords "long and two handed." His description matches the swords I found illustrated on the Orlat Battle Plaque. They were either Chinese-built or Chinese-influenced. Here is the sword as it shows on the belt plaque:
[attachment=401]wusuncavalrysword010.JPG[/attachment]
The scabbard slide was an Altai Saka invention, then borrowed by the Chinese sometime between the 5th to 3rd century BC. I used a slide almost identical to the one pictured in the Ospray book, The Sarmatians. It carries three small jade stones:
[attachment=402]wusuncavalrysword012.JPG[/attachment]
The scabbards and grips of the two swords are ebony wrapped with lacquer-impregnated cotton, dyed natural brown. The grip check follows the Orlof plaque in design, a variation that first shows on bronze Chinese swords and then continues through the Han Dynasty and into the Three Kingdoms period. I gave it four Indic garnets:
[attachment=403]wusuncavalrysword013.JPG[/attachment]
The disk pommels differ on the two prototypes, one a medium jade with smaller jades in a "wheel" pattern, and the second a pinned 30mm stone. The sword blades are 22" carbon steel and 26" folded steel, both charcoal forged. After experimenting with both lengths, I'll probably go with a 24" blade on the final sword.
The "Wusun Cavalry Sword" has been my 2010 project, and I thank Kane Yang and the Longquan forge for making the blades and raw fittings. The swords were finished in my shop. The finished model will have a 40mm pinned jade on the pommel.
Re: Early Alanic Sword Reproduction - Ron Andrea - 03-23-2011
Very nice. What does the blade look like?
Re: Early Alanic Sword Reproduction - MARCvSVIBIvSMAvRINvS - 03-24-2011
Very nice ! i like the Chinese influenced crossbar !
M.VIB.M.
Re: Early Alanic Sword Reproduction - Alanus - 03-24-2011
Hello Ron and Marcus,
The Chinese-influenced crossbar or grip check is one of the big bones of contention on the Orlat battle plaque, aka the other RAT thread. I studied the artwork closely and identified it as popular between the Chinese Warring States period and the end of the Han Dynasty. It would match the Alanic/Chinese checks found in the Crimea and Kuban, so that's why I used it.
The limits of illustrating a post prohibited me to show the blade. It's a form close to the original "clamshell" battle blades popular on Han swords. I used an "eight-sided" blade as found on the museum sword of Emperor Wu Di:
[attachment=407]WSsword.6.JPG[/attachment]
The photo clearly shows how thick this blade is. It's massive. And here is a view of the tip, where you can see the layers of folded steel.
[attachment=408]wusuncavalrysword017.JPG[/attachment]
Re: Early Alanic Sword Reproduction - Alanus - 03-29-2011
Oh!
By the way, here are photos of the grips and pommels. I cracked the pinned-stone on the shorter grip, but the stone doesn't fall out. This is the sword I wear for my Alanic impression.:grin:
[attachment=508]wusuncavalrysword016.JPG[/attachment]
Maybe I slammed someone over the head with it during a battle I no longer remember.
[attachment=509]wusuncavalrysword015.JPG[/attachment]
After all, why should I remember! I'm an old fart!:lol:
Re: Early Alanic Sword Reproduction - Gaius Julius Caesar - 03-29-2011
That is a very nice blade! Can I ask who made it?
Re: Early Alanic Sword Reproduction - Alanus - 03-29-2011
Quote:That is a very nice blade! Can I ask who made it?
Hello, Byron
The 8-sided blade, or modified "clamshell" is available from several forges in Longquan, China. I would rather not mention the smiths who made my folded blades, since these are prototypes for a yet-to-be finished product. When I received the blades, they still smelled of charcoal. That was a refreshing and heavenly aroma in a world dominated by gas-burning forges. The blades are tempered exactly as they were 2,000 years ago. For an additional fee (not cheap), you can get a clay-tempered blade. These are forged at night so the blade-smith can see the correct color as he removes it from the fire.:grin:
These blades are about the same length as a Roman spatha, but they are narrower and thicker. Also far sharper than blades made in India. Indian blades made for reenactors are "tempered" in electic ovens, and half of them are not even straight. The Longquan blades also balance far better than a standard Indian-made spatha, which to me handles like a dead dog.:roll: