12-30-2014, 02:02 PM
Sempronius Densus,
For those of us that don't have much experience with swords or metal working that seems completely incredible that they were as flexible as that.
Do those of you who know period sword making think that is an accurate description or is it likely to be exaggerated?[/quote]
What Phalon (c. 200 BC) wrote about is in line with time tested ways of getting a measurement for flexibility. Most swords are not purposely made stiff (mainly thrusting swords such as estoc or rapiers), so this level of springiness and flexibility would be the norm for well built swords and sabers throughout the ages. Flexibility of this type is absolutely necessary for a good cutting sword, and the various gladii were known to be cut and thrust swords with a well forward center of balance.
In the demonstration, Philon was describing the sword of the Keltoi, which I believe was their La Tene II (or III) long double bladed slashing style swords, versus Tony Drake's theory that the sword in question would be a kopis/falcata style, which had a much thicker spine in the rear of the blade that would have made this test harder to perform.
Nevertheless, the test as Philon describes it couldn't have been an exaggeration by my reckoning, if flexibility and springiness would have been real in the 200 BC time period, then that method described would have been a way to detect it. Now whether every sword could do that is a different story.
Some other examples of testing blade springiness:
Medieval style long sword
Another more elaborate method
For those of us that don't have much experience with swords or metal working that seems completely incredible that they were as flexible as that.
Do those of you who know period sword making think that is an accurate description or is it likely to be exaggerated?[/quote]
What Phalon (c. 200 BC) wrote about is in line with time tested ways of getting a measurement for flexibility. Most swords are not purposely made stiff (mainly thrusting swords such as estoc or rapiers), so this level of springiness and flexibility would be the norm for well built swords and sabers throughout the ages. Flexibility of this type is absolutely necessary for a good cutting sword, and the various gladii were known to be cut and thrust swords with a well forward center of balance.
In the demonstration, Philon was describing the sword of the Keltoi, which I believe was their La Tene II (or III) long double bladed slashing style swords, versus Tony Drake's theory that the sword in question would be a kopis/falcata style, which had a much thicker spine in the rear of the blade that would have made this test harder to perform.
Nevertheless, the test as Philon describes it couldn't have been an exaggeration by my reckoning, if flexibility and springiness would have been real in the 200 BC time period, then that method described would have been a way to detect it. Now whether every sword could do that is a different story.
Some other examples of testing blade springiness:
Medieval style long sword
Another more elaborate method
