Pugio Choice

[Chariovalda]

If you have money to burn, you might look here:
http://www.replik-online.de/en/eng/index2.html







Not cheap, and late Augustan / mid-1st century it appears (I'm no expert, just following the German text), but these guys does do real niello.

[Chariovalda]

Well, Caius Tarquitius, looks like we thought of the same guys...at almost the same time...(truly, great minds think alike!)
:mrgreen:

[caiusbeerquitius]

Right. This is the above mentioned Erik Lechl.

[Peroni]

Eriks dagger plates are actually silver inlaid rather than niello.

Regards,

[Crispvs]

Most of Erik's sheath plates are indeed silver inlaid but he will also do niello or enamel inlay if the buyer wishes. If anyone has a copy of Jurgan Obmann's book on dagger sheaths, there are some good photos at the back of reproductions by Erik, some of which are enamel inlaid.

Caiustarquitius,

"then this would be the right thing to start with."

No! It would not be a good thing to start with! As I said above, the terminal expansion on the sheath is completely wrong and the blade is an unrealistic mish-mash of misunderstood parts of all three main types of blade. I have not actually held one in my hand but Celer (AKA Julian Dendy) has and has told me that the decoration appears to be printed on and does not look realistic.

The right thing to start with would be a Len Morgan pugio, which is very reasonably priced by comparison with other things on the market and more accurate than most. While you are carrying that you can save up for one made by Godfrey Knight or save a little longer for one by Erik Lechl. Alternatively, you could be like me and go and talk to Erik himself and get him to show you how to do inlay yourself. Just a thought.

Regards,

Crispvs

[caiusbeerquitius]

Well, then I just thought wrong
On first view they seemed quite nice. But apparently you are right on the second look. However, the decoration is etched, not printed.
I have the same problem for the 3rd century, as the only available dagger, the one from Deepeeka, is crap.

[Crispvs]

Try Godfrey Knight. If you send him pictures of the dagger you want a reproduction of he should be able to do you a very nice job. I have never seen a bad piece of work by him and he is a very nice chap to deal with.

Crispvs

[Marcus Mummius]

What price would a Godfrey Knight pugio be? I know it'll depend on what you want but could you give an estimate.

Best regards,

[Matthew Amt]

Unfortunately, I don't think Godfrey is making Roman gear, any more. At least that's what he told us, and he asked to be taken off the Legio XX Suppliers page. Too bad, cuz he made us a couple nice daggers!

Valete,

Matthew

[Robert Vermaat]

Well, Godfrey thankfully still makes Roman gear, but not 'commercially', as he's retired and also likes to work on his old motorbike.