Wow...that turned out very nice! You are very luck to have that pugio. For many the search for an authentic pugio has two choices...custom or off the shelf. As of late the "off the shelf" pugios have left something to be desired..so it appears custom is the way to go. If you do not mind, what did you have to pay for this pugio ?
I got it at a slightly lower price than normal but that was because that was the first time he had ever made this type of pugio and scabbard and my guess is he will as for bit more the second time around. I would say you could expect to pay over $750.00 for it.
Mine was a gift from my wife.
That said, it comes with his guarantee of craftsmanship and that it is a fully functional pugio that will meet or exceed its original design specifications. Much like the gladius that he and Matt Lukes made, its a superior weapon with unreal balance that feels like an extension of your hand/arm.
As Mark and I learned, it is a rather complex pugio and scabbard to make when it came to the all the beading work as we learned that the best and easiest way to make it was to do it just like the Romans did. hock:
R/
Mike Daniels
a.k.a
Titus Minicius Parthicus
Legio VI FFC.
If not me...who?
If not now...when?
:wink: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" />:wink:
Martin, I was referring to the beading to process on the scabbard and hilt work. I need to look at my notes, which I am not sure where exactly they are at, at the moment, but essentially the beads on the hilt and scabbard are not repose work, but actual strips of beads that were then soldered on to the scabbard.
I am not sure if I am articulating that right, but I have had Matt Lukes and Ade Wink explain it to me in earlier e-mails.
Mark Morrow had thought there might have been a easier way to do this with modern tools and methods, which, did not work out so well for the first scabbard/attempt.
Hopefully I am a bit more clear than mud in what I am trying to explain.
R/
Mike Daniels
a.k.a
Titus Minicius Parthicus
Legio VI FFC.
If not me...who?
If not now...when?
:wink: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" />:wink:
I believe Mike that you answered it clearly. I too have been looking at this pugio and when you look closely, the beads have indeed been applied. Furthermore, the beads are not uniform rather they are slighly different in shape from one another. I wonder it they were not carved out of wax and then cast. Manually carving them would result in the variations.
"You have to laugh at life or else what are you going to laugh at?" (Joseph Rosen)