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Battle Orders \"Roman Sparta\" sword
#1
Quite apart from the hilarious rendering of "spatha" as "Sparta", are these any good?

Not looking to spend vast amounts, for various reasons, and not necessarily after meticulous historical accuracy. I'm not a reenactor, it's complicated but basically I'm after something that doesn't look outrageously shoddy or out of place on a late Roman auxiliary cavalryman stationed in Britain, and that won't fall apart just because it's attached to somebody on a galloping horse.

Cheers

Dan
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#2
I haven't seen it, but was wondering about the Roman Spartans....
Any links or makers info?
Visne partem mei capere? Comminus agamus! * Me semper rogo, Quid faceret Iulius Caesar? * Confidence is a good thing! Overconfidence is too much of a good thing.
[b]Legio XIIII GMV. (Q. Magivs)RMRS Remember Atuatuca! Vengence will be ours!
Titus Flavius Germanus
Batavian Coh I
Byron Angel
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#3
Sparta Sword ;-)
This thread should rather be in marketplace, though...
Christian K.

No reconstruendum => No reconstruction.

Ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas.
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#4
Ah well, another of the blocked sites...
guess I will find out eventually!
Visne partem mei capere? Comminus agamus! * Me semper rogo, Quid faceret Iulius Caesar? * Confidence is a good thing! Overconfidence is too much of a good thing.
[b]Legio XIIII GMV. (Q. Magivs)RMRS Remember Atuatuca! Vengence will be ours!
Titus Flavius Germanus
Batavian Coh I
Byron Angel
Reply
#5
Looks a decent enough sword, but it doesn't look very late in style (either scabbard or pommel).
Paul Elliott

Legions in Crisis
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/17815...d_i=468294

Charting the Third Century military crisis - with a focus on the change in weapons and tactics.
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#6
Anything post Hadrian, you really want a sword with a slide on it, instead of those rings.
Paul Elliott

Legions in Crisis
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/17815...d_i=468294

Charting the Third Century military crisis - with a focus on the change in weapons and tactics.
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#7
Sorry, really should have put a link up! Wasn't sure which forum. Does anything related to buying kit go in the marketplace? I assumed that was if I had something I was selling or specifically wanted to buy. Got a gew more things I want opinions on so I'll put them in the marketplace.

Cheers

Dan
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#8
I think the (Indian?) vendor is confusing Sparta and Spatha....
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#9
You would need to rework the handle and scabbard. But the handle comes about easily.

The blade on the one I did was actually OK. It is still cutting cabbages for a friend several years later.
John Conyard

York

A member of Comitatus Late Roman
Reconstruction Group

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.comitatus.net">http://www.comitatus.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.historicalinterpretations.net">http://www.historicalinterpretations.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com">http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com
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#10
Quote:You would need to rework the handle and scabbard. But the handle comes about easily.

The blade on the one I did was actually OK. It is still cutting cabbages for a friend several years later.

How much reworking are we talking about? I'm not bad with leatherwork but carpentry and smithing are not my strongpoints...
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#11
Strip the fake leather cover and metal fittings from the scabbard. Re-cover the wooden core with leather, decorate the leather and paint it.

Take the hilt apart, discard the black metal handle, make a new wood, bone or horn handle, maybe reshape the wooden parts and reassemble.
John Conyard

York

A member of Comitatus Late Roman
Reconstruction Group

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.comitatus.net">http://www.comitatus.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.historicalinterpretations.net">http://www.historicalinterpretations.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com">http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com
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#12
And according to Mithras, put a slide on the scabbard rather than rings? Leather I can do. New metal slides: maybe!
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#13
Make a simple slide from wood or bone, fastened to the front of the scabbard using leather.

Here is the one I did a few years ago. Very simple.


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John Conyard

York

A member of Comitatus Late Roman
Reconstruction Group

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.comitatus.net">http://www.comitatus.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.historicalinterpretations.net">http://www.historicalinterpretations.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com">http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com
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#14
Or bronze slides are fairly cheap, I even have one spare you could have for free ... but, have a look around, you may find a late period spatha that needs no additional work.

Competitively priced 3rd and 4th c spathas can be found here: http://www.medieval-arms.co.uk/ma/action...sword.html
Paul Elliott

Legions in Crisis
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/17815...d_i=468294

Charting the Third Century military crisis - with a focus on the change in weapons and tactics.
Reply
#15
That is generous. A copper alloy slide would look good.

But I fear the blades/tangs on these Indian swords are often over-tempered, making the metal brittle. If you plan on cutting anything with the sword, especially on horse back, the blades/tangs on these swords will break. Cavalry swords in particular have to be fit for purpose.

But the scabbards can be re-worked and the fake leather covers replaced so they look OK to pose with. The fittings on the scabbards can be re-used, and I understand the wooden cores do fit Albion blades.

I fear there really is not a simple cheap solution when it comes to buying a late spatha. You need to base one on a decent blade, get a good sword from a group smith, or spend some money.
John Conyard

York

A member of Comitatus Late Roman
Reconstruction Group

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.comitatus.net">http://www.comitatus.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.historicalinterpretations.net">http://www.historicalinterpretations.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com">http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com
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