First try at a Xiphos

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Hello, very nice for a first try!
I have handled a number of originals and here are some specifications derived from those i have touched and those i have seen on museums.
For a sword of this type (it goes to the widest end) the blade tapers from about 6mm to 3mm near the tip. This makes the midrib in the widest part of the sword almost minimal. The thickness of the grip/tang is usually very small, as little as 2-3mm, even though some of them have a raised edge which adds structural strength and makes the tang look thicker from the side.
Total weight of all the swords i have handled, about 50-60cm long, is 400-500gr. This included a kopis (400gr), which was lighter than a xiphos of similar size (480gr). So much for the "heavy kopis" All these swords were in perfect condition, because they had been burnt in the funerary pyres. One of them even had a good amound of the ivory scales on the grip!
I would suggest that you grind the back corners of the guard, because all greek swords have them this way, instead of squared, which was a characteristic of Etruscan swords. Similar to the photo i have posted in this thread: http://www.romanarmytalk.com/70-product-...l?start=15
Also, if you have any excess metal on the grip, i would suggest forge widenning it a bit, especially in the half closer to the guard.

All greek swords i have seen have an iron guard, save for perhaps two or three that had organic guards, riveted on as one piece with the grip scales. None has ever had bronze elements on it, except for one sword that had small bronze rivets with semi-spherical heads. All other rivets were iron. No bronze scabbard pieces either, except perhaps for one found in Olympia, but i don't have the description of the photo from the book and i'm not sure. Wood, ivory, iron and maybe bone are all accurate though.
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Khaire
Giannis