Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Herculaneum belt etc by Hildebrandt
#1
With Jeff Hildebrandt's kind permission I am reposting his reconstruction of the Herculaneum sword etc. Make a good article for AMH, Jasper?



"It is based on the sword found with the "Herculaneum soldier," and the hypothetical reconstruction was designed by Dr. Robert Mason, of the ROM & University of Toronto.

"I forged the sword from 1045 steel and gave it a simple slack quench heat treatment. The blade was forge"d very close to final dimensions, so a bit of scale can still be seen on the finished blade. The hilt is fitted with a boxwood pommel and guard, both sheathed in silver, and a bone grip. There is a ring assembly on the end of the tang.

"The scabbard was made from linden boards covered in pigskin and then reinforced with embossed bronze plates (much of which was covered by silver medallions on the original). I also made a silver belt as a last minute addition. The soldier wore two belts, both bearing silver plates, and unusually, both with frogs.  The original belt appears to have had a different figurative scene in the centre of every plate, (or at least not much in the way of repetition) which would have been fun to attempt, but wasn't possible within the practical constraints of this project. "

[Image: 18791640781_2df3200524_c.jpg]
[Image: 18762796106_de2a310200_b.jpg]
[Image: 18601375700_c9ff1f9ddb_b.jpg]
[Image: 18601374320_133d9ce91d_c.jpg]


Read more: http://ancientreenacting.proboards.com/thread/1130/herculaneum-soldiers-sword#ixzz3qd7MhjAB
Richard Campbell
Legio XX - Alexandria, Virginia
RAT member #6?
Reply
#2
Superb work!
Reply
#3
Since completing the sword, scabbard and belt kindly posted by Richard, I have had a chance to recreate a set of silver vaginae catellis for the scabbard. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to photograph the medallions in situ, but I do have a few shots from before taking them to the museum:

[Image: 21980952524_f76673d745_c.jpg]
[Image: 22415771480_c1e43358ff_z.jpg]
[Image: 22415771610_7a953cb4df_c.jpg]

Thanks for looking!
Reply
#4
Very nice work all over, Jeffrey!
Reply
#5
Thank you, Martin! Compliments from a craftsman I respect are the kind I like best. Though I don't turn down praise from anyone. ;-)
Reply
#6
Brilliant workmanship Jeffrey......beautiful.
Phil McKay
Illustrator
www.philmckay.com
Reply
#7
Absolutely stunning.
Reply


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Recontruction of Belt from Herculaneum and Pompeii in 79 AD. Gaius Julius Caesar 134 34,018 07-24-2012, 06:09 AM
Last Post: Charlie
  Herculaneum soldier\'s belt munazio planco 20 5,521 03-20-2010, 07:42 AM
Last Post: jvrjenivs
  Herculaneum Soldiers Money Belt? marsvigilia 1 1,525 07-05-2007, 08:35 PM
Last Post: caiusbeerquitius

Forum Jump: