|
Spatha
Sept 14, 2009 20:30:15 GMT
Post by Eaglehawk on Sept 14, 2009 20:30:15 GMT
I'm looking to add a Spatha to my sword collection. So I am looking for any recommendations as to which one to buy or which ones are better than others?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Spatha
Sept 15, 2009 3:24:21 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 3:24:21 GMT
Albion is always a safe bet, though they apparently don't have any spathae currently in stock (pre order only atm). Closer to the typical SBG budget, the only one I'd really recommend as a serious user would be the Del Tin offering from KoA kultofathena.com/product~item~DT2040.htm (2-3 month wait). The only other ones I know of are the Deepeekas, which still have lots of unresolved QC issues.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Spatha
Sept 15, 2009 13:12:10 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 13:12:10 GMT
MRL marketed one as a Spath but I can't find a link to it anymore. The hilt was sorta cheesy looking but the blade itself looked sound. Anyone else seen this one? It was on the clearance rack at one point for $99 and that was the last time I saw one.
|
|
|
Spatha
Sept 15, 2009 14:15:58 GMT
Post by Eaglehawk on Sept 15, 2009 14:15:58 GMT
I see that John Barnett makes some nice looking swords in the UK and a Spatha is one of them. Has anyone had any experience with any of them?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Spatha
Sept 15, 2009 14:39:17 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 14:39:17 GMT
Message this guy traditionalarcherybows.com/ he is a member here. Although I haven't bought anything from him a believe someone said he was good.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Spatha
Sept 16, 2009 20:49:21 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2009 20:49:21 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Spatha
Sept 17, 2009 5:02:27 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2009 5:02:27 GMT
DSA makes a kind-of-spatha.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Spatha
Sept 17, 2009 15:09:54 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2009 15:09:54 GMT
Message this guy traditionalarcherybows.com/ he is a member here. Although I haven't bought anything from him a believe someone said he was good. His name is archerout on here...I bet he would do one; just ask him- maybe he'll make one based on the one Russell Crowe used in Gladiator...even though it was just an elongated gladius...but, that's essentially what a spatha is, no?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Spatha
Sept 18, 2009 13:22:35 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2009 13:22:35 GMT
Definitely get a hold of Chris/Archerout he has a few Gladius on his site but I'm sure could make you any kind of spatha you want.I own one of his Achilles swords and i love it.He is also extremely reasonable in his pricing also. traditionalarcherybows.com/
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Spatha
Sept 20, 2009 0:57:12 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2009 0:57:12 GMT
So was the spatha the successor of the gladius? I confess I don't know much about Roman Empire weapons, but this is the next type of sword I want to get.
|
|
|
Spatha
Sept 20, 2009 1:28:48 GMT
Post by Eaglehawk on Sept 20, 2009 1:28:48 GMT
As I understand it, it was originally an extended Gladius used by the Roman cavalry. The gladius was a good sword when used in tight formation, but as fighting in Europe became more malay, the longer sword was better. So as time went on the longer blade was used. And then according to some sources the Spatha was the predecessor of the Viking sword. I've seen pictures of a Spatha with parallel fullers running down the middle of the blade the round together at the bottom.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Spatha
Sept 20, 2009 2:58:00 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2009 2:58:00 GMT
Ah, I see. So the spatha is a cavalry sword. That means that the "quintessential" (sp) blade of the legionnaire is the gladius. The spatha was intended for a different type of soldier.
Roman horse soldiers were mounted infantry, for the most part, weren't they? They'd use the horses to move between points quickly, but they would dismount to fight. That's what I thought, anyway, but I'll be the first to say that I'm no expert in the matter.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Spatha
Sept 20, 2009 11:16:24 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2009 11:16:24 GMT
Roman cavalry was mostly Gallic and Germanic auxiliaries. These peoples were famous for their cavalry and Romans used that. They functioned as a real cavalry, not mounted infantry. And so the spatha was very likely modified version of their national germanic or celtic "longswords", not just a long gladius.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Spatha
Sept 20, 2009 13:40:43 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2009 13:40:43 GMT
|
|
|
Spatha
Sept 20, 2009 13:43:26 GMT
Post by Eaglehawk on Sept 20, 2009 13:43:26 GMT
True, some sources believe it came from a Celtic long sword and was adapted into the Roman army. Much like the Gladius some say originated in Spain (Gladius Hispaniensis). And some say of Celtic origin.
|
|
|
Spatha
Sept 20, 2009 13:58:46 GMT
Post by Eaglehawk on Sept 20, 2009 13:58:46 GMT
Actually this is not off topic, I asked the same question earlier. So far no one has weighed in with an answer. I did a little internet snooping and have not found any strong favorable reviews. One person said this: I have known John Barnett and his swords for many years in Edinburgh now, as he started off making and selling wallhangers to the tourist market in town. Since then he has expanded to having his patterns reproduced in India and selling on a larger scale. To be honest, his market is still firstly the tourist market, particularly those after a cheap souvenir sword. As such, his quality has improved over the years but the blades are still not primarily made for the swordsman. I could only expect it to be oversized and heavy. Cheap all the same, but you do get what you pay for in this game. And another said this: I have actually handled a couple John Barnett swords.... An Early Scottish basket hilt looked nice, from a distance. In the hand, it was overly heavy and poorly balanced. I would describe the sword's handling characteristics as awkward and clumsy. The single-hand Irish sword was better -- still a bit too heavy though, IMO. A Celtic Anthro-hilt leaf blade was also a bit on the heavy side. Handling was neutral. The Roman Spatha was the best handler of the lot. Fairly light and pretty well-balanced.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Spatha
Sept 20, 2009 19:35:26 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2009 19:35:26 GMT
Well, Celts (Celtiberians) lived in Spain at the time so both is correct.
|
|
|
Spatha
Nov 7, 2009 15:38:20 GMT
Post by Eaglehawk on Nov 7, 2009 15:38:20 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Spatha
Nov 7, 2009 19:48:53 GMT
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2009 19:48:53 GMT
Very cool! Of course, we expect a full review upon receipt. ;D
|
|