Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2010 6:55:29 GMT
Hello SBG Sword Forum! (as my mozilla firefox window tells me) Being a gladius fan, i couldn't help but notice this particular beauty: www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=ZH212A&name=Roman+Gladius+HispaniensisIt seems to have no manafacturers name, but I like the look of the blade, not so much the hilt, so I was wondering If anyone had an experience with this blade, and if so (or even if not) it would be a practical idea to modify the hilt of the gladius into a more Roman style version, a mainz replica? (albeit with a massive ricasso)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2010 6:58:32 GMT
The blade form would be too incorrect to make into a gladius, in my opinion. I am not sure of the manufacturer, but I'd be concerned about the size of the tang looking at the diameter of the grip. They have it labeled 'combat-ready', but without a manufacturer given, I'd be very skeptical about it - especially selling at less than $70.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2010 20:53:56 GMT
im just depressed that there isnt any very nice historically accurate gladius sword out there for the sub 300$ market it seems like everyone out there has a design issue and the ones that make the grade are discontinued or backordered forever
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2010 21:11:50 GMT
i just hope vendors start listening and up the level of swords they produce and eliminate the waste like all the goodies and concentrate on the blade and the fittings and less on the fluff
|
|
|
Post by Kilted Cossack on Apr 25, 2010 22:29:04 GMT
i just hope vendors start listening and up the level of swords they produce and eliminate the waste like all the goodies and concentrate on the blade and the fittings and less on the fluff That's already taking place! In the last couple of years, Hanwei has been working with Tinker on the Hanwei/Tinker line, and Valiant Armoury has been working with Christian Fletcher and Angus Trim----both companies are driving the market forward. Admittedly, my impression is that the H/T line is mostly about a superb blade that needs a touch more sharpening, and plain-ish fittings. Oddly enough, the one new VA blade I don't particularly care for is the Actium. Somehow the fullers take away a couple of points, and the overall shape just doesn't trip my trigger (so to speak).
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2010 23:06:56 GMT
The Actium has a really, really, really large pommel. I had one, but the more I used it, the more I learned not to care for the pommel. I am itching for a new Albion Fulham now....
|
|
Dom T.
Member
Success, depress, ambition. Progress, regress, recognition.
Posts: 766
|
Post by Dom T. on Apr 25, 2010 23:44:01 GMT
I was kinda interested in getting the ol' VA Praetorian. They seem to have been outta stock just about everywhere for the last coupla months though. Not quite the historically accurate type, but for some reason the more I looked at it, the more I liked it. Though I think I'd like mine (if I were to get one) I'd want it to have one with the wood more consistently dark, like the one in Paul's old review. Don't quite like the light blotchy spot that's on the guard here: Seems to me that macassar ebony does that pretty often though. Or at least in my experience with swords. Had a Gen 2 Celtic once, and it had a sorta light blotchy area covering nearly half of the handle. Bleh.
|
|
|
Post by Kilted Cossack on Apr 26, 2010 19:01:07 GMT
I'll bet that, if a fellow was halfway handy at woodworking, and could assemble the "fiddly bits" (aka pommel, grip and "guard") himself, following the Legio XX instructions, that John Lundemo could whomp him up a super-fine gladius blade for not too much.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2010 23:50:15 GMT
thats my point the gladius is such a simple design and vendors mess it up trying to add there own touch to it whether it be a fuller or a large pommel then they inflate the price i havent seen a vendor yet besides albion that has got it dead on with the design and there prices are out of the range we try to stay in the basis of this forum was to review sub 300$ swords and weed them out and lately those prices have been climbing so i put a challenge out there to all the vendors make a historically accurate gladius battle ready and stay within the price range of $300 peened not threaded they didnt have hex keys the blade can be folded diff/tempered or mono as long as its sharp out of the box and the fittings match real museum pieces personally i dont think it can be done
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2010 23:50:45 GMT
this should open up a can
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2010 23:52:00 GMT
and i know deepeeka products are accurate but far from battle ready by modern standards
|
|
|
Post by Kilted Cossack on Apr 27, 2010 2:22:36 GMT
The Actium has a really, really, really large pommel. I had one, but the more I used it, the more I learned not to care for the pommel. I am itching for a new Albion Fulham now.... Eh, you wretch! Albion Tiberius is the only way to go. (I'm kidding! I play a smart-mouth punk on the internet, but I'm really a sweet guy. I'm not pompous, I just pretend.) Edited to add: AHEM! Yes, I have shown my butt ONCE AGAIN! I had not realized that the Tiberius is, indeed, a Fulham type gladius by Albion, and abjectly salaam in your direction, begging to be spared opprobrium.
|
|
Dom T.
Member
Success, depress, ambition. Progress, regress, recognition.
Posts: 766
|
Post by Dom T. on Apr 27, 2010 2:45:12 GMT
Odingaard will zap you with lightning from his fingertips. Just you wait.
|
|
|
Post by torawashi on Apr 27, 2010 2:47:46 GMT
On the topic of Gladius Hispaniensis, check out the Hanwei "Roman Gladius". It's billed as a Mainz type, although it's not, the blade's too narrow, but it's nearly perfect as a gladius hispaniensis. take a look at the blades in the images below. the drawing is from a historical website that is long gone from my memory, unfortunately, and the other pic is, of course, the Hanwei offering. I have this sword and when I received it I was disappointed in the dimensions of the blade, so I did some research and discovered that, while it is not an accurate representation of a Mainz pattern blade, it is a rather close facsimile of a Hispaniensis. As far as a Mainz in the sub $300. range, I have the VA "Praetorian" and it's a good gladius and the blade is spot on for a Mainz. I know, I know, some have said the hilt is questionable but who's to say a Legate or Tribune could not have had a custom sword made with bronze rings between the grip articulations? the pommel is accurate as is the boss (guard) and the sword is nicely balanced and and "factory" sharp, sharp enough to cut your finger ( I have bled on most of my blades ). It's comfortable to wield and I believe someone did a review on SBG with a cutting vid. the scabbard is not historically accurate; it's all leather but attractive as it closely follows the shape of the blade. EDIT: the Praetorian has a peened pommel while the Hanwei has a pommel nut (which I believe is actually more historically accurate) and both swords are sub-$300. Roman Gladius Blade Types Hanwei Roman Gladius VA "Praetorian"
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2010 12:31:58 GMT
Nut can't be historically accurate for a roman sword. They can only make a nut in the shape of a peen block used on gladii so that it looks accurate...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2010 14:08:10 GMT
The VA fails on details like all the others in this price range. The brass plate at the bottom of the guard should be smaller and set into the guard, not full width of the guard. That's just one issue. It's a pity no one makes an accuarate cutting sword in this price range, they'd fly off the shelves.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2010 20:36:06 GMT
exactly every one out there has something or another wrong with it its crazy especially when you can get a katana in every color and style you can think of
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2010 20:38:18 GMT
something as simple as a gladius and im going do broaden my complaint to most ancient swords are very poorly replicated i mean come on people if we all can see that why cant the vendors dont any of them have museums or computers by them
|
|
|
Post by torawashi on Apr 27, 2010 21:17:51 GMT
something as simple as a gladius and im going do broaden my complaint to most ancient swords are very poorly replicated i mean come on people if we all can see that why cant the vendors dont any of them have museums or computers by them True; Could that possibly be telling us something about the market? Maybe the market for ancient sword re-creations is not as strong as Katana, for example. I'll bet if the public were clamoring for ancient swords, the manufacturers, other than Albion and the custom guys of course, would get it right! Jim
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2010 23:37:24 GMT
you would think so with the popularity of rome the series, gladiator, spartacus blood and sand, you would think all of these shows woudl generate more interest i mean really how many shows have been around involving samurai one maybe two i can think of
|
|