Deepeeka Tiberius Gladius: Sword Review
Sept 14, 2016 2:12:51 GMT
Post by Gregory P. on Sept 14, 2016 2:12:51 GMT
Note: All photos are attached at the end of the review.
Introduction
For some time, I've been looking for a Maintz gladius, but not finding anything in the market that i could get too excited about. Some are lovely but very pricey. Some are just not in stock - anywhere. Some look really cheap. Some are blatantly a-historical. Some have plastic grips.
I prefer the Maintz to the Pompeii - simply because i find the blade shape to be more pleasing. I knew wanted my first Gladius to be..
A) Affordable
B) Well Built / Battle Ready
C) Reasonably Historically Accurate
Deepeeka's Tiberius delivers pretty well on most of these points.
- At $280 US Shipped, it's affordable - for me.
- It's well-built -- But i hesitate to call it battle ready.
- From what i can tell, it's mostly historically accurate.
Historical Overview
From Wikipedia:
"Mainz Gladius: Mainz was founded as the Roman permanent camp of Moguntiacum probably in 13 BC. This large camp provided a population base for the growing city around it. Sword manufacture probably began in the camp and was continued in the city; for example, Gaius Gentilius Victor, a veteran of Legio XXII, used his discharge bonus on retirement to set up a business as a negotiator gladiarius, a manufacturer and dealer of arms.[17] Swords made at Mainz were sold extensively to the north. The Mainz variety is characterized by a slight waist running the length of the blade and a long point. Blade length ~50–55 cm (20–22 in). Sword length ~65–70 cm (26–28 in). Blade width ~7 cm (2.8 in). Sword weight ~800 g (1.8 lb) (wooden hilt)."
Deepeeka's Tiberius is based on an actual gladius found in Mainz. And from what i can gather, it's this very sword which provides the name 'Maintz' to this style of gladius. So this sword isn't just any Maintz gladius. It's THE Maintz gladius!
Great Photos of the original Tiberius Gladius and scabbard can be seen here...
www.romancoins.info/MilitaryEquipment-Attack.html#Hisp
Full Disclosure
I purchased this sword at full-price from KOA. I am a customer - that's all.
I am not a backyard cutter. But if i had a backyard, i would be. I do, at times menace helpless cardboard shipping boxes.
I have been collecting swords for just under a year. And, while Ive learned a lot, there is much more i don't know.
No Goths, Visigoths, or Vandals were harmed during the writing of this review.
Initial Impressions
My initial impressions can be seen here...
sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/48827/gladius-deepeeka-tiberius-updated-photos
...and are repeated here..
• Fit & finish of blade could be better. It has an asymmetrical profile - ie: one of the 'shoulders' of the point is about .75 inch out of alignment with the other. At first this really bothered me. Now not so much. If i do decide to keep it, i may try correct this, when i put an edge on it.
• Blade could be a bit more narrow in the waist. Again something that could be done without too much trouble i think,
• Guard, Grip, & Pommel are solid and properly aligned.
• Grip feels a bit skinny, and one can only imagine the even skinnier tang inside. Doesn't seem robust enough for heavy cutting. But would probably be fine for thrusting at light targets.
• Though i have yet to unwrap it, the scabbard appears to be very well-executed - fit for a high ranking officer. In fact, the scabbard looks too nice for the gladius itself - which seems more humbly suited to a lower ranking officer or common soldier.
• The blade has a nice clear ring when tapped with something solid.
Statistics
These are my measurements for the Tiberius:
Weight: 2lb, 2oz. / 955g
Overall Length: 29.5" / 736mm
Blade Length: 22.375" / 568mm
Blade Width: 2.75" / 70mm
Blade Thickness 4.4mm at guard / 4.5mm at COP / 3.9mm at 1" from tip
Handle Length: 7.25" / 184mm
Grip Length: 3.625" / 93mm
Guard Width: 4.25" / 101mm
POB (Point of Balance): 5.5" / 140mm
COP (Center of Percussion): 14" / 355mm
Components
The Blade — The blade is big. At over 22", it's longer than most gladii on the market, yet within historical range. It's also wide - 2.75" / 70mm. It has a flattened diamond cross section with a central ridge that runs the length. This ridge is adequately defined - but could be crisper and straighter. The blade is 4.4mm thick, with virtually no distal taper. I don't know if this is historically accurate or not.
In addition to the asymmetric profile mentioned above, the point section of the blade seems unusually long at 9" - or 40% of the blade length. Most Maintz reproductions have a shorter point section, though, again, I'm not sure which is more accurate.
The mid section of the blade could be more narrow - to accentuate the 'wasp-waisted' profile of this type.
All in all, the blade lacks refinement. But with the generous amount of steel Deepeeka provides, there is something to work with, if someone wants to make a project of re-profiling it.
At some point, I think I will even up the shoulders, make the waist more narrow, and sharpen the lower half of the blade.
The Grip — The grip, guard and pommel are all carved from the same type of blonde-colored wood. Coming from India, I'm guessing it's sandalwood. The grip has a round cross section. And at generally under an inch in diameter, it just feels too skinny - even for my medium size hands. However, it is solid and free of defects. As mentioned, it just doesn't feel robust enough to hold up to heavy cutting on hard targets. I could be wrong though.
The Guard & Pommel — Like the grip, the guard and pommel are solid, and well executed. They are each accentuated by a raised double bevel around the circumference. This is a nice touch you don't often see on reproductions.
Unlike the grip, the guard seems to be overbuilt. It's wider than necessarry, and it feels kind of clunky - especially paired with the anemic grip. However, the inset brass face-plate on the guard is flush and tight. Deepeeka's even added a ding or two to the brass for that authentic battle-worn look. :-).
Not a lot more to say about the pommel. I do think that the brass nut assembly is very attractive in a simple way. It actually looks like it's been peened. I haven't tried to disassemble it.
The Scabbard — The scabbard is probably the main selling point of this reproduction - at least for re-enactors. And the scabbard is probably the reason this particular Deepeeka model is about $100 more than most of their other gladius models. And they really have done a remarkable job of replicating the original scabbard - down to the finer details. See the linked photos for comparison ( www.romancoins.info/MilitaryEquipment-Attack.html#Hisp ). In addition, the scabbard is quite sturdy and it fits and retains the blade very well. In fact, it's so snug, i can shake it upside down, and the blade stays put with zero wiggle
Handling Characteristics
Between the narrow grip, and large guard and pommel, one is very much locked into the hammer grip and only the hammer grip. This takes a bit of getting used to, and doesn't really feel ergonomic - as it limits one's range of motion - especially for anything other than thrusting. But hey... it worked for the Legions - so who am i to second guess. That said, the Tiberius - with all that steel hanging out there - does feel like a blade that wants to chop and hack as well. But the handle assembly definitely wants you to thrust at your foes.
Test Cutting
The blade is unsharpened at this time, and i have not done any test cutting. I have dealt some cruel uppercuts and hooks to some invading cardboard boxes - and the Tiberius delivered those blows with a lot of impact and authority. I would not want to be on the receiving end.
Conclusions
As is often the case with swords in the sub-$300 price range, the Deepeeka Tiberius is a mixed bag. It has some impressive features, yet somehow, the constituent elements fail to come together and create a truly cohesive whole. An impressively scaled blade is not fully realized due to sketchy geometry and finishing. An overbuilt guard is joined with an anemic grip. An elaborately detailed scabbard is paired with a rather humble looking sword.
Yet, despite its idiosyncrasies, Deepeeka's Tiberius does convey a certain feeling of authenticity. When i look at it, when i handle it, it gives me a glimpse at what a genuine Maintz gladius would have been like 2000 years ago. This, for me, is a big part of why I love sword collecting.
Pros
- Scabbard - Very well executed in terms of historic accuracy and construction.
- Blade length. At over 22", this might be the longest Maintz on the market currently.
- Appearance: it may not be what I'd call beautiful - but the sword is aesthetically pleasing in a rugged way.
- Price: while pricey for a Deepeeka, it's still affordable and cheaper than many other options in the marketplace - many of which don't include scabbards.
Cons
- Blade geometry and finish - a bit rough.
- Thin grip - doesn't feel robustly battle-ready.
- Some disconnects in terms of overall design.
The Bottom Line
At $280 shipped, unsharpened, it's difficult for me to fully recommend this sword at it's current price. If it were around the $200 mark, i think it would be a great score.
With the aforementioned caveats, I'd recommend the Tiberius to the re-enactor looking to add an impressive focal point to their kit.
For the backyard cutters, I'd say that there may be sturdier, or at least cheaper options available. I could well be wrong with my reservations about the durability of the grip and tang. I'd love to be proven wrong.
Would i buy it again, knowing what i know now? Yes i think so. When i first received the Tiberius, i was ready to send it back. In the week since then, it has grown on me, and i can honestly say that i do like it. It's my first gladius, and as such, it holds an honored place in my collection.
This has been my first sword review - of my first Deepeeka, and my first gladius. Thank you for taking the time to read it. I hope it was useful to some degree. I'm interested to hear other thoughts and opinions regarding what's been written here.
Now for the photos....