Hispaniensis Roman Mainz Gladius by Kingdom of Arms
Jun 20, 2020 0:08:25 GMT
Post by AgeOfChivalry on Jun 20, 2020 0:08:25 GMT
Today I’m comparing the new Hispaniensis Roman Mainz Gladius by Kingdom of Arms to the Gen 2/Legacy Arms Roman Maintz Gladius.
Historically speaking, there are major differences between these two types of Gladii. That’s another topic entirely, so I’ll stick to comparing these two specific swords today. I also look forward to comparing the other two new Roman swords by Kingdom of Arms when they arrive in July.
I have quite a few other gladii in stock, from inexpensive ($150 and up) to Albion to high end custom ($9500). Often the only fair comparison is between two swords of a similar price point, and there is a reasonable difference in price between these two. However, they were both designed by Clyde Hollis. I have them both in stock, displayed next to each other, so many customers have been asking how they compare.
In terms of size, the two are pretty similar. The Hispaniensis is 29 5/8” LOA, with a 21” blade. The Gen 2 is 30” LOA with a 21 1/8” blade. (Please note that all measurements are taken from the specific examples I have in stock and may be different than the published specifications for each design.)
The grip length is almost the same, at 4 3/8” on the Hispaniensis and 4 ½” on the Gen 2 (though the grip will change slightly on the next batch of the Hispaniensis). Both grips are longer than typical surviving examples to accommodate a larger hand size. The Hispaniensis has a slightly oval grip that allows for indexing, and I strongly prefer it to the round Gen 2 grip.
The blade of the Hispaniensis narrows to 1 ¾” at the waist, and flares to 1 7/8” before tapering towards the tip. The point of balance is 3 ¾”. The Gen 2 narrows to 1 5/8” at the waist, and flares to 1 ¾” before tapering towards the tip. The point of balance is 3 5/8”. The taper and tip geometry are quite different.
The two swords may look similar, but the feel is completely different. The new Kingdom of Arms Hispaniensis weighs only 1 pound 14.7 ounces, and it feels fantastic in the hand. That’s nearly ¾ of a pound lighter than the Gen 2, which weighs 2 pounds 9.9 ounces.
Both swords are shipped sharp, and are made from 5160 steel taken to the same hardness. The Kingdom of Arms has a much sharper edge. It also has a lot more polish to the blade, removing more of the grinding marks. There are many subtle differences between the two. There is much more refinement in the Kingdom of Arms work. The carving in the grip is much more detailed. The metal spacers are thinner.
The other remarkable difference between these two is the scabbard work. The Gen 2 includes a pigskin over wood scabbard which is a nice, tight fit to the blade. This is very uncommon for a gladius at this pricepoint. The new Kingdom of Arms swords take that to a new level. The Hispaniensis has a pigskin over wood scabbard as well, but adds the classic bronze fittings.
Even with these more elaborate fittings, the scabbard is still 3 ounces lighter than that of the Gen 2. Comparing the overall weight of the gladius and scabbard, the Kingdom of Arms Hispaniensis is a full pound lighter than the Gen 2! That’s a big difference in the amount of weight on your belt while walking around an event.
The Gen 2 Maintz is a great value for the price. It’s a good choice for an entry level collector. I definitely recommend it over any other Maintz in the $300 and under price range.
The Kingdom of Arms Hispaniensis is spectacular. For a few hundred dollars more than a typical production gladius, it offers a much nicer feel in the hand, a better scabbard, and more refinement. It’s far less expensive than a custom made one of a kind. It is the best choice in its price range.
The sword market has really changed for the better in the decades I’ve been doing this for a living. There is a growing selection of low priced production swords, some nicer than others. Many of my favorite sword makers offer amazing high end custom blades with four or five digit price tags. These are spectacular, but beyond the budget of many collectors.
Not much is available in the marketplace between these two extremes. Many collectors are looking for swords in the $500 to $800 price range. There are not many options to choose from in that price range, especially if you want a nice scabbard included with the sword. The new swords by Kingdom of Arms are meeting that demand, offering hand forged swords with great scabbards for a reasonable price.
Historically speaking, there are major differences between these two types of Gladii. That’s another topic entirely, so I’ll stick to comparing these two specific swords today. I also look forward to comparing the other two new Roman swords by Kingdom of Arms when they arrive in July.
I have quite a few other gladii in stock, from inexpensive ($150 and up) to Albion to high end custom ($9500). Often the only fair comparison is between two swords of a similar price point, and there is a reasonable difference in price between these two. However, they were both designed by Clyde Hollis. I have them both in stock, displayed next to each other, so many customers have been asking how they compare.
In terms of size, the two are pretty similar. The Hispaniensis is 29 5/8” LOA, with a 21” blade. The Gen 2 is 30” LOA with a 21 1/8” blade. (Please note that all measurements are taken from the specific examples I have in stock and may be different than the published specifications for each design.)
The grip length is almost the same, at 4 3/8” on the Hispaniensis and 4 ½” on the Gen 2 (though the grip will change slightly on the next batch of the Hispaniensis). Both grips are longer than typical surviving examples to accommodate a larger hand size. The Hispaniensis has a slightly oval grip that allows for indexing, and I strongly prefer it to the round Gen 2 grip.
The blade of the Hispaniensis narrows to 1 ¾” at the waist, and flares to 1 7/8” before tapering towards the tip. The point of balance is 3 ¾”. The Gen 2 narrows to 1 5/8” at the waist, and flares to 1 ¾” before tapering towards the tip. The point of balance is 3 5/8”. The taper and tip geometry are quite different.
The two swords may look similar, but the feel is completely different. The new Kingdom of Arms Hispaniensis weighs only 1 pound 14.7 ounces, and it feels fantastic in the hand. That’s nearly ¾ of a pound lighter than the Gen 2, which weighs 2 pounds 9.9 ounces.
Both swords are shipped sharp, and are made from 5160 steel taken to the same hardness. The Kingdom of Arms has a much sharper edge. It also has a lot more polish to the blade, removing more of the grinding marks. There are many subtle differences between the two. There is much more refinement in the Kingdom of Arms work. The carving in the grip is much more detailed. The metal spacers are thinner.
The other remarkable difference between these two is the scabbard work. The Gen 2 includes a pigskin over wood scabbard which is a nice, tight fit to the blade. This is very uncommon for a gladius at this pricepoint. The new Kingdom of Arms swords take that to a new level. The Hispaniensis has a pigskin over wood scabbard as well, but adds the classic bronze fittings.
Even with these more elaborate fittings, the scabbard is still 3 ounces lighter than that of the Gen 2. Comparing the overall weight of the gladius and scabbard, the Kingdom of Arms Hispaniensis is a full pound lighter than the Gen 2! That’s a big difference in the amount of weight on your belt while walking around an event.
The Gen 2 Maintz is a great value for the price. It’s a good choice for an entry level collector. I definitely recommend it over any other Maintz in the $300 and under price range.
The Kingdom of Arms Hispaniensis is spectacular. For a few hundred dollars more than a typical production gladius, it offers a much nicer feel in the hand, a better scabbard, and more refinement. It’s far less expensive than a custom made one of a kind. It is the best choice in its price range.
The sword market has really changed for the better in the decades I’ve been doing this for a living. There is a growing selection of low priced production swords, some nicer than others. Many of my favorite sword makers offer amazing high end custom blades with four or five digit price tags. These are spectacular, but beyond the budget of many collectors.
Not much is available in the marketplace between these two extremes. Many collectors are looking for swords in the $500 to $800 price range. There are not many options to choose from in that price range, especially if you want a nice scabbard included with the sword. The new swords by Kingdom of Arms are meeting that demand, offering hand forged swords with great scabbards for a reasonable price.