Spatha, Late Roman Sword with Scabbard, Category C

Discover Spatha, Late Roman Sword with Scabbard

Spatha, late Roman sword with scabbard, 2nd/3rd century AD
This spatha is not an exact replica of a historical model, but rather a reconstruction based on original finds from the 2nd and 3rd centuries.
From the end of the 2nd century AD, the long Roman spathe gradually began to replace the shorter gladius. By the 3rd century, it had become the standard weapon of the Roman Imperial legions and auxiliary troops and was also used by gladiators. The exact origin of the spathe and the reasons why it so quickly replaced the efficient and feared gladius in the middle and late Roman Imperial period are still widely debated today among historians, archaeologists, and lovers of ancient Rome. Although it is widely believed that spathes are of Celtic descent and owe their rapid popularity to changes in the fighting techniques and military tactics of Roman infantry and cavalry, unfortunately, the lack of reliable sources on the subject often leads to conjecture and oversimplification of a much more complex whole.
The Roman longsword we offer here has a broad, double-edged blade made of EN45 spring steel with two fullers on each side and a ricasso approximately 5 cm long below the guard. The cutting edges are unsharpened, and the continuous blade tang is screwed to the end of the handle (with a brass threaded nut). The handle, with its generous pommel, is made of wood and features brass detailing. The handle section is decorated with carvings, and the guard is fitted with a brass protective plate on the side of the blade.
The Roman one-handed sword is delivered with a red wooden/leather scabbard with brass fittings: a mouth band, a circular plate, a continuous side frame or rim, and a decorative center rim with an integrated strap loop for use on a belt or bandolier (maximum strap width approx. 4.5 cm). The most striking feature of this scabbard is obviously the larger-than-average round plate or disc at the bottom (also called a tin band ), which is adorned with an engraved rosette motif.


Details:

- Material: EN45 spring steel blade (carbon steel, not stainless), wooden handle with brass details

- Total length: approx. 99cm

- Blade length: approx. 78 cm

- Blade thickness: approx. 4 mm / 3.6 mm (cutting edges approx. 1 mm)

- Handle length: approx. 21 cm (handle section approx. 9.5 cm)

- Maximum blade width: approx. 6 cm

- Center of gravity: approx. 25 cm in front of the guard

- Incl. wooden case with genuine leather sheath and brass fittings

- Width of the cover at the mouth plate: approx. 8 cm

- Width of the cover in front of the chamfer: approx. 7 cm

- Tin tape diameter: approx. 8 cm

- Weight without cover: approx. 1.4kg

- Weight with case: approx. 2.16 kg
The above specifications may vary slightly from specimen to specimen.
The steel used here is not stainless and may show slight signs of corrosion. We recommend regular maintenance of the blade, for example with Ballistol, a universal oil ideal for preserving steel products.



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