Fuck Yeah Swords

(Source: paganroots, via guthbrand)

The spatha was a type of straight and long sword, measuring between 0.75 and 1 m (30 and 39 in), in use throughout first millennium AD Europe, and in the territory of the Roman Empire until about 600 AD. Later swords from 600 AD to 1000 AD are recognizable derivatives, though they are not spathae.

The spatha was used in war and in gladiatorial fights. The spatha of literature appears in the Roman Empire in the first century AD as a weapon used by presumably Germanic auxiliaries and gradually became a standard heavy infantry weapon, relegating the gladius to use as a light infantry weapon. The spatha apparently replaced the gladius in the front ranks, giving the infantry more reach when thrusting. While the infantry version had a long point, versions carried by the cavalry had a rounded tip that prevented accidental stabbing of the cavalryman’s foot.

Archaeologically many instances of the spatha have been found in Britain and Germany. It was used extensively by Germanic warriors. It is unclear whether it came from the Pompeii gladius or the longer Celtic swords, or whether it served as a model for the various broadswords and Viking swords of Europe. The spatha remained popular throughout the Migration Period. It may have evolved into the knightly sword of the High Middle Ages from about 1100 AD, but the large number of sword types that appeared during the period make it difficult to establish links. The details of their manufacture remain mostly unknown.

The word comes from the Latin spatha, which derives from Greek σπάθη (spáthē), meaning “any broad blade, of wood or metal” but also “broad blade of a sword”.

The Greek word σπάθη was used in the middle Archaic period for various types of Iron Age swords. The word does not appear in Homeric Greek, but it is mentioned in the works of Alcaeus of Mytilene (sixth century BC) and Theophrastus (fourth century BC).

It is likely that spatha is the romanization of the Doric Greek *σπάθα (spáthā), considering the Doric acc. plural “σπάθας” (spáthās). The word survives in Modern Greek as σπάθη and σπαθί. The Latin word became the French épée, Catalan espasa, Portuguese and Spanish espada, Italian spada, Romanian spadă and Albanian shpata, all meaning “sword”. The English word spatula comes from Latinspat(h)ula, the diminutive of spatha. English spade, from Old English spadu or spædu, is the Germanic cognate, derived from a Common Germanic *spadō, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European stem*sph₂-dh-.

The spatha was introduced to the Roman army in the early imperial period by Celtic cavalry auxiliaries who continued to wear their Celtic long swords, with blade lengths of 60 to 85 cm, in Roman service. The earlier gladius sword was gradually replaced by the spatha from the late second to the third century AD. From the early 3rd century AD, legionaries and cavalrymen began to wear their swords on the left side, perhaps because the scutum had been abandoned and the spatha had replaced the gladius.

Employed by both Roman cavalrymen and their German enemies, later Lombard spathae were actually more advanced than the wrought iron gladii, being constructed using a form of pattern welding employing layers of iron and steel; in effect, a composite material. Eventually under the later Roman Empire the spatha was adopted by many if not all legionaries.

In the imperial period, the Romans adopted the original Greek term, spathe (σπάθη), as spatha, which still carried the general meaning of any object considered long and flat. Spatha appears first in Pliny and then Seneca with different meanings: a spatula, a metal-working implement, a palm-leaf and so on. There is no hint of any native Roman sword called a spatha.

Referring to an actual sword, the term first appears in the pages of Tacitus with reference to an incident of the early empire. The British king Caractacus, having rebelled, found himself trapped on a rocky hill, so that if he turned one way he encountered the gladii of the legionaries, and if the other, the spathae of the auxiliaries. Left with no other way to turn, he escaped to the Brigantes, leaving his brothers to surrender the men. He was turned over to the Romans by the queen of the Brigantes, who was pardoned by the Senate after a moving plea for mercy, and reigned successfully once more as a Roman client king. Tacitus does not relate who the auxiliaries were. The Romans moved auxiliaries around the frontiers and also relied on local levies. Most examples of spathae come from Germany and east Europe, however. There is an excellent chance that the owners of the spathae were Germanic. There is no indication in Tacitus either that they were cavalry; overall, the Romans used both cavalry and infantry.

When the spathae next appeared, after a mysterious lacuna of about two centuries, they became the standard weapon of heavy infantry. The Romans could have borrowed this weapon from the auxiliaries, probably Germanic mercenaries, but the name does not support this origin. Spatha was certainly not a Germanic name, nor is there any indication anywhere what its Germanic name was. There are a plenitude of Germanic names, such as Old English sweord,bill, and so on, but no evidence to tie any name to the spatha, which was never used in Germanic languages as the name of a sword.

eclecticality:

(via The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Dagger with Jeweled Hilt)

ghost-of-gold:

Silver Khanjar & Scabbard (1800 - 1900)

This khanjar or jambiya comes from the Wahhabite people of the Hijaz and Asir regions in the western part of the Arabian peninsula. It is well worn with an excellent patina. It comprises a double-edged steel blade with an engrave geometric motif to both sides, a wooden scabbard encased in worked silver sheet with a leather midrif section, and a silver hilt with a flat, triangular pommel. The scabbard has an elongated, nodular chape. The front of the scabbard is densely worked with scrolling foliage and flower patterns with an applied granular star-burst motif near to the hilt. The reverse of the scabbard is largely plain other than for some engraved motifs and borders, as well as three applied belt hooks. The hilt is similarly embellished with granular applique work. The reverse of the hilt is decorated with a pleasing fish scale motif.

The item is in good order with no repairs or additions. Its age is clearly evident with the contours of the scabbard and hilt softened by many years of use.

ghost-of-gold:

Mughal Jambiya with Gold Over-lay & Scabbard (1800 - 1900)

The blade of this jambiya is double-edged, with double grooves and ridge and of curved, watered steel.

The waisted hilt is entirely covered in gold overlay in floral and foliage patterns (some wear to the gold-work near to the blade.) The pommel is rounded and also decorated with gold overlay. The rounded pommel finial is also gilded.

The green velvet covered wooden scabbard has a metal chape and an attached leather belt band.

The Scottish Broad Sword is the traditional weapon of the Scottish Highland clansman. The Scottish Broad Sword has instilled fear into the hearts of Englishmen for centuries. The Scottish Broad Sword’s long, two edged blade and distinctive basket hilt, when combined with targe and dirk has proven to be more than a match for enemy soldiers on battlefields the world over.

The Cold Steel Scottish Broad Sword replica of this famous weapon features a double edged blade that is hand forged and beautifully polished with triple fullers. The stout basket hilt of the Scottish Broad Sword is made of blued steel with a wood grip covered in samé (ray skin) and decoratively wrapped in wire. Each Cold Steel Scottish Broad Sword will pass the stringent British Proof test and comes with a wood and leather scabbard that’s complemented by blued steel chape and throat.

Features

• Overall Length: 37 3/4”
• Blade Length: 31 1/2”
• Handle Length: 6 1/4”
• Blade Thickness: 7/32”
• Weight: 47.8 oz.
• Blade: 1050 high carbon steel
• Scabbard: Wood and Leather with blued steel chape and throat

Don’t let its size fool you, as there is nothing awkward or clumsy about this two-handed awesome sword. Sure it’s big and meant to be carried over the shoulder instead of in a scabbard, but it’s extremely well balanced and easily wielded by people of larger stature and physical strength. Weighing 6 lbs. 13.5 oz. with a 397/8” high carbon steel blade, it will make short work of pike men or swordsmen and will prove equally effective against modern rifle butts and bayonets. To protect the hands from opposing weapons, it features a large guard with side rings plus integral parrying hooks that allow the blade to be shortened for close range slashing and stabbing attacks. The handle is made of wood and covered with leather and is extra long to afford a full two handed grip. What’s more, it’s capped by a heavy steel pommel that helps counter balance its long blade and serves as an effective weapon in its own right. If you’re looking for the ultimate in big performance oriented swords, your search is over.

Features

• Overall Length: 55 1/4”
• Blade Length: 39 7/8”
• Blade Thickness: 7/32”
• Weight: 109.5 oz.
• Blade: 1050 high carbon steel
• Handle: 15 3/8” long. Leather Wrapped

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, there were two types of sabre swords issued to the Federal Cavalry: “light” and “heavy”. The light version saber sword was popular, but the heavy model, dubbed the “Old Wrist Breaker” was the one worth owning, as it was a superior weapon. Its 36” blade offered big reach advantages over most sabers, and its substantial weight gave it the leverage to easily crush bones and sever limbs or even a head with a single blow. The brass guard had three bars to protect the hand and the grip was wire bound leather and capped with a sturdy pommel. In its double ringed, steel scabbard, it could be easily attached to a saddle or to a belt.

Features

• Overall Length: 41 1/2”
• Blade Length: 36”
• Blade Thickness: 1/3”
• Blade Material: 1055 Carbon Steel
• Weight: 42.9 ounces
• Handle Material: Brass Guard
• Scabbard: Included