Spatha Skarde
The blade of the sword is made lighter by milled groove and then polished to the required shape. The groove is left black to give sword a better, decorative look. Both decorative pommels are assembled from three parts. Two parts are made from softer brass and one from harder steel. Both steel parts are laboriously decorated to achieve the desired design. The grinding in the pommel and the end part corresponds with the groove in the blade. The pommels are riveted and ground based on historical findings. The head is also riveted and polished. The handle is laboriously weaved from several leather threads in the reddish colour, contrasting with the black colour along their edges. Sword is perfect for historical reenactment and scenic fencing. As usual with two years of combat guarantee. More information...
Spatha Skarde
- Overall length 863mm
- Blade length 693mm
- Forged blade with traces of forging visible in the groove of the blade
- Handle length, inner distance between pommel and guard: 123mm
- Cross section of the blade at the guard: 45.8 x 4.5mm
- Cross section of the blade 10cm off the point: 32 x 3.7mm
- Thickness of the striking edge on the photographed sword 2mm
- Length of the cross-guard 100mm
- Length from the pommel 78mm
- The balance is about 9cm off the guard
- The handle is wrapped in red leather straps braided from cowhide
- Weight 1349 g
- Used materials: Spring Steel 54SiCr6 suitable for blade forging, hardened to 54 - 56 RCW. The blade made from this steel is very sturdy.
Specifications may vary slightly from piece to piece.
Spatha served as a model for the various medieval swords later in history, and it is well documented in archaeological findings from the Migration Period. Spatha was a double-edged sword, measuring 70-95cm, with a 4-6cm wide blade. It was an exclusively cutting weapon, which is also indicated by the fact that the blade usually had a rounded tip unsuitable for stabbing. Spatha usually had a shorter bronze or iron hilt that was finished in bone or wooden accents. The sword guard was quite simple and small. Spatha was used until the middle of the 7th century (some findings, however, indicate later use), it was worn fastened on a long shoulder strap, later fastened to a belt. The spatha scabbards were made of wood and covered in leather or birch bast. Hilts of some spatha swords were decorated with gold, silver, ivory and precious stones, mostly in Asian design, which points to contacts between East and West.