Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Spartan Hoplite's Sword (Xiphos)
After reading Frank Miller's "300", I became interested in the ancient Spartans. I based my pattern on actual spartan swords from museum collections, not the horrible movie.
I cut out three 3mm sheets of plastic based on two photos of actual swords. Clamping them together, they still had too much flex. I got a piece of flat 3mm steel (3/4" wide) and cut out a channel in the inner layers.
I added two more shaped layers to build up what was described in my research as a "diamond profile". On retrospect, I should have used full blade width layers as the shaped ones caused gaps that had to be puttied later.
I used the long blade from my Swiss Army knife to shave a blade edge on the sword. Hold the knife's edge PERPENDICULAR to the surface of the plastic and you can shave the plastic into shape. This also works as a alternative to rough sanding.
Next comes the boring part where you fill all holes and imperfections with model putty. Be prepared to apply multiple coats and spend some time sanding.
The pommel was constructed by cutting elliptical disks of different sizes with a rectangular hole. The "cap" I made separately to make it easier to get a file into the hole.
The hand guard was constructed as a box which fit over cross members that were cut as part of the sword body.
The grips were cut out of 1/4" walnut and Dremel sanded to shape. Note the tabs at either end to tuck into the pommel and hand guard. I then used some stain to bring out the grain and seal the wood.
After painting, all the pieces were glued on completing my Spartan Hoplite Xiphos!
The final sword. ¶ 5:06 PM
After reading Frank Miller's "300", I became interested in the ancient Spartans. I based my pattern on actual spartan swords from museum collections, not the horrible movie.
I cut out three 3mm sheets of plastic based on two photos of actual swords. Clamping them together, they still had too much flex. I got a piece of flat 3mm steel (3/4" wide) and cut out a channel in the inner layers.
I added two more shaped layers to build up what was described in my research as a "diamond profile". On retrospect, I should have used full blade width layers as the shaped ones caused gaps that had to be puttied later.
I used the long blade from my Swiss Army knife to shave a blade edge on the sword. Hold the knife's edge PERPENDICULAR to the surface of the plastic and you can shave the plastic into shape. This also works as a alternative to rough sanding.
Next comes the boring part where you fill all holes and imperfections with model putty. Be prepared to apply multiple coats and spend some time sanding.
The pommel was constructed by cutting elliptical disks of different sizes with a rectangular hole. The "cap" I made separately to make it easier to get a file into the hole.
The hand guard was constructed as a box which fit over cross members that were cut as part of the sword body.
The grips were cut out of 1/4" walnut and Dremel sanded to shape. Note the tabs at either end to tuck into the pommel and hand guard. I then used some stain to bring out the grain and seal the wood.
After painting, all the pieces were glued on completing my Spartan Hoplite Xiphos!
The final sword. ¶ 5:06 PM
Comments:
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Was pointed to your page by a forum when someone asked about how to make a sword... interesting process. I'm not sure if you'll see this comment, but I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of plastic (brand, type?) you used... and whether you think you'd encounter problems maintaining symmetry if you had used full-blade-sized pieces instead of sizing them in. You can e-mail me at srothroc[at]gmail[dot]com.
Thanks for the tutorial! It was very interesting reading.
Thanks for the tutorial! It was very interesting reading.
# posted by 
: 8:49 PM
: 8:49 PM
Interesting tutorial. Excellent.
But I must warn you that Spartans didn't have Xiphos (this sword was used by the mirmidons - light infantry) but Kopis (curved blade sword).
But I must warn you that Spartans didn't have Xiphos (this sword was used by the mirmidons - light infantry) but Kopis (curved blade sword).
# posted by : 1:52 PM
: 1:52 PM
That is absolutely false. Spartan's did have xiphos hence the phrase to add one step to your fighting distance quote.
# posted by : 8:19 AM
: 8:19 AM
Strange that the Spartans didn't have the Xiphos when the monument to Leonidas erected in Sparta shows him with a Xiphos in his hand.
The Xiphos was common to all Hoplite soldiers throughout ancient Greece. It was used by the Athenians at Marathon, by the Spartans at Thermoplylae and by the entire Greek Army at Plataea.
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The Xiphos was common to all Hoplite soldiers throughout ancient Greece. It was used by the Athenians at Marathon, by the Spartans at Thermoplylae and by the entire Greek Army at Plataea.
# posted by : 11:06 AM
: 11:06 AM<< Home
