This recreation of a 3rd – 4th century Spatha is based on an example found in the Nydam Mose bog finds in Denmark. It was one of 90 similarily dated swords and is a sword that would have been equally at home on the baldric and scabbard of a Germanic Warrior as it would have been on a Roman soldier of the period. The Roman Army had abandoned its better known Gladius century before for longer bladed Spatha and these swords had a co-development with the Spatha swords of the Germanic tribes outside the Empire. The broad and long blades delivered long and powerful cutting strokes and found equal use from horseback as from behind a line of shields on foot. Twin fullers that stretch almost the full length of the blade remove unneeded weight from the thicker midsection of the blade to give it better handling characteristics whilst preserving an balance that favors powerful and impactful cutting. It is easy with the Nydam sword to see the Spatha transitioning into the Migration Period sword of later periods, which in turn evolved into the swords of the Viking Age. The blade of this recreation is crafted from well-tempered C60 high carbon steel; it is solidly mounted into a hilt of wood which has been skillfully carved and finished. A scabbard with an stitched wrap of high quality genuine leather over a wood core is included. Its wooden scabbard slide is mounted on leather banding to allow for the sword to be slung from a baldric or sword belt.
