genetta asked for some progress pics of this sword and its complicated hilt components.

The sword in progress is a reproduction of the Feltwell Spatha.
A somewhat obscure archeological find from East Anglia in Britain.

The sword was dug up in the remains of a 5th century Roman villa, and is one of the very few swords ever found from this time period in England.
The sword has no surviving guard or pommel pieces. Since small bronze and iron bits in the hilt and scabbard have survived, this likely means the original parts were wooden, and have rotted away.
The original grip has survived- a piece of antler, cut in a hexagonal shape.

I was asked to make a repro of this weapon, and have based it on reconstructive sketches done by a researcher.
As most swords from this time period have "sandwiched" guards and pommels- thin bronze or brass plates enclosing wooden plates- I went with that design.

The guard sandwichs will have small pins through the flats, towards the ends to hold everything together.
That is what the tiny pins and beads are for in the pic. The beads will be cut to hemispheres and drilled out, and the pointy end of the pins will be peened down flush.

There will alos be a peen block on the end of the pommel- The brass hexagon plate will be used for that after its been slotted to fit the end of the tang really tightly.

None of the slots have been cut yet- Thats the next stage of construction.

The grip is Axis deer antler.
It will be cut down into a hexagonal shape when its been slotted for the tang and fitted correctly.

The blade looks weird in the pic- Its an optical illusion and is actually quite straight.
Not sure why it looks curved...But it isn't in RL.

But this is the 12 components of the Feltwell hilt.

Cutting, slotting and much sanding comes next.

I imagine a fair amount of cussing and badger irritability as well...But you don't get to see or hear that part! ;)

-Badger-