George N. M. Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 Here is a link to an article about a Roman dagger (puglio) recently found and conserved in Switzerland. http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62704#comments "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 What an amazing find. Thanks for sharing George. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 Thanks George, another rich archeological site to watch. Modern tech is detecting so much ancient stuff from fossilized pre Cambrian bacteria to early civilizations and more. I can't wait to see what folks turn up when the Tricorder becomes available. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 I'd accept a pill to replace my pancreas... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted November 18, 2021 Author Share Posted November 18, 2021 I have always been intrigued by the construction of these. Very often everything except the blade looks like it has been cast. I don't know of any metallurgical analyses of iron vs. steel in these style of blades or wrought vs. cast. I can believe a cast handle in brass/bronze/latten/orichalcum being fitted to a forged iron or steel blade but when the guard, grip, and hilt are all one piece in a ferrous material I have questions. I don't know of any replications using period technology. Thomas? Thoughts? "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 Me too George and I find much of the analysis in articles to be pretty loaded with opinion by folk from other fields. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 I haven't see good x-rays of the hilts to see if I can see how they were made. I blew up the triptych of that one and I'd think that the hilt was assembled in three parts: guard, grip, pommel; with the tang going all the way through, perhaps being riveted at the top. Casting of iron and steel not a good guess for BC Rome. Most likely low in carbon Wrought Iron for the blade and hilt. Getting into early AD we start seeing piled blades and blades with higher C or Phosphorus edges, still generally NOT heat treated. ("The Celtic Sword" Radomir Pleiner has good info about the metallurgy of Rome's enemies the Celts; but much later in time from when that blade was used.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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