The Athenian Hoplite Xiphos — 24-Inch Full-Length Hand-Forged Classical Greek Leaf-Blade Sword

The Athenian Hoplite Xiphos — 24-Inch Full-Length Hand-Forged Classical Greek Leaf-Blade Sword | Customisable 16"–30"

The Athenian Hoplite Xiphos by Everest Forge is our full-length classical Greek Xiphos sword — a 24-inch hand-forged leaf-blade weapon built to the upper end of the documented Athenian hoplite Xiphos range. While the Spartans deliberately favoured shorter 18-inch blades for their tight-formation aggressive combat doctrine, Athens and the wider Greek city-states often carried longer 22–24 inch Xiphos swords — the size we recreate here. Hand-forged in Kathmandu, Nepal from 5160 leaf spring steel, water-tempered, full-tang, fitted with steel guard and pommel, and shipped sharpened — this is the Greek Xiphos built for serious collectors and reenactors who want the classical full-length hoplite proportions.

At 24 inches of blade, 7 inches of handle, 31 inches overall, and approximately 1300 grams (2.87 lbs), the Athenian Hoplite Xiphos is one of the longest hoplite-class Xiphos swords in our catalogue — sitting in the full-length classical Greek hoplite size range and built with a heavier balance for controlled phalanx fighting. The premium steel guard and pommel fittings (unique to this product at the standard hoplite price point) provide both authority and balance against the longer blade. Fully customisable: choose your blade length from 16" to 30" (the widest length scaling range of any single Xiphos sword we offer), your blade finish (Satin standard, Mirror, or Blacked), your handle material (Rosewood, Whitewood, Horn, or Bone), and your leather scabbard colour from 6 options. Free personalised engraving on every blade and free custom logo or photo upload.

Dimensions & Specifications

The Athenian Hoplite Xiphos is hand-measured and hand-forged from individual 5160 leaf spring steel billets, salvaged from heavy-duty vehicle suspension and reforged into blades. Every sword is quality-checked, water-tempered, sharpened, and fitted with its steel guard, pommel, and hand-stitched leather scabbard before shipment. The 24-inch blade length puts this in the upper range of documented classical Greek hoplite Xiphos finds.

Customise Your Athenian Hoplite Xiphos

Every Athenian Hoplite Xiphos we forge is made to order — there is no stock, no warehouse, no mass production. Every sword is forged for one customer at one specification. This product offers the widest length scaling range of any Xiphos sword we make — order it anywhere from a 16" short blade to a full 30" classical sword. All choices are selected through the dropdowns on this page; personalisation text is typed into the order field, and custom logos or photos are uploaded as a file.

Athens vs Sparta — The Two Greek Xiphos Traditions

Classical Greek warfare wasn't a single uniform tradition. Different city-states developed different combat doctrines — and the Xiphos sword reflected those differences in size, balance, and aesthetic.

The Spartan Xiphos was deliberately short. King Agis famously said, when asked why Spartans carried shorter swords than other Greeks: "So we may get closer to the enemy." Spartan combat doctrine valued aggression, discipline, and the willingness to close into killing distance. Their Xiphos blades sat around 18 inches.

The Athenian Hoplite Xiphos (this product) followed a different philosophy. Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and the wider Greek city-states often carried longer Xiphos blades in the 22–24 inch range. The longer blade gave the hoplite more reach, more cutting authority, and more options inside the phalanx without sacrificing the leaf-blade thrust geometry. The Athenian Xiphos was the standard heavy-infantry hoplite sword for most of the Greek classical period.

If you want a complete classical Greek hoplite kit that captures both traditions, the natural pairing is the 18-inch Spartan Hoplite Short Xiphos (the Spartan answer) alongside this 24-inch Athenian Hoplite (the standard Greek city-state answer). Together they represent the two philosophical poles of classical Greek sword design.

Key Features of the Athenian Hoplite Xiphos

24-inch full-length classical hoplite blade. Sits in the upper range of documented classical Greek hoplite Xiphos finds, longer than the Spartan-style 18" and the bestseller 21" classical hoplite Xiphos. Built for buyers who want maximum reach within the historically defensible Xiphos size range.

5160 leaf spring steel from truck suspension. Salvaged from heavy-duty vehicle leaf springs and reforged into blades. Chosen for shock resistance, edge retention, and toughness under cutting load. Water-tempered to working hardness. Not stainless. Not a wall-hanger. Real working hoplite-class steel.

Steel guard and pommel fittings. Premium metalwork at the hilt and pommel — distinct from our standard 21" Xiphos which uses simpler hardware. The steel guard provides genuine hand protection in handling, while the pommel adds balance authority against the longer 24" blade.

Classical leaf-blade geometry. True double-edged Greek Xiphos profile — broad at mid-blade, tapering to a strong point, both edges sharpened. Optimised for both decisive cuts and deep thrusts, exactly as classical sources and archaeological finds confirm.

7-inch full-tang rosewood handle. Solid 5160 steel runs through the entire 7-inch handle, riveted through hand-carved rosewood (or your chosen material). No glued tangs, no welded extensions — one piece of steel from tip to pommel.

Widest length customisation range in our catalogue. Order this product anywhere from 16" (true compact short sword) up to 30" (approaching spatha territory). 14 inches of customisation span — the most flexible single Xiphos product we offer.

Hand-forged in Kathmandu, Nepal. Forged by hand on traditional anvils by master blacksmiths. See the full forging process on The Making page. Meet our team on Meet the Maker.

Free personalised engraving + free custom logo upload. Greek inscription, name, family crest, regimental designation, or any custom artwork — all included at no extra cost on every Athenian Hoplite Xiphos.

How Long Is a Greek Xiphos Sword? The Classical Hoplite Size Range

The historical Greek hoplite Xiphos sword blade typically measured 18 to 24 inches (45–60 cm). Within that range, different periods and city-states favoured different sizes:

• Spartan Xiphos: ~18 inches — deliberately shorter for aggressive close combat
• Standard Greek hoplite Xiphos: ~21–22 inches — the classical Athenian-bestseller proportions
• Athenian Hoplite Xiphos (this product): ~24 inches — full-length classical, upper-range historical
• Macedonian / late-Classical variants: 24–28 inches — bridging Xiphos and spatha territory
• Ceremonial / officer's variants: 28+ inches — represented in our Royal Xiphos

The Athenian Hoplite Xiphos at 24 inches represents the upper edge of documented classical hoplite size. If you want a different length within the Greek Xiphos tradition, your full options:

• Compact hoplite: See our 18" Spartan Hoplite Short Xiphos
• Classical bestseller hoplite: See our 21" Greek Xiphos Sword
• Full-length classical (this product): 24" standard, customisable 16"–30"
• Officer's / royal class: See our Royal Xiphos — 28" Extra Large

Who Buys the Athenian Hoplite Xiphos

Serious classical Greek-history collectors — The Xiphos built for buyers who want the full-length classical hoplite size, the steel guard and pommel fittings, and the premium rosewood handle. The 24-inch blade puts this above the standard 21" hoplite Xiphos in your collection.

Athenian-era reenactors — Reenactment groups portraying Athenian hoplites, Theban hoplites, or other non-Spartan Greek city-state warriors need a defensible full-length Xiphos. The 24" blade, rosewood handle, steel fittings, and traditional leather-wrapped wooden scabbard all match documented Athenian-era hoplite kit.

HEMA practitioners drilling classical Greek technique — The longer 24" blade provides more cutting reach for serious cutting drills, while still being one-handed manageable. Blunt training versions available at no extra charge for HEMA sparring.

Buyers stepping up from the 21" Greek Xiphos bestseller — Collectors who already own our 21" classical hoplite Xiphos and want to add a larger, more imposing companion piece. The Athenian Hoplite at 24" with steel fittings is the natural next purchase in the Xiphos progression.

Classical-philosophy and Athenian-history gift buyers — A hand-forged Greek hoplite sword with engraved Homeric reference, Greek philosophical inscription, or Athenian motto makes a serious heritage gift for classics graduates, history-PhD recipients, retiring classics teachers, or anyone with deep connection to Greek heritage.

Premium display and museum-quality collection builders — At 31" overall with steel-fitted guard and pommel, the Athenian Hoplite presents as a serious museum-grade piece. The Satin finish with brown leather scabbard delivers the most archaeologically authentic display.

Cosplay and theatre productions — Productions of Greek tragedy, Athenian-era historical drama, Greek epic adaptations (Odysseus, Homer's Iliad), and classical Greek period film need authentic full-length Greek hoplite weaponry. The 24" length reads as a proper Greek sword on camera.

What's Included With Every Athenian Hoplite Xiphos

• One 24-inch Athenian Hoplite Xiphos Sword (or your chosen length 16"–30") with steel guard and pommel fittings
• Hand-stitched leather-wrapped wooden scabbard (your colour choice from 6 options)
• Free personalised text engraving (your name / Greek inscription / motto)
• Free custom logo or photo engraving (your uploaded artwork)
• Manufacturer's care guide
• Tracked worldwide shipping via DHL Express or FedEx International
• 30-day satisfaction guarantee + 6-month manufacturing warranty

The Xiphos in Classical Greek Warfare

The Xiphos was the standard short-to-medium sword of classical Greek hoplites for over 400 years. In the Greek phalanx, the warrior's primary weapon was the spear (dory). When the spear broke, was lost, or became impractical in close-quarters fighting after the phalanx lines collapsed, the Xiphos was drawn for survival.

Its leaf-shaped, double-edged blade was engineered for both powerful slashing cuts and decisive thrusts. The forward-of-grip mass distribution put cutting authority where it mattered, while the tapered point allowed precise thrusts through gaps in enemy armour. Carried in a scabbard hung beneath the left arm, the Xiphos could be drawn quickly with the right hand even while the warrior's left hand still held the shield.

Used by Athenians at Marathon, by Spartans at Thermopylae, by Thebans at Leuctra, and by Macedonians under Alexander, the Xiphos became one of the most recognisable symbols of classical Greek warfare and influenced later Mediterranean short-blade designs from the Roman gladius to the Iberian falcata. Read the full Xiphos history blog.

Worldwide Shipping & Trust

Every Athenian Hoplite Xiphos ships from Kathmandu, Nepal via DHL Express or FedEx International with full tracking. Total typical timeline: 8–15 business days (3–5 days for forging, steel-fitting, and quality-checking, plus 5–10 days for international delivery). Custom lengths and personalised orders may take longer.

• Shipping & Returns — DHL/FedEx delivery, tracking, customs
• Warranty & Returns Policy — 30-day satisfaction, 6-month warranty
• Secure Shopping — SSL checkout, PCI-compliant payment
• The Making — how every blade is forged
• Meet the Maker — our blacksmiths in Kathmandu
• Battle Ready Standard — what we mean by battle-ready

Compare With Other Xiphos Daggers and Swords

The Athenian Hoplite Xiphos is our full-length classical Greek hoplite sword — distinct from the Spartan-philosophy 18" and the decorative Angel Wings 22". Compare with the rest of the Xiphos range:

• 14" Hoplite Sidearm Dagger — Compact historical sidearm Xiphos ($134.99)
• 15" Tactical Xiphos Knife — Modern Blacked tactical/bushcraft Xiphos ($139.99)
• 17" Authentic Hoplite Xiphos Dagger — Premium oil-tempered historical replica ($149.99)
• 18" Spartan Hoplite Short Xiphos Sword — Horn-handle Spartan-era short sword ($174.99)
• 21" Greek Xiphos Sword — Classical hoplite bestseller ($174.99)
• 22" Angel Wings Greek Xiphos — Winged-crossguard mythological Xiphos ($224.99)
• The Athenian Hoplite Xiphos (this product) — 24" full-length classical with steel fittings ($234.99)
• The Royal Xiphos — 28" Extra Large — Officer's blade flagship ($374.99)
• View All Xiphos Swords — Full category

Frequently Asked Questions — The Athenian Hoplite Xiphos