Roman Pompeii-type Gladio with Scabbard, 1st Century.

Enjoy Roman Gladio Pompeian Type with Sheath, 1st Century.

Pompeii-type Roman gladius with scabbard, 1st century AD

The gladius, the standard weapon of Rome's legionaries between the 3rd century BC and the 3rd century AD, was used in many different versions over the centuries. However, throughout the middle and late Roman Empire, this dreaded short sword was gradually replaced by the longer spathe. The Pompeian gladius (or Gladius Pompeianus ), which replaced the Mainz type from the middle of the 1st century AD, represents the final stage of development of the Roman short sword. This late variant is named after the famous archaeological excavation site of Pompeii, where the first four gladii of this type were discovered, dating from before 79 AD (the year of the devastating eruption of Vesuvius, which buried the Italian city under a meter-high layer of ash).

The Roman sword offered here is a reconstruction of a classic Pompeian-type gladius from the late 1st century. The blade, with straight, parallel cutting edges and a short, triangular point, is forged from EN45 spring steel (neither hardened nor heat-treated). The cutting edges are unsharpened, and the continuous blade tang is screwed to the end of the handle (a threaded brass nut). The handle, guard, and pommel are made of wood.

The Roman one-handed sword comes with an artfully decorated wooden/leather scabbard with brass fittings based on archaeological finds in the collection of the Het Valkhof Museum in Nijmegen (Netherlands). The mouthpiece, divided into two decorative fields on the front, is decorated with motifs that are partly tin-plated, partly openwork, and partly engraved. The chamfer consists of a V-shaped edge with a positional button, a horizontal band, and a decorative plate coordinated with the mouthpiece plate. A palmette is attached above the chamfer. Cast brass support rings allow the user to carry their gladius like a true Roman.

This sword is designed as a collector's item or decorative object and is also ideal as an accessory, for example to complete your costume.



Details:

- Material: EN45 spring steel blade (carbon steel, not stainless), wooden handle with brass fixing nut

- Total length: approx. 67.5cm

- Blade length: approx. 49 cm

- Blade thickness: approx. 4.3 mm / 4 mm (cutting edges approx. 1 mm)

- Handle length: approx. 18.5 cm (handle section approx. 9 cm)

- Maximum blade width: approx. 4.5 cm.
- Center of gravity: approx. 13 cm in front of the guard

- Incl. wooden case with genuine leather sheath and brass fittings

- Weight without cover: approx. 0.6kg

- Weight with case: approx. 0.95 kg

The above specifications may vary slightly from specimen to specimen.

The steel used here is not stainless and may show slight signs of corrosion. We recommend regularly maintaining the blade and sheath, for example with Ballistol, a universal oil ideal for preserving steel products.




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