Roman Xanten Gladius with Scabbard, 3rd Century, Category C

Gift of Roman Xanten Gladius with Scabbard, 3rd Century.

Roman Xanten gladius with scabbard, 3rd century AD
The gladius, the standard weapon of Roman 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 Roman sword offered here is fitted with an EN45 spring steel blade (neither hardened nor heat-treated). The cutting edges are unsharpened, and the continuous blade tang is screwed to the end of the handle (brass threaded nut). The handle consists of bone, a guard, and a wooden pommel. The guard is fitted with a brass plate on the side of the blade. Unlike the classic Pompeii gladii with straight, parallel cutting edges and a short, triangular point, the blade has a lenticular/almond-shaped cross-section and tapers gently towards the pointed, oval tip. This special blade shape is based on an unusual find from Xanten, North Rhine-Westphalia, dating from the late Roman Imperial period (approx. 3rd century AD) but which is nevertheless difficult to classify.
The Roman one-handed sword is delivered with an artfully decorated wooden/leather scabbard with brass fittings. Unlike the blade, this scabbard is based on historical models of the Pompeian type. On the front face, the mouthpiece is decorated with elaborate, partly tin-plated details: in two separate decorative fields, one can see representations, partly openwork and partly engraved, of a helmeted figure with all his attributes. The chamfer with a V-shaped edge, chamfer button, and horizontal band is decorated with a pattern of stylized spirals and topped by a palmette. The cast brass support rings allow the user to carry their gladius like a true Roman.


Details:
- Material: EN45 spring steel blade (carbon steel, not stainless), bone handle, wooden guard and pommel, fixing nut and brass hand guard
- Total length: approx. 69cm
- Blade length: approx. 49 cm
- Blade thickness: approx. 4.6 mm / 3.7 mm (cutting edges approx. 1 mm)
- Handle length: approx. 20 cm (handle section approx. 9.5 cm)
- Maximum blade width: approx.
- Center of gravity: approx. 9 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. 1 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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