Two things I learned about the gladius

hank_rearden

hank_rearden

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Jun 7, 2002
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1. it's longer than just a short cutting sword, and
2. it has a sturdy full tang (i thought it had only a partial tapered one.)

the weapon dates to julius caesar's gallic wars, found in a battlefield during world war 1. don't be confused, it did not participate in world war 1.

B97312590Z.120140829173531000GA86BUOS.11.jpg
 
There were different style gladius's, wouldn't they have been of various lengths, depending on the style, period, etc.? Likewise concerning method of construction, some may have been full tang, others not, possibly even within Caesar's army..
 
When I see Roman Gladiolus swords in modern movies, I can't help but feel they are a little short....But weren't people smaller and shorter thousands of years ago? So shouldn't the sword be larger relative to body sizes in movies?
Or is the size to relative body size correct?
 
Gladius Roman short sword /long dagger, usually 22" blade length. Used for stabbing/ thrusting while carrying large shield "scutum".
Spatha cavalry sword
The spatha was a type of straight and long sword, measuring between 0.75 and 1 m (30 and 39 in), in use in the territory of the Roman Empire during c. the 1st to 6th centuries AD. Later swords from the 7th to 10th centuries, like the Viking swords, are recognizable derivatives, and sometimes subsumed under the term spatha.
150px-Spatha_end_of_second_century_1.jpg

Gladiolus
8819053756446.jpg

The first early modern humans (early Homo sapiens sapiens) lived in the European Upper Paleolithic.
The earliest known remains of Cro-Magnon-like humans are radiocarbon dated to 43-45,000 years before present
Cro-Magnons were anatomically modern, straight limbed and tall compared to the contemporaneous Neanderthals. They are thought to have stood on average 176.2 cm (5 feet 9 1⁄3 inches) tall,[32] male fossils are recorded as being 195 cm (6 feet 5 inches) and taller.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cro-Magnon
Richer diet, taller people

Japanese children today are markedly taller and heavier than their counterparts right after World War II; in fact, they weigh as much as adults did then. This trend, outlined in the fiscal 1995 Ministry of Education survey covering April 1995 to March 1996, reflects a better diet as well as changing lifestyles, including the move from sitting on the floor to sitting on chairs.
http://web-jpn.org/trends95/68.html
 
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If that's a Roman gladius, it has a strong Celtic influence. Maybe the Celts beat the vikings across the pond.
 
Jens Schuetz said:
Is that the one from which the American artillery sword was developed?
Click to expand...

The US 1832 foot artillery sword was based on the French 1816. A much earlier form is the 1771 eagle hilt sword that has been shown both with fullered and plain blades. The French 1816 and US 1832 both have three fullers and the scale like grips. The US 1841 naval cutlass has a blade like the French 1831 and scales on the handle, which incorporates a partial bowl guard.

Cheers

GC
 
gadunz said:
French Infantry Gladius Briquet. Neo-classical in design, based upon the Roman Gladius. In service from Louis-Philippe until the Second Empire with Napoléon III.
briquet=fourreau.jpg

http://swordscollection.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/french-infantry-gladius-briquet-1831.html
Click to expand...

I don't think the found relic is a French 1831, despite the blade looking fairly similar. The 1831 and similar swords from other countries during the 19th century did not have full tangs, or iron guards. I cannot find a true match to the found relic.

Cheers

GC
 
horseclover said:
The US 1832 foot artillery sword was based on the French 1816. A much earlier form is the 1771 eagle hilt sword that has been shown both with fullered and plain blades. The French 1816 and US 1832 both have three fullers and the scale like grips. The US 1841 naval cutlass has a blade like the French 1831 and scales on the handle, which incorporates a partial bowl guard.

Cheers

GC
Click to expand...
Oh cool. That explains the similarities.
Thank you.
 
horseclover said:
I don't think the found relic is a French 1831, despite the blade looking fairly similar. The 1831 and similar swords from other countries during the 19th century did not have full tangs, or iron guards. I cannot find a true match to the found relic.

Cheers

GC
Click to expand...
Right now in this picture without any rulers it looks like a super thick tang and the blade looks long. Compared to its width.

What if you take into account that the thin edge probably rusted away faster than the rest. Wouldnt this mean that in relation to the original blade width it's length was shorter and the tang was more slim?
 
I always thought that for an artillery man a short sword was the best choice . They made sense . A short sword/bayonet [like my Yataghan style one ] made sense also for muzzleloaders. ...Until I was told of specific Civil War artillery units that had fullsize cavalry swords ! So much for reason and logic !
 
It certainly does not conform to any blade shape or more importantly perhaps tang shape that I am aware of on a gladius. That doesn't mean it isn't a gladius, perhaps a new type has been discovered here, but I would say at a minimum that the jury is still out. Why do they believe it is a gladius? Was it found in situ with other context finds that would lead them to believe that is what it is?
 
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