Two things I learned about the gladius

I've been learning a lot with this thread. From the pics I've found of Roman swords I agree with everyone (Not that it means much for a noob like me lol) that it's unlikely. As the tangs are thinner and the pommels seem to be much larger and rounder. But I'm not not 100% sure about it being a Viking sword either?

I was wondering is there any chance it could be a sword from Siege of Amiens 1597 ? What I found interesting is that it sounds like the Dutch had many Soldiers involved.

Was the Dutch still using Scandinavian style swords? Or where they using other countries swords like a short German Knightly sword?
 
cbrstar said:
I've been learning a lot with this thread. From the pics I've found of Roman swords I agree with everyone (Not that it means much for a noob like me lol) that it's unlikely. As the tangs are thinner and the pommels seem to be much larger and rounder. But I'm not not 100% sure about it being a Viking sword either?

I was wondering is there any chance it could be a sword from Siege of Amiens 1597 ? What I found interesting is that it sounds like the Dutch had many Soldiers involved.

Was the Dutch still using Scandinavian style swords? Or where they using other countries swords like a short German Knightly sword?
Click to expand...

I would think that there's even less chance of it being a "Viking sword" then there is of it being a gladius. Again the tang is all wrong, the hilt furniture such as it is doesn't seem right and the blade profile doesn't fit. There isn't an obvious fuller either, although that's not unheard of in migration era or dark age swords it's fairly unusual. Then of course it appears to be fairly short in length. Why do we think it's not one of those French artillery swords again? I'm going to have to go back and review the other page of the thread... :)

Addendum: Ahh tang is wrong again as is hilt. This one is going to turn out to be an agricultural implement of something I can just feel it... :)
 
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...

It was not a weapon. It was a artilleryman's fascine knife. Cut hurdles to support guns. Clear lines of fire. It was so useful that the it was nicknamed the Cabbage Chopper.

The American version was a copy of the French CC.

I did have someone try to sell one to me as a Gladius.
 
In a museum they called it a weapon which has no record of being used in a fight. Usually it was used to clear bush.
Do you think they designed it from the beginning not to be a weapon?
 
Raymond1000 said:
It was not a weapon. It was a artilleryman's fascine knife. Cut hurdles to support guns. Clear lines of fire. It was so useful that the it was nicknamed the Cabbage Chopper.

The American version was a copy of the French CC.

I did have someone try to sell one to me as a Gladius.
Click to expand...

The 1831 definitely issued to the infantry and listed as such, Yes meant for utility, as they had bayonets for their muskets as well. Still, a secondary weapon, as any blade was.

2i6nnr4.jpg


The US m1832 foot artillery gladius was patterned after the French 1816 artillery. The French 1831, a lighter blade and an inspiration for the blade found on the US Ames m1841 naval cutlass. The French 1771 glaives an example of the early brass hilt neo-classic gladius like swords of the early modern military.


Note the three fuller blade found on the 1771 and 1816 French, which is the blade form of the US m1832.
2ir6elx.jpg



Any number of other countries (and the Confederacy) had similar patterns and some (such as several naval cutlass patterns) certainly meant for slaughter, as well as used by some as utility blades.

Cheers

GC
 
Here is my modern Gladius - named in honor of the implements you are discussing:

< sorry - trying to fix broken photo link >
 
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