Gladius - The Roman Legionary's Sword, Hand-Forged

The gladius is the sword that built Rome: a short, broad, double-edged blade with a sharp point, carried on the right hip by every legionary for five centuries and used behind the shield wall to thrust where a longer sword could not swing. Every gladius here is hand-forged with a full tang in pattern-welded Damascus or 1095 high carbon steel, with stainless display versions of the main patterns, from an 18-inch battle gladius to a 33-inch Hispaniensis, and each ships with a scabbard.

Choosing a gladius

Patterns

The four historical types are all here. The Gladius Hispaniensis is the earliest, the Spanish sword the Republic adopted, with a long, waisted blade; ours run 20 to 33 inches. The Mainz is the early Imperial pattern with the pronounced waist and long tapering point, here at 28 and 31 inches and as the 18-inch battle gladius. The Fulham at 23.5 inches is the transitional form with the straight edges and triangular point. The Pompeii is the late, parallel-edged pattern, the simplest to make and the commonest in the legions, here in 1095, Damascus and stainless at 26 to 29 inches. The Emperor gladius and the 22 to 30 inch Damascus gladii are the display-grade versions with fuller fittings. The Gladius, Roman and Gladiator bundles pair a sword with a stand, kit and sharpener, or with the helmet and shield.

Length

Historically the gladius ran 24 to 33 inches overall with an 18 to 24 inch blade, and the pieces here follow that. 22 to 28 inches fits a standard stand and reads as a legionary sword; the 30 to 33 inch Hispaniensis swords are the long end and want a full-width mount. Overall length is on every product page.

Steel and finish

Damascus is layered high carbon steel forged so the pattern runs the length of the blade; 1095 is the plain high carbon steel, harder and simpler to maintain; stainless is the display option. A gladius listed as battle-ready is built to a working standard: functional steel, hardened, full tang. Each product page states the steel, whether the sword ships sharp or dull, and the scabbard. Keep carbon steel clean, dry and lightly oiled; the cleaning kit covers it. A gladius can also be built to your own length and fittings in the gladius builder.

Related

The gladius pairs with the galea helmet and scutum and with the pugio, the legionary's dagger, in daggers. Its Greek contemporaries, the xiphos and kopis, are in Greek swords, and its Roman successor, the longer spatha, sits with the short swords. The whole range of types across every tradition starts at swords.

Frequently asked questions

What is a gladius?
The short sword of the Roman legionary, roughly 24 to 33 inches overall, double-edged with a sharp point, worn on the right hip and used to thrust from behind the shield.

What are the types of gladius?
Four, in order: the Hispaniensis (waisted, long), the Mainz (waisted, long point), the Fulham (straight edges, triangular point) and the Pompeii (parallel edges, short point). All four are in this collection.

Why was the gladius so short?
Because legionaries fought in close formation behind large shields, where a thrust is faster and safer than a swing. The sword was worn on the right so it could be drawn without fouling the shield arm.

What did gladiators use?
The same sword. Gladiator means swordsman, from gladius, and the arena versions of the sword are the Mainz and Pompeii types shown here.

Do they come sharp?
Most Damascus and 1095 gladii are supplied with an edge and can be ordered dull for display. Stainless versions are display swords. The product page states the finish.