Roman Mainz Type Gladius with Scabbard, 1st c.

Roman Mainz Type Gladius with Scabbard, 1st Century A.D.

The gladius, the primary weapon of the Roman legionaries from the 3rd c. BC to the 3rd c. AD, was used in many variations over the centuries. Primarily designed as a thrusting/stabbing weapon, it was also quite effective at cutting or slashing. Eventually, this highly feared short sword was gradually superseded by the longer spatha during the mid/late Roman Empire.

This Roman shortsword is a reconstruction of a classically styled 1st c. Mainz type gladius, named after the eponymous German city where the first canonical examples were found. The most distinctive feature of these particular gladii was the double-edged, slightly "waisted" blade with long point.

The Roman sword we offer here has a typical Mainz style blade forged out of EN45 spring steel (not tempered, not hardened) with a flat diamond cross-section and a long, sharply pointed tip. The edges are not sharpened and the blade's full tang is screwed to the pommel (brass top nut). The grip is made of bone, the guard and pommel of wood. The guard features an inset brass plate.

This one-handed Roman gladius comes complete with a red wood-and-leather scabbard with brass fittings (a throat band, three crossbands, side gutters and a V-shaped chape topped with a palmette and terminating in a button finial). The two upper bands are equipped with cast brass suspension rings which allow the bearer to carry his gladius in true Roman fashion.

Please note that this sword is not a battle ready weapon. It is designed as a collector's or decoration/display piece and is not suited for combat reenactment. Besides its quality as a collectible, it is also perfectly suited as a prop, e.g. to complete your costume.

Details:
- Material: EN45 spring steel blade (high carbon steel, not stainless), bone grip, wooden guard and pommel with brass pommel nut and guard inlay
- Overall length: approx. 71 cm
- Blade length: approx. 53 cm
- Blade thickness: approx. 4.5 mm / 2.5 mm (cutting edges approx. 1 mm)
- Hilt length: approx. 18 cm (grip approx. 9 cm)
- Max. blade width: approx. 6.5 cm
- Point of balance: approx. 13 cm from the guard
- Incl. wooden scabbard with genuine leather cover and brass fittings
- Weight without scabbard: approx. 0.8 kg
- Weight with scabbard: approx. 1.3 kg

Specs may slightly vary from piece to piece.

The steel used here is not rust-proof and might show slight surface tarnishing in places. We recommend you to maintain the blade and the scabbard on a regular basis, for example using Ballistol Universal Oil, which is ideally suited for steel care.

Please note:
We do not sell this product to customers under the age of 18. Please provide your birth date when ordering. We'll also need a copy of your ID-card or passport by email, scan, fax or mail.