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. But eventually, this highly feared short sword was gradually superseded by the longer spatha during the mid/late Roman Empire. The Pompeii type gladius (or gladius pompeianus), which superseded the Mainz type from the mid-1st century AD, constituted the final evolutionary stage of the Roman shortsword. This late variant was named after the famous Italian archaeological site where the four canonical examples (dated to before 79 AD, the year of the devastating volcanic eruption of the Vesuvius which buried the city under several metres of ash) were found.

The Roman sword we offer here is a reconstruction of a classically styled late 1st c. Pompeii type gladius. The blade with straight, parallel cutting edges and a short, triangular tip is forged out of EN45 spring steel (not tempered, not hardened). The edges are not sharpened and the blade's full tang is screwed to the pommel (brass top nut). The grip, guard and pommel are made of wood.

This one-handed Roman gladius comes complete with an ornate wood-and-leather scabbard with brass fittings. The brass mounts are based on archaeological finds now kept at the Valkhof Museum (Dutch: Museum Het Valkhof) in Nijmegen (Netherlands). The two iconographic plates fitted on the observe side of the throat are adorned with partially tin-plated, cut-out/pierced and engraved motifs. The chape, composed of a V-shaped frame with button finial, a horizontal band and an ornamental plate that matches the locket plates, is topped with a palmette. Cast brass suspension rings allow the bearer to carry his gladius in true Roman fashion.

This sword is designed as a collector's or decoration/display piece and, besides its quality as a collectible, is also perfectly suited as a prop, e.g. to complete your costume.