Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

fernando · 3rd October 2006, 09:51 PM

I have once read that, the discussion had in Rome about the Gladius was to which ( optional ) function it sould have in their Forces, due to its dual possibilities. The stabbing party won the discussion, and the Gladius was appointed to Infantry. Maybe this meant that training was more directed to stabbing, but this doesn't exclude contextual slashing use on the field.
Titus Livius has also writen "Hispano punctim magis quam caesim adsueto petere hostem", meaning that this sword was so good for stabbing as for cutting ( in a home made translation ).
I have also read in a Portuguese Forum that, this tongue shaped Celtiberian origin sword, was well balanced for both stabbing and cutting, whereas its Roman Pompei evolution (?) with a paralel blade, was more of a stabbing weapon, although the reason for change was a an economic one ( easier = cheapper ), more than tactical. But this was much later on.

3rd October 2006, 09:51 PM	#3
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	I have once read that, the discussion had in Rome about the Gladius was to which ( optional ) function it sould have in their Forces, due to its dual possibilities. The stabbing party won the discussion, and the Gladius was appointed to Infantry. Maybe this meant that training was more directed to stabbing, but this doesn't exclude contextual slashing use on the field. Titus Livius has also writen "Hispano punctim magis quam caesim adsueto petere hostem", meaning that this sword was so good for stabbing as for cutting ( in a home made translation ). I have also read in a Portuguese Forum that, this tongue shaped Celtiberian origin sword, was well balanced for both stabbing and cutting, whereas its Roman Pompei evolution (?) with a paralel blade, was more of a stabbing weapon, although the reason for change was a an economic one ( easier = cheapper ), more than tactical. But this was much later on.