Gladius (Roman short sword)

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A short stabbing sword with a blade between 20-24"(50-60cm) long and about 2 inches (5cm) wide, with an unguarded hilt.
Gladius
The tang normally consisted of three pieces , a rounded hilt, a grip with four finger ridges to fit the fingers and a bulbous pommel.The Gladius developed from a spanish style of sword to allow Roman legionaires to fight side by side with shields taking the blows of the longer swords of their enemies. The gladius was worn in a sheath on the right side, with its small size allowing it to be draw by the right hand, which is easier for someone carrying a large shield in the left hand than having the sheath on the left hand side of the body. The Gladius was replaced by a longer sword worn on the left the Spatha during the second century AD.
The Gladius - The Roman Short Sword, M.C. Bishop. Covers an impressive range of topics, including how the gladius entered Roman service after being encountered in Spain, why its combination of a strong stabbing point and two strong cutting edges made it so flexible, the many different ways in which it was constructed, and the contemporary Roman debates about how it should be used in battle, and the impact that would have on Roman formations. An excellent look at one of the key weapons behind the success of the Roman army over such a long period (Read Full Review)
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How to cite this article: Dugdale-Pointon, T. (15 January 2001), Gladius (Roman short sword), https://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_gladius.html

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