Roman Gladius Swords

The Roman soldier’s sword of choice was the gladius. A Roman gladius sword was rather short, measuring between eighteen and twenty-four inches, although longer swords became more common as the Roman war machine grew and evolved.

The Roman gladius sword was typically considered to be a stabbing weapon, thanks to its vicious point and wide blade, although the manner of construction of this Roman short sword made it quite effective at cutting and slashing too. Gladii were made in two types, either a Pompeii-styled gladius or a Mainz-style gladius sword, with the main difference in the construction, specifically, in the shape of the blade. As the gladius sword evolved, the blade became straight and longer, changing more and more into the Roman sword that would inspire later-era weapons like the arming sword and the long sword.

Get Your Roman Gladius Sword Today

Here at Dark Knight Armoury, some of the Roman gladius swords you’ll find are designed for battle and reenactment, making them quite sturdy and effective (as well as sharp), while others are designed purely as decoration, either displayed in your home or carried as costume props. Either way, all the Roman swords you’ll find here are modeled from their historic cousins to feature an accurate and impressive look and feel. Just handling one of these Roman gladius swords will make you begin to feel like a Roman legionary.