A type of heavy short sword used in various forms as the primary sidearm of the Roman Legions for something like 4 centuries, during the military peak of both the Republic and the Empire. The gladius took a lot of different forms but was typically from 24"-32" in total length, and characterized by a bar-bell handle, featuring a spherical wooden pommel and a hemispherical wooden guard, with a grip normally made of bone or ivory. All varieties of the gladius performed similarly in combat. They were all heavy, stiff, broad -bladed double edged cut-and-thrust swords featuring a diamond or lenticular blade cross-section, ending in a sharp point. With its vicious point and overall short size the gladius is perhaps most dangerous in the thrust, though it also cut well.

Name	Size	Reach	Speed	Defense	Base Damage	Attack Types	Primary Attack Types	Armor Pierce	Grapple	Hardness	HP
Sword, gladius	S	2	3	1	1-8	SCP	CP	0	0	8	5

A possibly authentic, antique Roman Gladius, slightly bent, semi-excavated condition. Circa 1st Century AD


An iron Gladius of the "Pompeii" type, circa 2nd Century AD, excavated condition, missing organic hilt features. Possible iron pommel.


A Celtiberian gladius ' Hispaniensis', circa 2nd Century BC. Excacvated condition, missing organic hilt features. The two-lobed pommel is typical of many Iberian swords of this era.


A modern replica of a Gladius in the “Pompeii” style of the late 1st Century


Two gladius blades with gold inlay, Pompeii style, circa 100 AD. Exacated (but pretty good) condition, missing organic hilt features.