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In Reply to: Legionary Sword was made of Steel posted by Tom Brennan on May 12, 2000 at 17:32:51:
late in the Empire, newer gear came out. But i would have sworn that they used this bloody 30lb bludgeon that for some reason was called a sword.
It would really surprise me if they had steel 2 or 3 centuries BC. Got any sources
that would clarify this?
...the early versions of the Gladius were bronze, but the later ones were indeed made of steel.BTW, its design reflects the revolutionary, by that time, discovery that "cuts heal and thrusts kill", so its primary duty was for thrusts, although it was still pretty effective at cuts too. That idea was later lost many times, and then again "rediscovered", so some cavalry weapons, for example, went straight, curved, straight, curved again, then "almost straight".
That alone makes me want to see that move, although the director's name doesn't exactly fill me with great anticipation.
In US Navy, the sailors in boarding parties were issued curved sabers. It takes less training to hack and slash than to fence. Also, sabers are better for cutting rigging to disable the boarded ship. The officers, however, have straight swords to this day. Mine is still lying about somewhere.
No, not the actor. His "The Book of the Sword" contains all the answers. Available from the Amazon for $8 or so. Perhaps a bit too dry.
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