The "Myth" of the "Dacian Falx" as a super weapon

[diegis]

This is one possible reason:

1. The Romans wore manica on their shield arms?
2. Did you try two-handed chops with some of the other types of sword the Romans faced? I reckon that even a gladius hispaniensis could so similar damage under the conditions in that photo.

I dont think any other sword can be used in a similar way as the Falx (or sometimes even the Sica). Due to its curved shape (like a claw/sickle/schyte) it can be used for piercing, slashing and cutting/severing/dismembering, and can hit someone behind that scutum even without cutting thru it, just bypassing it from above. I dont know if you ever used a schyte, especialy a sharp one, to see how easy is to cut using just a small circular move. The shape is made for improving cutting abilities, much better then any right type of blade (as Gladius) and a stronger, thicker blade used for a sword with a hard tip, can easily pierce even thru metal

Romans didnt adopted such types of curved swords, because their already old and prouved fighting style worked well, they was use to it, and they didnt had any enemy against who to use them. This swords was good especialy against opponents protected by large shields and fighting in close ranks, and Romans doesnt had anyone like that at that point. However, they adapted a Falx like blade to a siege machine, used for penetrate betwen 2 stone blocks, to dislodge them. I remember i saw one depicted, on Trajan Column i think, but i dont remember how was called, on what part of Column was. Maybe someone know more about (possible to be have a name as "Falces ....")