Are there any republican-era reenactors?

[Matthew Amt]

Either caligae, or I've also seen a primary reference with Celtic style 'pixie boots' depicted (doing both).

Boy, I'd sure like to see more evidence for whatever the heck they were wearing on their feet back in the 2nd century BC and earlier! I just have a problem with the classic Imperial caligae going that far back....

Gladius (post 2nd Punic War) - Hanwei gladius (wait for the outcry). The blade is a cracking shape as is the guard (with inset plate), etc. Only the scabbard needs modifying IMHO.

Huh! Okay, I can see that. I'd re-do the hilt, though, to make it a little less obviously Imperial in form. For one thing, hispaniensis blades almost always have rounded or sloped shoulders, so the inset plate that sits down on straight shoulders won't work. The few depictions of hilts that we have just never look like the Imperial types.

Keep at it! Valete,

Matthew