Roman Gladius - Pompeii

[marcos]

Robert, sounds we are saying almost the some.
I absolutely agree on the standardization of production ,linked to the historical period, and thus in the identification of the main types, just I don't believe in the exasperation of this concept, so I don't think is possible to talk about sub-types.
When Romans , as you well said, made the newest model of the gladius best fit for the job at hand, then each blacksmith forged the swords according his style .
If you compare all pompeii known , as well as hispaniensis or mainz or ring-pommel, you realize that each sword is quite different from the others , similar of course but not identical, sometimes also very different.

In the meantime is true that there are some swords almost unidentifiable.

Thake a look at this sword, it 's blade is similar to a mainz type but it has the ring pommel. What can we say in this case , is it a mainz type or a ring-pommel type?


and this other one has still a ring pommel , but the blade seems from a republican hispaninesis. Is it a strange hispaninesis or a strange ring-pommel?


all above is just mine opinon , of course