Update on the Spatha and Gladius fighting techniques!

[Virilis]

Thanks Martin for a realistic attitude on swordfighting!

First, the attitide that a roman soldier would parry a Spatha-strike with a (I don`t mean you Martin) non- sharp edge of a sword is ridiculous! If someone is trying to hit you with a kitchen-knife the size of a celtic long sword (despite of the Scutum) you wouldn`t think about the sharpness of your sword! You don`t think like we 21th century re-enactors at that moment. You will just survive!

This is the same situation as I have experienced in boxing; I had very nice moves with the punching bags and mitts but then something happened. When the opponent is trying to hit you (and hurt you) it is a whole different ballgame. No former experiences matters anymore. I would think that it would be the same in a Gargantuan scale with a genuine sword-fighting.

Roman Gladiuses and Spathas are a whole different weapons, without the qualities of a single hand-to-hand combat qualities like medieval swords. What is the introduction date of a sword hand-quard and what would be it`s complete historical menaning?? I think that in this respect you the medieval sword experts can offer us an invaluable source of knowledge...