2nd Punic War - which sword?

[John M McDermott]

There is another theory that all of the swords found that we associate with the Republic are not infantry swords at all, but spathas. The supporting logic is that such swords survive because they are votive and only the "better" spathas would have been used for the votive purpose.

I currently reject this logic as all these swords have infantry style points. Also, it strikes me that these would be excellent swords for cutting off the tips of pikes. During the Republican period, the Romans were encountering pikemen on a regular basis.