Posts: 14
Threads: 4
Joined: Feb 2016
Reputation:
0
Country:
Hi there,
Going to vlog about the gladius and part of this involves (I hope) a discussion on the waisted blade. I consider that it allows for more punch to a thrusting blow, particularly in the case of the Pompeii blade. Any thoughts on this or suggestions as to what advantages it gave?
Posts: 819
Threads: 64
Joined: Jul 2011
Reputation:
9
Waisted blades give more mass toward the weak/point end of the sword, pushing the point of balance, and changing the center of percussion, making for more powerful cuts, and giving more surface area for cuts. Early gladii were equally suited as cut and thrust swords. The Pompeii type gladii were not waisted, either parallel or slightly tapered and overall shorter blades, likely the sword smiths were not envisioning powerful cuts emphasized (though obviously still possible). More than anything, waisted blades were a cultural affectation, as many old bronze age swords of the Mediterranean area were waisted, as were the early iron swords favored by the Romans, specifically the xiphos sword, many of the early Gladius Hispaniensis, and the Mainz/Fulham type.
Posts: 112
Threads: 10
Joined: Dec 2013
Reputation:
1
Many waisted blades are thinnest where they are widest. So no extra mass near the point was achieved by the waisting and PoBs remained where they most usually are, but wide and thin area gave the blade great cutting potential against soft targets (flesh, cloth, leather)
Posts: 78
Threads: 15
Joined: Jun 2016
Reputation:
2
They look good as well.
Andy Ross
"The difference between theory and practice is that in theory, there's no difference"