How To.. wear the Pugio and Gladius (belts, fasteners)

[Tarbicus]

Trajans column Jim. (That is also wher you will see many gladii at different levels.)

What!? That's clutching at straws now, mate! I don't think Crispvs has anything to worry about, or are you having a TC seg made based on the mind's eye of urban sculptors who probably never saw real live legionaries in their lives, much less ones kitted out for battle in Dacia?

What do the Adamklissi metopes show?

amoungst many, including republican images such as the afore mentioned Ahenobarbus sarcophegus.
If you wear a gladius in the position shown on many stelle, ie vertical infront of the thigh, it rides on the leg, gets in the way. I doubt a Roman would put up with it for more than a pace or 2.

Why is your gladius smack bang in front of the thigh? It should be at the side and forward a bit.

Go to the RAT Imagebase and take a good look through the full size grave stelae, especially the quality ones from the 1st C. The only time the gladius is leaning forwards is when the soldier is physically holding it forwards, and that especially includes Minucius Lorarius. Some gladii may be slightly forward, but even that's mostly when the arm seems to be resting on it. As for pugios, they're pointed straight up at the heavens except for Minucius Lorarius again, but that a completely horizontal one across his midriff anyway.