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A question regarding weapons
#1
Why did the common soldier in the Imperial legions carry his gladius on his right side? And how did he draw his sword while in line?<br>
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<p></p><i></i>
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#2
If you in line abreast with large scuta held in front of you, it allows you to draw with minimum exposure of the body to Celtic slingers (!). Re drawing, if you reverse your wrist and then pull out the gladius, this works well. If you have a copy of Sumner's book on the Romans in Brasseys History of Uniforms, this is well shown (much better in pics than words).<br>
And welcome to the group!<br>
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Regards<br>
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Paulus <p></p><i></i>
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#3
It does help significantly as a way to draw the sword quickly while in close formation, and it will prevent Whacking your hand/sword into the Sctum as you draw it (if it was on the Left side), or whacking your fellow Miles upside the head if you drew it from the left a bit too enthusiastically. I also see a potential problem that if the sword was on the left, that drawing it hastily could mean a cut on the shield arm from your own sword.<br>
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The popular theory I've seen and use myself, as described briefly by Paulus Brittanicus, is to reverse your right hand so the thumb points downwards. Grab the handle of the Gladius, Push/angle the handle forwards/downwards slightly, so the point/chape behind you angles slightly (this helps pull out the sword), while pulling out the sword. Then twist your wrist around naturally/clockwise and pull it back so your hand is next to your hip. I usually end up pressing the point of the sword gently against the edge of the Sctum, so you barely see the point. And there you are, ready fer action!<br>
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Another theory, if you have the arm length, is to grab the sword reversed grip as described, but then pull it straight up (and slightly backwards?) and out.<br>
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I think Leg. IX Hispana in San Diego has a few theories illustrated on thier site...?<br>
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I'd also note that as long as the scabbard isn't too tight around the sword (I don't think it ought to be anyway), keeping the sword well oiled will not only prevent it from rusting, but will "lube" the scabbard to make drawing faster and much easier.<br>
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have fun and practice..with friends..have a "fastest draw" contest. <p>Titus Vulpius Dominicus ~ Your Friendly Neighborhood Roman Dude.<br>
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Svaviter in Modo, Fortiter in Re (Soft in Manner, Strong in Deed)<br>
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www.higgins.org <br>
www.higginssword.org </p><i></i>
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#4
Three things:<br>
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1/ I always grasp my sword with a reversed grip, as descibed, and then draw it straight up and out of the scabbard. I don't think I have encountered anyone else who does it any other way, although it may just be that I don't look closely at anyone else whilst drawing my own sword. I have always found this method to be very fast and efficient.<br>
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2/ I generally feel (and demonstrate to the public) that with the curved scutum held close to the body and shielding both the front and left side, a sword drawn from the left hip would compromise this protection as the shield would have to be moved away from the body to allow the sword to be drawn. Drawing from the right hip however, means that the shield does not have to be moved even an inch in order to draw the sword.<br>
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3/ Just to complicate matters, I believe Josephus says that the Roman soldiers wore their swords on the left side. Of course he could be mistaken, although he clearly had the opportunity to build up a detailed knowledge of Roman soldiers' equipment. He could alternatively be talking about auxilia.<br>
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Crispvs <p></p><i></i>
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers.  :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:

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#5
On the march, Marius's Mules would probably also have been pleased that the weight of arms and armor was better distributed around the body. A small point perhaps. <p></p><i></i>
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#6
the shield held with left arm, gladius on the left so it could easily be drawn with the right hand, his pugio (dagger) on the left. <p></p><i></i>
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#7
Consider also that when you draw your gladius, you've just cast your pilum. That means you are in range of the enemy's javelins and other missile weapons. This is exactly when you do not want to be moving your scutum. With the right-side draw, the scutum doesn't have to be moved an inch. <p></p><i></i>
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#8
Generally speaking, I prefer to assume that the Roman army would have marched in as close to a combat ready state as possible. This would be essential in the event of an ambush. We are told that to the Romans training was a bloodless battle and that battle was training with blood. Training, then, was designed to mimick the real life situation in order to make the necessary actions second natue. It makes sense then to think that the army would have marched combat ready whether it was in a war zone or not. It would follow therefore, that weapons were carried on the march in exactly the same way that they would be carried in battle.<br>
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Crispvs <p></p><i></i>
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers.  :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:

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#9
The high degree of realism in military training and iuts constant pressure is an ideal often expressed, but I doubt the reality measured up to it the way Josephus thought. No doubt the Roman army was kept at a high degree of battle readiness, but when you look at the multiplicity of jobs the soldiers had to do, and the frequency of the literary topos of 'soft, mishandled Eastern legions' in need of a firm hand, I think we are looking at a case of wishful thinking. The legions were good - better than just about everybody else at the time - but I don't see them as a kind of ancient SpecOps.<br>
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That said, I find wearing the gladius on the right perfectly intuitive and comfortable. In addition to not getting tangled up with your cloak (provided you're right-handed and thus keep it open towards or on the right), it gives you somewhere to put your right hand in the absence of pockets, backpack straps or rifle sling. <p></p><i></i>
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Volker Bach
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