segmentata

[Tarbicus]

True, to some extent, but Rome fought on more fronts than Gaul. The Carthaginians in particular are reported by Polybius as employing captured Roman arms. Also, there were wars between Romans before Caesar, not to mention the so called Social War.

But the Romans got the capability to make the gladius hispaniensis from Spanish swordsmiths they captured after Scipio had captured (I think) Carthage (or during that stage of the Punic Wars), when they were forced to teach them how to make them. It must have been like the Allies capturing the German rocket scientists after WW2. The Carthaginians carried captured Roman armour, scuta and helmets (there are comments in sources about how the Romans thought it was other Romans approaching them at Cannae), but the spanish sword was much sought after by Romans due to its incredible manufacture and qualities which was lacking in their own.