Roman Gladius Sword

I ordered this sword anticipating a basic, run-of-the-mill mass produced piece of steel. When I got it, it was more weighty than I thought it would be, but at the same time, it is everything you ordered.The wood grain is deceptive when not under scrutiny, so don't believe that it will stand up when asked about being authentic. The metal caps and etchings are wonderfully worked and you can see both a detailed eagle and she-wolf on the reverse sides of the upper grip. The handle itself is *slightly* small, but unless someone has large hands it wouldn't be a problem.The blade itself is not sharp, but I wasn't expecting it to be. It has the brand name on it, in small lettering. It also has the steel type and "Handcrafted in China". I guess that's a small step up from just "Made in China"...The only irk someone could find is that the etching (albeit very nice) is closer to Celtic knots and designs than anything Roman. It's not a big issue since it is hard to see unless in the light. (Also, I'm of Celtic descent, so it's actually a strange plus for me.)

I purchased this as a ren fair gift for a friend in 2013. Back then, I purchased it for $37.86 which was frankly an absolutely amazing price, and well worth the quality. Now in 2023 it looks like it's about $20 more. Based on inflation alone, I would have expected only a $10 increase, through since I considered it worth the price back then, it might still be worth the price now.The blade itself is fantastic for recreation and prop value - I wouldn't say it's a functional sword, but I'm not an expert on sword quality in the first place. I also can't say how "historically accurate" it may or may not be, but it looks cool enough and feels solid enough to me!The worst part, which has been mentioned in other reviews, is definitely the scabbard, which was cheap hard plastic. I was forewarned and expected it, so I wasn't that disappointed. If you can, I'd replace it with something else. Overall, I can't complain too much about the scabbard since the blade makes up for it.Overall, the gift went over well and my friend still takes it to the ren fair every now and then to this day!

First, if you're looking for a "battle ready" sword, then this is not it. I would never dare take this into a sword fight. But then again, why would I get into a sword fight? I live in the 21st century. But if you've watched the TV show "Rome" or the movie "Gladiator" a little too much and you want a sword that will cut through stuff...then look elsewhere.However, if you're looking for a very beautiful gladius, then this is it. One of the previous reviews said the "wood" color was not as pictured. Mine is...it looks exactly like the picture. Also, the eagle that is at the bottom of the handle is gold on mine; which is pretty cool.Like I said, this is not a "battle ready" sword...but it is good. The thing is not heavy at all; it MAYBE weighs about 2.5 lbs. So, that is pretty realistic and its pretty well balanced. Anyway, for what it is, it is pretty darn cool.

First, Yes it is not sharp....Some reviews have been disappointed that a "replica Roman gladius is an ideal piece for collectors, reenactors, or for costumes." was not sharp. However this is exactly what I was looking for, I wanted a replica that could be hung up as decoration and this sword fits the bill.The only thing that was a disappointment is the scabbard...Supposed to offer a "wood grain finish" is a fail....just brown plastic. Not a big deal as long as you know before it arrives.

i did read some reviews saying it arrived broken, i took a chance. mine arrived broken. but since the case is plastic, the item is a little on the cheap side, for $45 it's not too bad. prob worth $25, but my Valentine loves Gladiator so had to get this. if you end up getting one you might notice the upper half of the sword casing seperates from the lower half (where the fake metal borders are). you can see it has just a bit of glue on both sides holding it together which explains why it would break apart so easily, so i'll just buy some heavy duty glue at home depot and fix it. it is pretty. also not sure if the color of the casing changes per order, mine is an orangey fake wood color, that was disappointing, not the most impressive fake wood color, but again it's a cheap ol' gladiator wanna-be look alike sword. IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE DARK WOOD as you see in the ad. if you can spare extra money it is worth it to save yourself from the disappointing issues.

The ads image looks attractive, the actual produce however looks very lousy and is very heavy and unbalanced. So you cannot really play with it or even have it for display. I have returned it.

This sword is a thing of beauty, especially for the price. The sword itself is beautiful and well built. The scabbard is as beautiful as the sword. The scabbard is plastic, but looks like polished walnut. All the intricate metal work is very well done. This was a very good purchase, well worth the price, and it will be a welcome addition to my collection.