A recent metallurgical study of two Etruria swords, one in the form of a Greek kopis from 7th century BC Vetulonia, and one in the form of a gladius Hispaniensis from 4th century BC Chiusa, gives some insight concerning the manufacture of Roman swords.
gladius |
Septimius Severus, passing through that region, had him put to death; his head was stabbed with a gladius on May 1, 208, at Bergoiata, a Gallic settlement on a rocky peak over the Rhône River which would be later known as Bourg-Saint-Andéol.
When fighting offensively, Cliathairi use mid-length swords with somewhat leaf-shaped blades (probably of Celtiberian origin) which are designed for stabbing and used something like a Roman gladius.
Standard tactics called for Roman soldiers to throw one of them (both if time permitted) at the enemy, just before charging to engage with the gladius, however Alexander Zhmodikov has argued that the Roman infantry could use pila at any stage in the fighting.
It incorporates both high and low impact exercises, as well as sword drills and dance sets performed with wooden swords (Roman gladius) as props.