Gladiator

The gladiator swords were first used by Roman Legionnaires as their main choice of weapon. Throughout the Roman Empire, it was also seen frequently in the hands of the gladiators fighting in the arena. The very hard and sharp double-edged blade of the gladiator swords made it a very formidable one handed weapon and favored the Romans' penchant for close-quarter combat. The size and maneuverability of gladiator swords gave the Roman legionnaires, infantry, and cavalrymen further advantage in close combat because it enables them to wield a shield for protection during battle. In these times of war, the Romans employed numerous weapons, but only a few were depended on as much as an effective sword for the critical, close combat situations.