$45 Roman Short Sword Review

In this video I “battle test” a replica of the Roman gladius (short sword) to see if was worth the $45. Made by Reapr, this sword is marketed as a survival tool and the company offers a wide range of other survival gear.
This sword can be purchased over at my Amazon influence page: www.amazon.com/shop/oursimple...
My Patreon Account: / oursimplestory
$8 Survival Knife Torture Test: • Torture Test: Harbor F...
Timeline of this video:
00:00 Unboxing and initial reactions
5:00 History of the gladius
6:00 Harvesting wild grapefruit (chopping/clearing brush)
9:00 Pros and Cons of the Roman gladius or short sword
14:00 Real Life Fruit Ninja
15:30 Slicing/Jabbing at Soda Bottles
16:20 Splitting Firewood with the sword
17:20 Closing Remarks/Recap
#survival#bushcraft#prepping

[@stxufohunter]

The Gladius was chosen as a standard Legion weapon because most of the Legions enemies were not using any type of effective armor. Of course that would not remain the case .

[@jedcollings3624]

Probably had effective enough weapons though, I assume that a huge pike would disturb the shield formation of the full coverage scutum, Romans would be very well protected against missiles but I assume would want a short and light weapon to get in quick and close and take full advantage of superior tactics, pitting one spearman against 2,3,maybe 4 legionaries with a scutum and gladius.

[@SantisValiant]

The kid got his hands on it and immediately I could tell the words going through his mind. "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son. Husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."

[@shoja7264]

This video is by far the best on this weapon. Thank You!!!!

[@alceratops6853]

I just got one yesterday. So far, it's really cool! I can feel the power!

[@giellesfairon1745]

If you like that you will love the Cold Steel Gladius machete, it's made out of far better steel and will hold up 10x longer.

[@LordDirus007]

Sold out

[@LegendaryP-sl7gf]

Cold steel looks worse though

[@TheBigAlarcon]

That is definitely a gladius-patterned blade. There are several variants of the gladius (Hispaniensis, Iberius, Pompeiian) and are distinguished by the points. The spatha was similar, but longer (someone mentioned the Hispaniensis as being longer; maybe referring to the spatha?) Regardless, the gladius was designed for thrusting. Roman doctrine called for fighting pretty much side-by-side, the scutum covering both you & the legionary to your left. It COULD be used to slash, as you mentioned, but fighting in ranks, against enemies that had longer swords, axes or clubs, it was far superior as one didn’t need much room to thrust it, vice the large, swinging arcs needed for longer & heavier weapons. Good review, though.

[@SIGFRIDO_88]

The gladius hispaniensis is the original one, Romans started yo use it during the Second Punic War when they figthed against the Cartgo´s Celtiberian mercenaries who used it.

[@kyrenthang8633]

That is a Mainz point gladius. The sword is not only superior when using the point but if forced to slash with it the wasp waist added extra cutting power.

[@SmartAss4123]

The Gladius was chosen as part of a full weapon system. It was meant to capitalize on roman shield formations and how tightly they integrated ranks with spear/pikes in the rear. As well as with Bowman even further back. It worked for like 800-1000 years depending on which roman empire version you look at. So it was quite effective even against armored enemies due to the efficient stab nature behind shield ranks. Now if you were a lone soldier, then it becomes a pretty shit weapon in a duel and you'd want anything but a gladius lol.

[@jfilm7466]

What is the spear you have there?

[@cbeaudry4646]

Really awesome and comprehensive video; especially with the M4 analogy. Two other points to add about your comments on the handle: the Gladius was designed for fighting with a sheid. While longer cross-guards are good for dueling especially when blocking a blow. But with this the blocking is more meant to be done with the very large Roman shield than the sword itself, and with the shorter cross-guard being closer to the length of the pommel, you could easily use the sword to push on the back of your shield. Also, where's the spear video!?

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Hey man, thanks for your thoughtful comment. I appreciate your historical input! I decided to ditch the spear video idea because of time. I had some other projects to finish up and the spear sits dormant in my bedroom closet, sad and alone. I’m sorry to disappoint!

[@cbeaudry4646]

@@oursimplestorychannel No worries, this vid was cool enough. Thanks for the content and the reply

[@honeybaby7840]

My dad passed earlier this year and I got this from his house, I've been calling it my big old machete until someone told me what it actually was

[@hildolfrdraugadrottin7279]

The blades being discussed here are machetes. So if this is what you have you were correct in calling it a machete.

[@raphlvlogs271]

there are actually early modern era swords that were functionally very similar to the Gladius

[@Kaiser_von_Europa]

That is not a roman spear. Roman spear are used to break enemy armour or shield and they were designed for throwing then break after impact so that the enemy can't use the spear

[@henrytheheron1028]

I love the history within the video

[@mattline76]

Nice vid! just bought one from Academy 👍

[@NPCSN]

How do you like it? I just picked up their spear and I absolutely love it!

[@mythic_frost9509]

What store is that?!?!

[@Eidenbites]

I saw that as well .. oh man he got the spear as well nice! A bore was charging us and he utilized that spear to keep him back. definitely an awesome thing to have .. here in Texas you can walk around with that

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Wow, that’s an amazing story! Was everyone okay?

[@matthewgonzales1900]

I have one as well and its amazing

[@longrider42]

Yes, it is a Gladius of the Meridius, design, the United Cutlery Combat Commander Gladiator sword is of the Mainz design.. It wasn't short on purpose. It was short due to the metallurgy of the time. Trying to make something longer ended up being either too soft or too brittle. After all this was Iron Age tech. And as we know from history, swords did get longer, over time.

[@stxufohunter]

The version I bought at Academy was not stainless steel but regular steel as revealed by magnet test.

[@jamessouza7065]

"Regular" steel?

[@DevDMZ]

High carbon stainless will also attract a magnet.

[@thebowieman621]

Awesome just got this recent my self

[@cannabub420]

Reviews on the spear??

[@jasonfreeman2863]

One thing you didn’t mention is that this thing comes out of the package with NO edges at all. None.. Surely you must have noticed. Or maybe you didn’t. Anyway, plan on at least 30 minutes, to get a good edge on both sides. Once you get it, the steel is decent, and seems to hold an edge.

[@robertlehnert4148]

Mine had quite sharp edges, though it could stand some fine tuning. So did another video, so I suspect your dull one was a fluke.

[@samualstanley8671]

Just bought mine and it was very very sharp

[@samualstanley8671]

I think the reapr brand was bought by another company

[@jerrydonquixote5927]

It was a system of fighting the Romans used not just a sword, but the system of fighting in unison the shield sword and the phalanx...

[@killzinshadows3767]

Get the one from cold steel you will be 100× happier with the product !

[@rexromani2415]

I agree Oddly enough the gladius or Roman sword was meant for stabbing not slashing because they had a huge scutum or the iconic rectangular shield .... It is not a machete but it's a cool sword so why is it called machete

[@shockwave6213]

The Machete label is appropriate in my opinion. It doesnt have a distal taper like a real gladius does. It also helps sell in sporting goods stores where they would otherwise refuse to market a sword. The Cold Steel option is better than this one, but I like them both.

[@robertlehnert4148]

The Macedonians certainly learned the gladius was a cutter. The emphasis on training was the thrust, but not solely by any means

[@hildolfrdraugadrottin7279]

Because it is a machete not a sword.

[@basedghostface6684]

I wish I’d have seen this before I bought the combat commander one, it looks wayyy better

[@longrider42]

the Combat Commander is made of 1060/1065 Carbon steel. Which is better in every way over 420 stainless. Specially for a long blade.

[@jorgefernandez6407]

Make no mistake, you did good getting the Combat Commander!

[@beastmode2990]

I can make you a short sword out of 1095 steel fully hardened for a bit more than 45 but it will last you more as well

[@TheManOWrath]

The reason they aren't marketing it as a sword is because it is made like a machete and not a legit sword.

[@robertlehnert4148]

I just did two neat cuts of the package plastic near the hilt and then just slid both the blade and the sheath out of the packaging with a lot less fuss.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

It’s because you’re likely more intelligent than myself.

[@robertlehnert4148]

@@oursimplestorychannel lol, naw, just maybe a wee little more experience (age 61) in this age of plastic packaging.

[@richardgonzales8502]

I own both the spear and The Sword : Awesome Defensive Weapons !

[@AncientGreek]

Would be better to have a firearm, but some of our shithole countries don't want us to defend our selfs

[@superhumanfitness9369]

@@AncientGreek blades never run outa ammo

[@AncientGreek]

@@superhumanfitness9369 yeah but you can't win a firefight with a blade, criminals always have guns.

[@samuelrichards5521]

@@AncientGreek 21 feet and you definitely can

[@flatlogicinheaven7291]

@@AncientGreek the only thing that sucks about that is the major ammo shortage that we're having right now gun doesn't do us any good if we don't have no ammo, so it's always handy to have a close battle weapon

[@royjones427]

The power the kid felt when he had the sword in his hand 😆🤣😆

[@oursimplestorychannel]

😂

[@FireStar-gz2ry]

Shorter weapons have an interesting effect on soldiers if you think about it, it forces you to close the gap and get personal with the enemy

[@oursimplestorychannel]

True.

[@exionem]

How strong is the tip? Will it bend too easily?

[@oursimplestorychannel]

The tip is not very strong.

[@cyriton3886]

I think I learned more about history and military weaponry then I did about the sword itself.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

You’re welcome 😂

[@donaldhairston6604]

What store where you at

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Academy sports

[@RichyRichVegasMade]

It was effective for the role it was designed for. Roman legions where effective bc of the use of short swords and Sheilds. This tactic was why they where so deadly.

[@user-lk8cp1df6z]

The Gladius stabs, it is not meant to slash or smash. Also stabbing takes much less energy and motion

[@hildolfrdraugadrottin7279]

They actually trained and did both with them. I have real swords but not a Gladius. I do have a Cold Steel Gladius though and it will easily take off an arm or a head.

[@outlaw1385]

Two handing a gladius. Our Roman fellas Are turning in their graves

[@nelsonr1467]

This or the cold steel gladius?

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Yes, I believe so.

[@realtalk4real243]

@@oursimplestorychannel what?

[@caderiddle5996]

Man your lucky I had to pay 60 for the darn thing

[@lugo2214]

Fun

[@yefartz108]

Any steel under 440 carbon will eventually bend if used hard

[@kailebcooke5095]

You’re wearing the sheath for the gladius wrong it should be attached to a strap that loops over your head and across your chest and over your shoulder on your dominant hands side but I mean wear it how you want honestly that’s just how you’re “supposed too”

[@oursimplestorychannel]

I’m also wearing jeans and a tshirt. 😜

[@katrinahaney994]

You are either very knowledgeable or a really good bullshiter. I enjoyed the video nice job.

[@justingarcia1504]

Cool shirt

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Thanks

[@chanceblevins6682]

Bare in mind i believe thats the machete version from cold steel. And 5.56 NATO is a slightly longer bullet than the 2.23 remington

[@oursimplestorychannel]

True. Good point.

[@nathanboyer2372]

2:50 wait for it... uses a knife to open a knife.🔪🗡 maybe one day someone will make a knife/sword that can cut itself out of its own packaging.😂

[@peebay3515]

Emo sword FTW!!!!

[@alceratops6853]

That'd be so genius!!

[@EngineerMK2004]

That's pretty darn good for forty-five bucks.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

True

[@roberttamatea1996]

The Romans carried the traditional sword type past down by the last Trojan warrior Aeneas who is the father of Rollo and Remus the founding fathers of Rome.

[@leodowneyjr9594]

Yeah longer swords essentially came out because of riding on horseback. You're not going to be able to get anybody with a short sword riding on the back of a horse. It's like the father of Ramses in The Exodus movie said when he gave a gift of some special swords to his nephew Moses and his son gave them to swords and like they said they were long enough to be useful on horseback but not so long that you will trip on them. I really love bronze swords I don't know if any of you guys have ever held a heavy bronze sword. I guess they're construction to wait everything is completely different than the other steel swords. I seen for sale in a magazine one day a whole bunch of different swords from Lord of the Rings beautifully well done copies a bunch of different types like Aragon's big single sword. The elf dudeless Legolas, the elf guy they have his swords which are two smaller thinning tall like single-handed swords. Got one in each hand. They even had the dwarf guy gimbly I believe, well anyway they had his ax and several different types of his accessories like too many types that the strange looking one and then the one you kind of think of as being an ancient battle ax. But I thought was really impressive as well as they had some of the stuff bronze swords and stuff and they have a bronze sword from the movie Troy the one used by Achilles is exact remake. I believe it comes with a sheath and everything I'm not sure how much they are charging for it but man I would love to get one of those. Bronze armor bronze weapons are actually really cool my ancestors the Celtics there were like masters of making metal. They invited chainmail armor and changed a bunch of stuff. They were extremely good at crafting bronze weapons bronze swords bronze daggers in the early days. Before iron came along you see England is full of tin. People are coming from thousands of miles to get up close enough to the traders that come out from England for so they can combine it with copper to make the bronze

[@longrider42]

Okay, sorry I keep butting in. But at the time of the Roman Empire, most swords, no matter the country, had an average blade length of 18 inches, after all this was the Iron Age. People didn't really understand much about making swords. Since getting it wrong was pretty easy.

[@longrider42]

Sure unless your in a Desert, and you need range and knock down power. And they carry more ammo because they need it. What the M14 could do with one round the M4 might take three or four. Oh, and the armor the standard Roman Legionnaire wore, was laminated leather armor. Not much metal, if any. Okay, I will shut up now.

[@rickmars8581]

That was truly painful, watching you try to get into that plastic packaging. If you had taken your little knife and slit both sides of the plastic about 3" at the handle end, between the scabbard and the cardboard, using the cardboard backing as your guide, you could have slid both the sword and the scabbard out the top. Easy as pie. Thanks for the laugh though!

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Lol - I know right!?!

[@drlucky9523]

Roman Gladius & Elevation XD

[@jonathangarzon2798]

The original gladius hispaniensis was alot longer and was what the Romans went back to later in the empires life

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Interesting, thanks!

[@alexdedebabadunn7140]

Incredibilis

[@germanolivares7072]

Cold steel and united cutlery make the same stuff.

[@siegfired10xx74]

Not even close lol clearly a comment from someone who hasnt handled both

[@shades3388]

WHY do You keep dragging Your hand down the blade?!?!?!

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Haha, I don’t know, cause it feels good?

[@brucewilliams473]

I actually cut back the tip off mine to make it more frim, and less likely to curl back. Made it more sturdy at the tip with still a very sharp point. I jumped up and down on this blade and couldn't bend it or break it, with a hammer undeneath it toward the tip, 170 lbs, Now I was impressed with it, and I really tried to break it in half. Didn't work.

[@brianneaboxaroxa2684]

where did you get that? Man I would love that for my "satisfaction".

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Academy sports

[@JD7Y]

4:12 Bent the tip

[@ProphetRay]

Nice for the apocalypse 😿

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Yup

[@realtalk4real243]

I think romans actually used boots. They just looked like sandals

[@oursimplestorychannel]

You may be right :)

[@michellebrown7714]

depends on where and what time frame from the roman empire

[@bjulianlm]

Dudes in the jungles probably ain't wearing any steel toe boots or shoes swinging machetes and other cutting tools so, yup.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Yup

[@cobrapatrol]

soo dangerous

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Life is full of adventure.

[@taywebb1954]

3:50 was I the only one focused on the kid also sub to him and me my KZbin it’s ttv ultra

[@oursimplestorychannel]

I noticed the kid as well.

[@mwillblade]

Your talking about a sword. What you got there my friend is a machete that looks like a gladius. That thing would be chewed up against a sword made for battle.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Oh yeah, absolutely it would. Thanks for watching!

[@jamesm1]

Gladius's are also great fun to throw. They sail into a target better than most later european swords.

[@kennywasfound5004]

Looks just like cold steel

[@bonesjrtrevithick3817]

Glad the kid didn't randomly run into his sword

[@jacobberry5138]

That spear is not Roman.

[@michellebrown7714]

prob closer to Germanic

[@Katzenkotze85]

😮i wonder, what makes you think that survival spear has anything to do with the roman era - yes, it is a spear... used THROUGHOUT history... romans used plumbatas, pilas.... no really similaritys there.... 😮😅

[@Zach5558.]

No the Roman's wish they had it

[@Giggledondada]

2024

[@leodowneyjr9594]

Damn my local Farm and Fleet" country store in my area but I don't think it'll be too long and they'll be gone. I can't believe that they have them out any shelves weapons for sale like this liberals ain't going to like that. It's pathetic. I used to have a bunch of Swords good collection stuff but things stolen and or lost like when I was locked up I had on my last couple of swords oh my guitar equipment my my dream guitar my Fender Stratocaster. My high-powered tube amp for playing gigs. That was worth about 400 used and I just gotten it. Stratocaster was about 600 Barely Used Mexican model that was older that I was looking for cuz all the newer Mexican models are garbage. And then my performing bass guitar and I've been nice bass guitar actually used for playing in bands and stuff I mean some other various bits of gear all that stuff is like gone when I got out and I just recently found out that my family said somebody stole it well it turns out that they actually sold most of my stuff because that's how greedy cruel and ignorant they are I didn't owe them money or anything like that. I'm going to just destroyed me the way to tell us about to come home so I wouldn't be super Furious while I was locked up with people cuz I was already getting into some fights and stuff and you're locked up and you're stuck in each other's faces it's bound to happen bogus people in there. At least if you lose this sword it's only 50 bucks to get another one. So that also means I could actually go around and use it acting like all sorts of maniac and I don't have to worry so much about damaging some multi-hundred dollar sword I've had someone to pass that couldn't handle a little play. I had a night sword fell apart and I couldn't get put back together and it wouldn't have needed welding the whole thing just stripped out most of the stuff people are selling nowadays as far as weapons are just total garbage like I said I got a ninja sword in the handle was messed up and I can't find anywhere any way to make another handle properly like that and it'll probably just fall right back apart again obviously it was not a good design. But these look solid and I mean they're made out of some really tough stuff I'm not certain how great that exact type of stainless is but stainless being pretty good and then that handle that's pretty much Invincible I work with sledgehammers and splitting malls and all sorts of stuff that has this kind of handle material is just the best. Great video I appreciate the information and getting a good look see whether me going down to spend some of the last of my free cash would be worth it. I figured it would be good anyways but this is just helps me make the decision better that I'm getting the right thing. That like I said I'm not sure whether I want to go with the javelin or the sword and then try to get the other one later on. They don't have the tomahawk here I'd be tempted with that too. Did you have another brand in farming Fleet of a different type of Tomahawk s o g tools. I'm pretty sure that's what it was, sog. But this Reaper brand is pretty awesome what a badass company to just come out with these cheap yet extremely well built weapons for fun!

[@wasabiajaponica5564]

That's no roman short sword, that's just a cheap ass big knife.

[@warlock.420]

Anyone can pull a trigger, real men use blades.

[@just.8797]

Wait I thought you pushed a trigger

[@humansvd3269]

I guess if you get shot to death, you can be happy you died a man, while those that killed you go on with life and laughing at your dead body...

[@BrassBashers]

Too much talky, more reviewy and choppy. Will keep the ADD kids like me around 🤣 (I'm 31 btw lmao)

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Looking forward to your channel/sword review with less talky 😛

[@slashnburnPizza]

I am Like number 420

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Interesting okay.

[@claudelester7673]

Cold Steel has something like it.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Nice. I’ll have to check it out.

[@shockwave6213]

Definitely try the Cold Steel one. I love mine. Its the best one for the price. United Cutlery sells a tactical Gladius at that price range too. But if you test it on water filled jugs, make sure to dry off the blade edges without the black coating before you put it back in the sheath to prevent rust. Cold steel uses 1055 High Carbon steel. Not stainless.

[@johndesalvo4467]

Ther were no "Spanish" or Spaniards during Roman Empire times. Now if you're referring to Iberia and the mostly Celtic population in Northern Iberia and transitioning to mixed "Celtiberian"/ Iberion in Southern Spain would have alloted you unwavering credibility....unfortunately....

[@oursimplestorychannel]

I don’t understand. I don’t remember referring to Spanish…can you give me a minute mark where I do?