Late 2nd century AD. A short and strong double-edged iron gladius blade of Pompeii typology, with a slim, slightly conical tang bent at the top and oblique shoulders to the blade; possible remains of wooden scabbard; with a pelta-shaped chape with trefoil finials. See Bishop, M.C., Coulston, J.C.N., Roman military equipment, from the Punic wars to the fall of Rome, London, 1993; Bishop, M.C., Coulston, J.C.N., Roman military equipment, from the Punic wars to the fall of Rome, London, 2006; Miks, C., Studien zur Römischen Schwertbewaffnung in der Kaiserzeit, I-II Banden, Rahden, 2007; D'Amato, R., Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier, London, 2009; for similar specimens Miks, 2007, no.A282 (Hamfelde), A396 (Kryspinów), A585 (Pogdórzyce), A656 (Sille Gjerpen); for the chape see no.A280 (Hamfelde"). Exhibited in the exhibition of the State Police, Rome, Italy, on 21 May 2011. 1 kg, 64cm (25 1/4"). From a private Italian collection; acquired from Hermann Historica, 11 April 2008, lot 38; previously in a private European collection; accompanied by a copy of Italian cultural export licence number 20254 and by an expertise by military specialist Dr. Raffaele D’Amato. After the middle part of the 1st century AD, the so-called Pompeii type gladius, (Bishop-Coulston, 2006, pp.80ff.) with a short triangular point was invented. Various specimens from Pompeii, Newstead, Hod Hill, Gusca (Bishop-Coulston, 2006, fig.36/2, p.71.) and other localities belonged to this typology even with slight variations. This typology of gladius is the main one represented on Trajan's Column and Adamklisi monument, and slowly substituted the old Mainz typology. This kind of sword was much more suitable than the older Mainz typology for the fight against the Germanic tribes, allowing the legionary to deliver equally successful blows by stabbing and chopping.