How to use a Gladius in RL???

[cmacq]

forearm loop

From the examples I've seen there isn't a forearm loop on the scutum? And, the boss handle/grip was horizontal with no room to hold anything else. The javelins must have been either expended before contact or stuck in the ground further back for the rear ranks to toss. Regardless, the sword couldn't have been drawn until the javelins were out of hand. Apparently, they didn’t want the levies to have a javelin in the shield hand after contact or they would have designed the grip differently.