Quote Originally Posted by Watchman View Post
Pretty sure that's a negative, sorry.

Not really. Diamond profile is actually more or less detrimental to cutting effectiveness as the mid-part "drags" in the target. This of course depends on the exact design; with a profile as flattened as that of the gladius the effect is probably minimal.

Nevertheless, it does nothing to improve a cut either. What it *does* improve is the thrust, as it adds stiffness and lenghtwise structural strength to the blade.

Given the more or less even central thickness throughout, it's not really going to do much to mass distribution and balance and, hence, the location of the optimal "sweet spot" percussion point either. Those are much more affected by details such as the weight of the grip and pommel, the specific thickness etc. of the blade, and for example the wasp-waisted shape of the "Mainz" and "Fulham" types which have a noticeably wider section just before they start to taper to a long thrusting point.
And I'm willing to bet that part is exactly their "sweet spot".
No, I'm sorry because A) I'm not expaling myself well and B) I'm thinking of something a little more complex.

The early Gladii are leaf bladed and that extra mass near the end moves the precussion point down the blade, as you say, but the later Gladii have shorter, broader, points and pretty much exactly parralel blade edges, i.e. the blade doesn't taper like Greek or Celtic swords and that also moves the precussion point down the blade. Despite the large pommel the Gladius is decidedly blade-heavy.

As to the diamond cross section, I'm thinking about it compared to "ribbed" blades which get even move drag than the diamond. The diamond section also seems to have had something to do with honing the edge. One weapon, the Tiberius Gladius was so badly honed after it was forged it destroyed the cutting edge, which is probably why someone chucked it in the Thames.