Page 64 of 114

History of Roman Daggers & Swords

August 20, 2015 / Tim / 5 Comments

Gladiator Scene

In honor of our current giveaway of the Roman-inspired Thraex XII Tactical from US Gladius, we’re taking a more in-depth look at the swords and daggers from Ancient Rome.

When it comes to swords from history, it’s hard to think of better-known weapons than those from the Roman times. Due to the countless parallels with modern day society and the drama that took place during the time, our fascination with Ancient Rome is almost as old as Rome itself.

Before we venture into the swords and daggers, we’ll start with what Ancient dRome was like.

Life in Ancient Rome

Even though the peak of Ancient Rome was way back between 753 BC and 476 AD, Roman society was extremely advanced. Most of the wealthy Romans lived extravagant lifestyles with luxurious furnishings. The poor were on the other side of the spectrum. They didn’t have such lavish lives, but they did kill some time watching things like chariot races and gladiator fights.

After a hard day’s work, Romans from all backgrounds would head over to the public baths—where they would relax, gossip, mingle, and recuperate.

Rome wasn’t all fun and games, though. The Roman Empire—and the Republic to a lesser extent—were bent on expanding its territories through conflicts and conquests. Along with the gladiator events, weapons came in handy during battles.

Types of Roman Swords and Daggers

Maybe it’s just because of the countless movies set in Ancient Rome (such as Spartacus and Gladiator), but Roman weapons are very distinct. Let’s take a look at a few.

Gladius

The gladius was the primary weapon for the foot soldiers of Ancient Rome. The name was derived from the words gladiator, which means swordsman, and gladiolus, which means little sword. In general terms, the gladius sword features a double-edged blade that’s meant for thrusting with a few slices. Its other discerning feature is a knobbed hilt, which was typically ornate.

Condor Primitive Bush Knife – Badass Knife of the Week

August 17, 2015 / Tim / 1 Comment

Legend has it that survivalist Matt Graham went for a walk one day and ended up spending six months on his own in the wilderness. Now a cohost of Discovery Channel’s Dual Survivor reality show, Graham has teamed up with Condor Tool & Knife to create the latest Badass Knife of the Week.

The Condor Primitive Bush Knife features an 8-inch leaf-shaped blade made from 420 high carbon stainless steel, which is optimal for the outdoors due to its resistance to corrosion and ability to resharpen easily.

Win the US Gladius Thraex XII

August 13, 2015 / Tim / 114 Comments

For more than 400 years, the Roman Gladius was the weapon of choice during epic battles like the Macedonian Wars and gladiator events. Even though the short sword known as the Roman Gladius fell out of favor about 19 centuries ago, the fact that it was used by thousands of men prove that the design had some merit.

That’s where the Thraex XII Tactical Knife comes into the picture.

CRKT Sting – Badass Knife of the Week

August 10, 2015 / Tim / 1 Comment

Feel the sting of our latest Badass Knife of the Week. The CRKT Sting offers a sudden, biting, and piercing self-defense tool that quietly waits in the wings until it’s time for action.

The Sting is meticulously crafted from a single piece of forged 1050 carbon steel, which is treated for maximum durability and strength. The double-edged blade is 3.197 inches long and coated with a non-reflective powder finish to increase corrosion resistance and decrease visibility.

KeySmart 2.0 Key Holder Review

August 6, 2015 / Tim / 5 Comments

Those were my keys.

Take a good look at them. I know they’re a mess.

As someone who prides himself on being organized, efficient, and constantly prepared, I felt thoroughly embarrassed whenever I reached for the jingly jumble of chaos.

I knew I needed to switch things up, to rethink the way I organized my keys. So I looked to KeySmart. I’d seen KeySmart countless times while browsing through knife sites and Instagram accounts centered around EDC items.

For those unfamiliar with KeySmart, it’s a minimalist keyring that started out as a project on Kickstarter. Needless to say, the project was successfully funded and shattered its goals with 15,000 backers pledging a fair amount of money. They’ve since become a full-on business with an updated design and everything.

I admit, I was skeptical at first. This thing seemed unnecessary and gratuitous. Humans have carried keys around the same way for hundreds of years. Why do we need to change it? That’s when I realized I was being daft. Bucking the norm and finding better ways to do old things is how we came up with a bunch of cool inventions.

Buck 245 Matt Would Go – Badass Knife of the Week

August 3, 2015 / Tim / 0 Comments

Sometimes, our Badass Knife of the Week gets the honor for more reasons than just being a well-constructed knife. Sometimes the background of the knife makes it even more badass. Here’s what we wrote about our latest Badass Knife of the Week—the Buck 245 Matt Would Go—when it was first announced in January:

By all accounts, Special Warfare Operator First Class (SEAL) Matthew J. Leathers was an amazing human being. Not only was he a highly decorated SEAL but he was also someone his friends and family describe as a nice guy who would give others the shirt off his back.

When Leathers was lost at sea during a training exercise off the coast of Hawaii in 2013, the military suffered a huge loss.

But thanks to Buck Knives and Leathers’ father, his legacy will live on in the badass 245 Matt Would Go—a knife designed by Leathers himself.

Featuring a 4-inch drop point blade made from tough-as-nails 5160 steel, the 245 MWG is built to withstand nearly anything you can throw at it.

CRKT To Release Three New Climber’s Knives

July 30, 2015 / Tim / 1 Comment

When you’re on the side of a cliff a couple thousand feet above the ground, nothing is more important than a strong knife… well, maybe a secure foothold is a little more important but a solid knife is still vital.

That’s why CRKT is releasing an array of new knives optimized for hard-core climbers: the Bivy, Niad, and Hyphenate.

Because CRKT wanted to do things the right way, the company enlisted the help of someone who knows a thing or two about climbing—Hans Florine.

Pretty much all of Florine’s accomplishments leave me with sweaty palms, but his ultimate claim to fame is breaking the record for speed climbing the Nose route on El Capitan in Yosemite. Florine ascended 2,900 vertical feet in 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 46 seconds.

This new line was created in response to Florine’s desire for reliable and effortless tools. Here’s what he said in one of CRKT’s press releases:

Badass Knife of the Week: United Cutlery Honshu Karambit

July 27, 2015 / Tim / 1 Comment

You never know where trouble is lurking. That’s why it’s always important to be prepared for anything. Our latest Badass Knife of the Week excels at blending into the background and remaining out of sight and out of mind until you need it the most.

The United Cutlery Honshu Karambit, which is one of our best-sellers, is an easily-concealed device perfect for self-defense!

Kershaw Emerson CQC-6K Knife Review

July 24, 2015 / admin / 4 Comments

20150615_153808

I’m not sure who deserves the credit. Is it the peanut butter or the jelly that makes the sandwich complete? Is it the spaghetti or the meatball to whom the praise belongs? Does a perfect collaboration have only one crucial ingredient or is it the yin and yang that brings two ideas together? In the case of the Kershaw Emerson CQC series, I believe it’s both.

When Kershaw and Emerson Knives announced its collaboration back in 2014, I figured there was no way to successfully pull this marriage off. Building a quality Emerson design on a Kershaw budget seemed like a long shot. Still, I’d be lying if the original idea didn’t have me chomping at the bit.

Badass Knife of the Week: Spyderco Military

July 20, 2015 / Tim / 0 Comments

Spyderco is known for taking risks, bucking conventional wisdom, and striving for the best knives ever, regardless of what they look like.

No knife embodies these qualities of Spyderco like the latest Badass Knife of the Week: the Spyderco Military G-10.

The Military, which is better known as the Millie to its legions of dedicated fans, was introduced in the early 90s and has since earned its place in the pantheon of important knives. We’ve given the knife quite a bit of attention. Not only did it make our list of most iconic Spyderco knives but it also made our list of most iconic knives ever. So it’s only fitting that the Millie is also a Badass Knife of the Week.

What sets the Military apart from the countless clones is the attention to detail and perfectly executed design. As one of the most mimicked knives ever, the Military still proves why it’s the best.

The Cutting Edge

The official blog of Knife Depot