the hole in the middle of the handle with the sleeve in it is to anchor the handle to the tang, so if you do make contact with something the handle doesn't slide off.
The hole in the handle is so you can attach it to a drill and now you have a deadly spinning blade on your hands. I may be wrong, but that's what I choose to believe.
Lash it to a pole or loop a leather strap for retention... whilst repelling wave after wave of drug enraged bear assault... you get sweaty and you don't want that thing slipping out of your hand right then...
I have both of these as well. The Cold Steel looks nicer online or in a case, but the United Cutlery Gladius feels better balanced, has a more comfortable handle and handles better.
Nate Aaron is there a way to remove the rubber handle on the gladius? I saw someone was able to remove the black finish and polish the blade to mirror like
I got mine in the post yesterday, feels really good in the hand, can't wait to really play with it. Feels nicer than my Cold Steel machetes. I also picked up a Cold Steel Mini Buckler to compliment the Commander.
Got my Combat Commander Gladiator sword a few weeks ago. Took it out yesterday and did some brush clearing, worked just fine. I sharpened mine to a 20 degree angle and it chopped through branches that was just a tad over thumb thick. And yes I like the sheath it comes with.
Nice of you to give us a look at both of them side by side and I think you making some good points about the United Cutlery,,,but I like the Cold Steel version more,,,mostly because of the length and the steel,,,but that's Cool that you have them both,,,Take Care
Your wife is correct, I've bought both. The cold steel for male friends and relatives and the lighter for the women in my life. It's hard to use a gun in California.
Shot in the dark: I think that the hole in the center of the grip handle is for if you choose to wrap the handle in paracord; the hole can let the parachord through.
This is a guess, but the lanyard hole might be used for a nightstick style lanyard. The belt around the scabbard used to fasten the lanyard, so it doesn't flap about.
From what I've seen from the other comparison reviews, the point on the CC Gladius holds up much better than the CS model. I ordered the CC GLadius! Thnx for the review...
I have both, for me the cold steel feels better in hand, seems to hit harder but steel is better on the UC. I think the stifness is better and point is stronger on the UC vs the CS.
I have the Gladius, Kopis, Cutlass, and Chinese Dadao Sword and I love them all. I will soon get the Tactical Katana, and I have only this to say: ITS A FUCKING SWORD! THEY SAY MACHETE, BUT THEY LOOK LIKE SWORDS, FUNCTION LIKE SWORDS, AND FEEL LIKE SWORDS!!! Walks like a Duck, talks like a Duck. THEY'RE FUCKING SWORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I´ll go for the Cold Steel Gladius because i appreciate the roman design more than the elegant design of the Combat Commander. Beside this the Cold Steel Gladius might be slightly heavier than the CCG but you have to keep in mind that you are getting stronger arms by wielding the Cold Steel one in the fields. The hole in the grip of the CCG is a structural weak point,however. Both of them are fearsome swords in combat and if you can use it properly in battle you´ll get an idea why the gladius was the weapon of choice for the romans.
I have the Kershaw 18 ,it is a very nice cutting tool , I like both of those but I like the Cold Steel just a little more although the United Cutlery looks a little better, but both are two very good weapons on the cheap.
Grear video, as always. I have to ask, though, the United cutlery one has a pretty sizeable hole on the hilt. Assuming it is full tang, all the way to the end, isn't this hole a bit dangerous?
It is full tang. The hole falls under the fingertips. This would have no affect on a thrust. And with chopping the impact point is going to be mid-blade, not mid-grip. I haven't heard of any safety issues with this machete but I could just be out of the loop.
Actually, you'd be surprised how much shock transfer goes from mid blade to the handle and pommel. I never trust anything with a big hole in the handle like that, because it is still a structural weak point. Here is a video of someone removing the Cold Steel Gladius grip czcams.com/video/Wtej9uBIfVI/video.html I have the Cold Steel one and I may pick up the United Cutlery one just to have.
That hole looks like part of the injection molding process and instead hiding the "hardwear" the designer integrated the little metal piece in such a way as to doll up the blades aesthetic with artistic liberty (its literally just there for no functional reason). Examining mine, it looks like they manufacture blades in lots and send them to an injection department, from there the injection operator with thick gloves or some kind of protective sheath puts the handle end of each blade into a mold and pushes that (brass?) pusher/bolt/nut whatever kind of "hardwear" it is into the handle to secure it tightly into the CNC'd mold so it will be perfectly aligned in the injection cycle (not come out crooked) and it literally becomes part of the blade,encased in the polymer kind of like Han Solo in Carbonite! LOL. Once it cools and the mold opens the operator pulls the blade out with its fresh shiny handle and cuts/shaves the flack off with a bx cutter or something. I bought one of these a year ago and since then have landed a sweet job doing _injection molding_ and there are lots parts for things that require the operator to put screws and nuts and bolts into the mold and those nuts and bolts become _one with the plastic,_ sometimes hammering a peice back out with a plastic mallet to repeat the process, so if you're wondering how they got those handles on there so incredibly tight or how they mysteriously shove a screw into something on some random piece of plastic equipment you buy anywhere there you go! I would love to see how they do this just for the satisfaction of watching it. Learning all this made me really appreciate mine a little more. Too bad they dont make versions with different colored polymers. Id love to have one with a coyote brown handle. A creative/innovative person might find a use for the little hole, like using parachord to make a spear or something -like Rambo in Firstblood. Nutshell(sort of/maybe): >they cnc (mill) a mold for the handle >they fabricate the blades in a separate shop -full tang with a hole in the middle of handle >stick the mold into ,well, a molding machine >operator puts handle end of blade into one side of the mold and pushes the brass hardware into the handle hole to hold it there for injection cycle >the mold closes and squirts liquid polymer under a certain _considerably high pressure_ >the machine holds the mold shut after the squirt until it cools hard enough to hold shape >mold opens and injection pins within the mold push the part out so operator can pull it out (semi-auto cycle) >operator puts another fresh blade in, shuts the door to machine and it and repeats the whole thing. So, That hardware based on my experienced guess serves a functional purpose for the manufacturing process and only as an artistic appeal after. They could have hidden this but the CAD guy just wanted it to show. *BTW, the blade shines up real nice with Kiwi polish hahahaha*
That extra strap is if you want to mount it on the back of your ruksack of backpack if its got molle on it? You should be able to slide it a bit further down the scabbard so its balanced when you pull it out over your shoulder or the same strap should be able to tie it to your leg to help with stability. The ones they are selling now have 24" + handles and i want one of those.This one is still nice though! Would like both. The long handled one give you a lot more reach to keep the bear or wolf in question u may have to fight off at bay. hehe
I suppose that could work. I don't tend to think of this as a 'survival tool' though. Rather have a single edge machete if I were to carry one. Better for batoning, digging and using as a draw knife.
It's budk. Everything they sell is "survival" or "zombie" lol. But really that is the intended purpose of the hole. There was a video put out when they first put this out that explained it. It was later taken down and replaced then that video was taken down. Originally the blade and handle were designed to look "original" then they changed the handle to fake wood. The last 2 designs were this model and during the Resident Evil craze there was the zombie hunter green model.
I was hoping that strap was for wrapping around your lower thigh. I wanted to be able to wear the sheath when my buddies and I take the dirt bikes camping.
Does that strip around the sheath come completely off cause the hole in the center could be for that strip and then to lash it to your hand maybe? Or lanyard at the end my only thoughts
Look into Windlass Steelcraft Atlanta Cutlery for a good Gladius that functional or Cult of Athena. As for those I like them both but the Cold Steel a little more.
Funny thing! Shadiversity had a 'best modern sword for defense'....and the Combat Commander Gladius won the #1 spot! ......also, that guy has a lot of time on his hands.....
Forgive me but, unlike the Cold Steel 'Gladius Machete', the United Cutlery one, while cool, doesn't look at all full tang. What's that hole in the handle like you show/talk about at 2:10?
@@chrislxxix3626 It probably doesn't do tang strength any favors....but then again, this is a light sword/machete = the tang should be fine, unless you abuse it! ....if you are into stabbing car doors and cutting bricks, you should probably get the Cold Steel Warhammer! If you are into throwing knives...you should probably get a throwing knife.....well, that's my 2 cents, anyway....not that anyone makes/uses pennies anymore....so I guess that makes my comment worthless...damn!
A gladius is classified as a sword. Correct. But the item in this video is a machete. It is thin, flat steel with a machete edge profile. It's just shaped like a gladius. If you held it, you would not be fooled into thinking it was a sword.
I used to keep a switchblade next to me when I was a GM. If I started to play with it they knew I was bored. And a bored GM is a dangerous GM. At the minute I have five knives on my desk.
@@stonefox9124 Are we sure that is what it is for? *United Cutlery Combat Commander Thai Gladius Machete.....seems like somebody in the design department was already thinking about the CC Gladius being extended into a short spear.....so you have a pretty good argument....
Combat Commander gladius has about half of the durability of the Cold steel one, have used both extensively, CC one loses edge faster and bends easier, Cold steel one on the other hand barely showed any signs of wear.
It says 1060 High Carbon...so the bare minimum for proper 'sword steel'. For comparison, most axes are around 1050-1055 (a little softer, but most axe don't have fine edges = dulling isn't as much an issue). Higher end swords are generally 1060-1090....the higher the carbon content, the springier the steel + the longer an edge lasts...BUT that also means the blade is more likely to shatter and is harder to sharpen. This gladius has decent steel, and seems to have a low end temper on it = stab doors/bricks, and you'll bend the tip (and maybe the blade)....BUT you can bend it back. If you plan on using this 'sword' as a throwing knife OR chopping bricks, you'll likely snap it in half. However, if you plan on using this 'sword' as a light machete or in actual combat, it'll be fine. *This sword EXCELS at stabbing. It also won Shadversity's 'best sword for modern defense' competition.
A machete tends to be made from flat steel. There is no complex blade geometry like a sword would have. A machete is a tool. Made as cheaply as possible. Just stamped out of a sheet of steel, given and edge and a grip. In the 21st century it is possible to buy higher quality machetes. But even today the flat stock, cheaply made varieties are readily available. I have machetes going back to WWII. Their blade geometry is very similar. Does this answer your question?
Gotta say the commander would penetrate better during a stab because of the hollow grind but the cold steel would win if you put them edge to edge and started chopping....
Yeah, that's my take on it as well. The CC is probably the better fighting Gladius (nimbler/balance), but the Cold Steel's extra weight will give it a bit more resilience. That said, both of them have lower end tempering = both will have their ends bend/snap if you go stabbing car doors/logs/bricks....and both will break if used as throwing knives or for breaking bricks! *The steel of both is fine (hard to go wrong with modern steel), but the temper on these 2 choices is 'soft'........but it can be argued that it is better to be able to bend them back into shape, then have them snap entirely...and most people are going to abuse them (since they are cheap)....so maybe the low end tempering was the right choice...
Im wondering what this mor hi end and or real gladius he is talking about?. Imagine taking one of these back in time and presenting it to a soldier. He would think witchcraft was used to make it😂
It's an interesting idea. But if that worked I'd imagine all of the Central and South American models would have it. Those folks design some great machetes because they have so much practice with them.
The Cold Steel Gladius is more well made, because it doesn't have a giant hole in the middle of the tang in the handle. That's a weak point for shock to break. I personally like the feel and balance of the Cold Steel model better too
@@edgarelianamaya Same steel, same lower end tempering. Both will bend if you stab car doors/bricks. Both will break if you use them as throwing knives or for chopping down telephone poles..... The Cold Steel is heavier = it's extra mass would make it a bit tougher overall....while simultaneously making it a bit slower as a fighting sword...
@@jimmygreenspan8832 The only machete like characteristic I can see, is the quality of the steel. 1060 High Carbon (with low end temper) is acceptable, but on the low end,for swords. BUT, since this is a short sword designed mostly for stabbing = it's all good!
@@tetsubo57 I didn't think that Gladius swords had distal tapering. Or maybe you meant that the steel is closer to axe/machete in terms of temper/carbon content when compared to real swords?
@@natetaylor9002 The blade is the same, flat thickness from guard to tip. Just like a standard machete. This is just in a gladius shape rather than a more conventional machete profile. A true gladius would be much thicker, probably have a blood runnel and taper from center spine towards the edge.
the hole in the middle of the handle is the weak point of that sword. It means that they pierced the almost full tang and made it twice as narrow as it ought to be.
Dude, seariously? A machete? This is without question a short sword....I know of no Gladiators using machetes back in Roman times...but hey what do I know? I just don't see anyone taking this out in the bush carving a trail or path..but to defend ones self....this is meant to defend and attack, plain and simple...
The blade has the profile of a machete. A flat piece of sheet steel. Swords are more complex and far sturdier. The blade shape doesn't change the cross-section.
My thoughts exactly! It's too light/short for brush/vine chopping. This thing is basically more suited for actual fighting...it's a light+quick+agile stabber, with decent cutting capability. Shadversity had a competition 'best sword for modern defense', and the CC Gladius actually won!
Cold steel and united cutlery both make awesome budget friendly tools that regular people can afford to buy and have fun with
the hole in the middle of the handle with the sleeve in it is to anchor the handle to the tang, so if you do make contact with something the handle doesn't slide off.
It's for home protection
The hole in the handle is so you can attach it to a drill and now you have a deadly spinning blade on your hands. I may be wrong, but that's what I choose to believe.
Lash it to a pole or loop a leather strap for retention... whilst repelling wave after wave of drug enraged bear assault... you get sweaty and you don't want that thing slipping out of your hand right then...
I take my combat commander camping with me, in case I need to fight off random bears, mountain lions, and Joe Rogans.
If a wild Joe Rogan appears he's probably hopped up on DMT
@@GTA_500 and Bulletproof Coffee.
Sorry but I’d put my money on the wild Rogan ..... even if he has no machete...
You'll need a scutum shield to help you with that
We have wild pigs, bears and wolves. Will be taking my Gladius next time camping.
I like both. But i think the United Cutlery is a little better too.
That lower loop is for attaching to a clip on your pants so it doesn't swing as much while attached to your belt..
I have both of these as well. The Cold Steel looks nicer online or in a case, but the United Cutlery Gladius feels better balanced, has a more comfortable handle and handles better.
Nate Aaron is there a way to remove the rubber handle on the gladius? I saw someone was able to remove the black finish and polish the blade to mirror like
@@hiddenleaf414 Just go at the polypropylene handle with a saw. Just saw straight down from the top, along the tang.
I got mine in the post yesterday, feels really good in the hand, can't wait to really play with it. Feels nicer than my Cold Steel machetes. I also picked up a Cold Steel Mini Buckler to compliment the Commander.
Nah get a second commander and dual wield!
Got my Combat Commander Gladiator sword a few weeks ago. Took it out yesterday and did some brush clearing, worked just fine. I sharpened mine to a 20 degree angle and it chopped through branches that was just a tad over thumb thick. And yes I like the sheath it comes with.
Nice of you to give us a look at both of them side by side and I think you making some good points about the United Cutlery,,,but I like the Cold Steel version more,,,mostly because of the length and the steel,,,but that's Cool that you have them both,,,Take Care
The extra strap at 0:50 is to hold condoms.
Trojan Man uses a club for pounding.
what an idiot!
Sounds legit. ;)
Your wife is correct, I've bought both. The cold steel for male friends and relatives and the lighter for the women in my life. It's hard to use a gun in California.
the hole in the middle of the handle is designed to be used to put a leather strip through to wrap the handle to create a better grip with it
Shot in the dark: I think that the hole in the center of the grip handle is for if you choose to wrap the handle in paracord; the hole can let the parachord through.
Exactly what I was thinking but would the Paracord handle work better/ more comfortable or waste of time
This is a guess, but the lanyard hole might be used for a nightstick style lanyard. The belt around the scabbard used to fasten the lanyard, so it doesn't flap about.
on my third united cutlery great sword chopped out many trails best buy for the money
They might put that whole with the lineing in the middle of the handle so that the whole handle can't slip off the machete easily
From what I've seen from the other comparison reviews, the point on the CC Gladius holds up much better than the CS model. I ordered the CC GLadius! Thnx for the review...
Just got mine in the mail. Great Short Sword
I have both, for me the cold steel feels better in hand, seems to hit harder but steel is better on the UC. I think the stifness is better and point is stronger on the UC vs the CS.
I have the Gladius, Kopis, Cutlass, and Chinese Dadao Sword and I love them all. I will soon get the Tactical Katana, and I have only this to say: ITS A FUCKING SWORD! THEY SAY MACHETE, BUT THEY LOOK LIKE SWORDS, FUNCTION LIKE SWORDS, AND FEEL LIKE SWORDS!!! Walks like a Duck, talks like a Duck. THEY'RE FUCKING SWORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!
woah that's cool
I´ll go for the Cold Steel Gladius because i appreciate the roman design more than the elegant design of the Combat Commander. Beside this the Cold Steel Gladius might be slightly heavier than the CCG but you have to keep in mind that you are getting stronger arms by wielding the Cold Steel one in the fields. The hole in the grip of the CCG is a structural weak point,however.
Both of them are fearsome swords in combat and if you can use it properly in battle you´ll get an idea why the gladius was the weapon of choice for the romans.
I have the Kershaw 18 ,it is a very nice cutting tool , I like both of those but I like the Cold Steel just a little more although the United Cutlery looks a little better, but both are two very good weapons on the cheap.
Grear video, as always. I have to ask, though, the United cutlery one has a pretty sizeable hole on the hilt. Assuming it is full tang, all the way to the end, isn't this hole a bit dangerous?
It is full tang. The hole falls under the fingertips. This would have no affect on a thrust. And with chopping the impact point is going to be mid-blade, not mid-grip. I haven't heard of any safety issues with this machete but I could just be out of the loop.
tetsubo57 Thanks for the answer, I can see your points! :)
Actually, you'd be surprised how much shock transfer goes from mid blade to the handle and pommel. I never trust anything with a big hole in the handle like that, because it is still a structural weak point. Here is a video of someone removing the Cold Steel Gladius grip czcams.com/video/Wtej9uBIfVI/video.html I have the Cold Steel one and I may pick up the United Cutlery one just to have.
That hole looks like part of the injection molding process and instead hiding the "hardwear" the designer integrated the little metal piece in such a way as to doll up the blades aesthetic with artistic liberty (its literally just there for no functional reason). Examining mine, it looks like they manufacture blades in lots and send them to an injection department, from there the injection operator with thick gloves or some kind of protective sheath puts the handle end of each blade into a mold and pushes that (brass?) pusher/bolt/nut whatever kind of "hardwear" it is into the handle to secure it tightly into the CNC'd mold so it will be perfectly aligned in the injection cycle (not come out crooked) and it literally becomes part of the blade,encased in the polymer kind of like Han Solo in Carbonite! LOL. Once it cools and the mold opens the operator pulls the blade out with its fresh shiny handle and cuts/shaves the flack off with a bx cutter or something. I bought one of these a year ago and since then have landed a sweet job doing _injection molding_ and there are lots parts for things that require the operator to put screws and nuts and bolts into the mold and those nuts and bolts become _one with the plastic,_ sometimes hammering a peice back out with a plastic mallet to repeat the process, so if you're wondering how they got those handles on there so incredibly tight or how they mysteriously shove a screw into something on some random piece of plastic equipment you buy anywhere there you go! I would love to see how they do this just for the satisfaction of watching it. Learning all this made me really appreciate mine a little more. Too bad they dont make versions with different colored polymers. Id love to have one with a coyote brown handle. A creative/innovative person might find a use for the little hole, like using parachord to make a spear or something -like Rambo in Firstblood.
Nutshell(sort of/maybe):
>they cnc (mill) a mold for the handle
>they fabricate the blades in a separate shop -full tang with a hole in the middle of handle
>stick the mold into ,well, a molding machine
>operator puts handle end of blade into one side of the mold and pushes the brass hardware into the handle hole to hold it there for injection cycle
>the mold closes and squirts liquid polymer under a certain _considerably high pressure_
>the machine holds the mold shut after the squirt until it cools hard enough to hold shape
>mold opens and injection pins within the mold push the part out so operator can pull it out (semi-auto cycle)
>operator puts another fresh blade in, shuts the door to machine and it and repeats the whole thing.
So, That hardware based on my experienced guess serves a functional purpose for the manufacturing process and only as an artistic appeal after. They could have hidden this but the CAD guy just wanted it to show. *BTW, the blade shines up real nice with Kiwi polish hahahaha*
That extra strap is if you want to mount it on the back of your ruksack of backpack if its got molle on it? You should be able to slide it a bit further down the scabbard so its balanced when you pull it out over your shoulder or the same strap should be able to tie it to your leg to help with stability. The ones they are selling now have 24" + handles and i want one of those.This one is still nice though! Would like both. The long handled one give you a lot more reach to keep the bear or wolf in question u may have to fight off at bay. hehe
the velcro strap is for the belt loop to give you two options to wear it.
Leg strap.
The strap around the sheath is for you to add a smaller knife on to it for a backup
The velcro is for the dagger that matches the machete
They make a matching knife that attaches to the velcro
About the velcro. Maybe slide on top of snap retainer? So no chance it gets popped open when not in use?
The hole with grommet in the Middle of the handle is to help secure the TPR rubber handle to the machete, so it doesn't move.
....it seems that the Cutlery Gladius is more suitable for actual fighting (especially stabbing), rather than chopping branches.....
the center hole of the handle is designed for use with a spindle. It is for bow and spindle fire starting.
I suppose that could work. I don't tend to think of this as a 'survival tool' though. Rather have a single edge machete if I were to carry one. Better for batoning, digging and using as a draw knife.
It's budk. Everything they sell is "survival" or "zombie" lol. But really that is the intended purpose of the hole. There was a video put out when they first put this out that explained it. It was later taken down and replaced then that video was taken down. Originally the blade and handle were designed to look "original" then they changed the handle to fake wood. The last 2 designs were this model and during the Resident Evil craze there was the zombie hunter green model.
I was hoping that strap was for wrapping around your lower thigh. I wanted to be able to wear the sheath when my buddies and I take the dirt bikes camping.
I'll have to buy it, I have united cutlery smatchet.
Does that strip around the sheath come completely off cause the hole in the center could be for that strip and then to lash it to your hand maybe? Or lanyard at the end my only thoughts
It does not come off, it is attached.
Do you also like the spatha? I really like both though I prefer the spatha for some reason :)
I do like the spatha. I just prefer the gladius.
Think I want 2 of both
Both tips bend easy but are also easily bent back, i had the combat commander, but the tip broke
Take a look at the Honshu brand gladious!!! Its a chopper as well as piercer!!!
Look into Windlass Steelcraft Atlanta Cutlery for a good Gladius that functional or Cult of Athena. As for those I like them both but the Cold Steel a little more.
Funny thing! Shadiversity had a 'best modern sword for defense'....and the Combat Commander Gladius won the #1 spot! ......also, that guy has a lot of time on his hands.....
Forgive me but, unlike the Cold Steel 'Gladius Machete', the United Cutlery one, while cool, doesn't look at all full tang. What's that hole in the handle like you show/talk about at 2:10?
The Combat Commander is full tang, I checked.
@@tetsubo57 Thanks man. Was skeptical due to that 'hole' in the handle :-)
@@chrislxxix3626 It probably doesn't do tang strength any favors....but then again, this is a light sword/machete = the tang should be fine, unless you abuse it!
....if you are into stabbing car doors and cutting bricks, you should probably get the Cold Steel Warhammer! If you are into throwing knives...you should probably get a throwing knife.....well, that's my 2 cents, anyway....not that anyone makes/uses pennies anymore....so I guess that makes my comment worthless...damn!
The velcro 'sleeve' is for putting this blade horizontally on a belt.
It's actually classed as a short sword by the Romans
A gladius is classified as a sword. Correct. But the item in this video is a machete. It is thin, flat steel with a machete edge profile. It's just shaped like a gladius. If you held it, you would not be fooled into thinking it was a sword.
This hole in the middle is to put out the FullTang of the Handle
I watched a review on the reapr1105 and decided to order it, from what i can tell the reapr 1105 is the better sword.
except for metal type. cs>ss
I'm pretty sure it's the other way around for me. I don't have any friends because I play with knives all the time.
I used to keep a switchblade next to me when I was a GM. If I started to play with it they knew I was bored. And a bored GM is a dangerous GM. At the minute I have five knives on my desk.
tetsubo57 Players learned to not bore me because I'd start rolling on charts and grin.
Though the knife alternative works, too.
yeah roman gladius nice....
Overall it is a review mostly concerning the LOOKS of one over another.
Also comfort, utility and personal preference.
Agreed, pretty pathetic review, he didn't even know that hole in the middle is for tying it to a stick to make a spear if need be.
@@stonefox9124 Are we sure that is what it is for?
*United Cutlery Combat Commander Thai Gladius Machete.....seems like somebody in the design department was already thinking about the CC Gladius being extended into a short spear.....so you have a pretty good argument....
Combat Commander gladius has about half of the durability of the Cold steel one, have used both extensively, CC one loses edge faster and bends easier, Cold steel one on the other hand barely showed any signs of wear.
What type of steel used in the blade?
Off the top of my head I don't remember.
It says 1060 High Carbon...so the bare minimum for proper 'sword steel'. For comparison, most axes are around 1050-1055 (a little softer, but most axe don't have fine edges = dulling isn't as much an issue). Higher end swords are generally 1060-1090....the higher the carbon content, the springier the steel + the longer an edge lasts...BUT that also means the blade is more likely to shatter and is harder to sharpen.
This gladius has decent steel, and seems to have a low end temper on it = stab doors/bricks, and you'll bend the tip (and maybe the blade)....BUT you can bend it back. If you plan on using this 'sword' as a throwing knife OR chopping bricks, you'll likely snap it in half. However, if you plan on using this 'sword' as a light machete or in actual combat, it'll be fine.
*This sword EXCELS at stabbing. It also won Shadversity's 'best sword for modern defense' competition.
dude, i respect your opinion, but both are cheap, and great. i got both and they cant be beat...
But can you keister it?
What’s the difference between a sword and a machete? I’m just confused because the box says sword and you seem very confident
A machete tends to be made from flat steel. There is no complex blade geometry like a sword would have. A machete is a tool. Made as cheaply as possible. Just stamped out of a sheet of steel, given and edge and a grip. In the 21st century it is possible to buy higher quality machetes. But even today the flat stock, cheaply made varieties are readily available. I have machetes going back to WWII. Their blade geometry is very similar. Does this answer your question?
What is the blade thickness of the larger sword?
The United Cutlery is 0.112", I'm not sure what the Cold Steel is. At the moment it's not readily at hand.
@@tetsubo57 Is the United Cutlery full tang?
@@Lunkyful Yes.
Gotta say the commander would penetrate better during a stab because of the hollow grind but the cold steel would win if you put them edge to edge and started chopping....
Yeah, that's my take on it as well. The CC is probably the better fighting Gladius (nimbler/balance), but the Cold Steel's extra weight will give it a bit more resilience.
That said, both of them have lower end tempering = both will have their ends bend/snap if you go stabbing car doors/logs/bricks....and both will break if used as throwing knives or for breaking bricks!
*The steel of both is fine (hard to go wrong with modern steel), but the temper on these 2 choices is 'soft'........but it can be argued that it is better to be able to bend them back into shape, then have them snap entirely...and most people are going to abuse them (since they are cheap)....so maybe the low end tempering was the right choice...
Im wondering what this mor hi end and or real gladius he is talking about?.
Imagine taking one of these back in time and presenting it to a soldier.
He would think witchcraft was used to make it😂
The hole in the middle is I believe for vibration but I could be 💯 wrong
It's an interesting idea. But if that worked I'd imagine all of the Central and South American models would have it. Those folks design some great machetes because they have so much practice with them.
@@tetsubo57 good point
The Cold Steel Gladius is more well made, because it doesn't have a giant hole in the middle of the tang in the handle. That's a weak point for shock to break. I personally like the feel and balance of the Cold Steel model better too
Nikolai Bolinski the steel on the Gladius is probably much better
@@edgarelianamaya Same steel, same lower end tempering. Both will bend if you stab car doors/bricks. Both will break if you use them as throwing knives or for chopping down telephone poles.....
The Cold Steel is heavier = it's extra mass would make it a bit tougher overall....while simultaneously making it a bit slower as a fighting sword...
I think it's for a back strap
I have one and I keep this Machete/sword in my tent
Hw to order sir, in Hw much
I ordered mine online and I think it was around $35. I don't remember where I ordered it however. It was quite some time ago.
What is a good quality gladius ?
I've heard that Kult of Athena makes some nice blades. Just search for their 'battle ready' line of swords.
@@tetsubo57 ok ty but I have sweaty hand so I need that rubber
People say it's a machete, but what is that based on?
The Roman gladius.
Ha you missed my point! The 'that' in that sentence refers to the assertion that the sword is a machete.
@@jimmygreenspan8832 This is the internet. Sarcasm is a lost artform. I have to take everything literally.
Ok Drax! Let me put it another way for you: Why would you say this is a machete? So far as I can tell, it's a sword.
@@jimmygreenspan8832 The only machete like characteristic I can see, is the quality of the steel. 1060 High Carbon (with low end temper) is acceptable, but on the low end,for swords. BUT, since this is a short sword designed mostly for stabbing = it's all good!
Machete's are short swords right? Ok!
These are shaped like short swords. They aren't but they're as close as many people will ever get. Still solid self-defense weapons.
It is a modern take on a Gladius... not a machette.
I am aware. The steel however is just a flat bar of steel like a machete. The blade shape doesn't change the profile of the steel.
@@tetsubo57 I didn't think that Gladius swords had distal tapering. Or maybe you meant that the steel is closer to axe/machete in terms of temper/carbon content when compared to real swords?
@@natetaylor9002 The blade is the same, flat thickness from guard to tip. Just like a standard machete. This is just in a gladius shape rather than a more conventional machete profile. A true gladius would be much thicker, probably have a blood runnel and taper from center spine towards the edge.
The hole in handle is for better balance. the hole would be in the center of your palm allowing you greater control
that PIECE is for belts and shit my dude hahaha
Maybe the hole in the center is made for turning it into a spear head? Weird...
the hole in the middle of the handle is the weak point of that sword. It means that they pierced the almost full tang and made it twice as narrow as it ought to be.
it's 65$ not 23$
This video is five years old and I owned it before that. I have no idea how much the cost has risen since then.
Dude, seariously? A machete? This is without question a short sword....I know of no Gladiators using machetes back in Roman times...but hey what do I know? I just don't see anyone taking this out in the bush carving a trail or path..but to defend ones self....this is meant to defend and attack, plain and simple...
The blade has the profile of a machete. A flat piece of sheet steel. Swords are more complex and far sturdier. The blade shape doesn't change the cross-section.
It's not a machete
Yeah.theyre combat stabbing swords
My thoughts exactly! It's too light/short for brush/vine chopping. This thing is basically more suited for actual fighting...it's a light+quick+agile stabber, with decent cutting capability.
Shadversity had a competition 'best sword for modern defense', and the CC Gladius actually won!
cold steel one will last longer
the dip of this machete is very weak.
Inflation sucks.