As a weapons collector, you should consider the historical and logistical significance of the Roman gladius.  This, and other Roman weapons and equipment, were part and parcel of why the Roman Legions managed to conquer most of Europe and all around the Mediterranean.  As you know, most legionnaires were issued this, but what you might not realize is that many armies, particularly in Celtic Europe, didn’t bother giving armies standard issue anything. Most soldiers were responsible for bringing their own kit and food, and often ended up foraging off the land, off the enemy and even sometimes their own people.  By creating a “uniform” of equipment for each Roman soldier, such as giving out swords like the Gladius – The Pompeii, the Legions were able to achieve several breakthroughs.  They made it very easy to equip their armies, since everyone had the same thing, all that manufacturers back in Rome had to do was continue making a particular set of them. It uniformed training, so that it took less time to train the legions. These, in turn, enabled commanders like the legendary Marius to develop new, fluid tactics that would sharpen the effectiveness of the Legions in combat, revolutionizing warfare to such a degree that they would influence military forces in Europe and beyond for centuries to come. The Gladius was effective because it was simple; it was a short sword that was used principally for stabbing, since a good stab was a more effective way to kill than a slash, and that’s important if you’re trying to get through a battle because you need to take down your enemy quickly.  The Roman gladius served this role well in their tactics in the Legions for centuries as a result.