Art by TL Jeffcoat |
There is much confusion about this mysterious weapon. It’s
only known to have been used regularly by gladiators and history is unclear
whether the word Scissor refers to the weapon or the style of gladiator. Some
historians believe that it is the name of both; some deny the name to either.
The Scissor was a simple weapon in design, with an iron tube
and a handle inside topped with a crescent shaped blade. The handle allowed the
Gladiator better control of the blade that faced away from the tube and was
mounted by a metal shaft. The shaft was most likely attached to the handle,
through the top of the tube, to enhance its durability and control. There is
some speculation to this, but most weapon specializing historians would agree
that the blade would need to be attached to the handle and not just attached to
the tube itself or the blade would be impossible to manage when it’s struck by
another weapon.