Full-length view of a vintage cast metal Roman gladiator sword prop in its scabbard, leaning against a wooden stool, showing lion-head pommel and red painted scabbard body.

Vintage Roman Gladiator Sword Movie Prop — Believed to be from Up Pompeii (1971), Elstree Studios

£100.00
Unit price per

A theatrical Roman gladius (short sword) with scabbard, cast in metal with hand-painted detailing throughout. The piece is well modelled, with a lion-head pommel, laurel-leaf banding, figural relief panels depicting classical Roman scenes, and a portrait medallion to the scabbard. The blade is etched with floral scrollwork in the Roman decorative style.

This sword is understood to have come from the props department at Elstree Studios following production of the 1971 film Up Pompeii, starring Frankie Howerd. It was acquired from a film prop collector who sourced items directly from the studio. No paperwork or certificate of authenticity accompanies the piece, so while the attribution is credible given its age, construction, and origin, it cannot be independently verified against production records.

Elstree was a major hub for British film and television production throughout the 1960s and 70s, and props of this kind — cast for one production — were frequently reused across multiple films and shows of the period. Whether or not this exact piece appeared on screen in Up Pompeii, it is a genuine piece of studio prop-making from that era, and a striking decorative object in its own right.

Details:

Length: 63cm

Weight: 1.87kg

Material: Cast metal, hand-painted

Condition: Good, with expected wear consistent with age and handling

Provenance: Said to originate from Elstree Studios props department; sourced via a film prop collector. Unverified — no accompanying documentation.