This has to be one of the highest quality items you can buy on this site, I purchased The Windlass Pompeii Gladius as well, and although this Marto is more for decorative use, the quality does not compare. Unlike the Pompeii Gladius by Windlass there is absolutely nothing cheap about this Marto Gladius. The heavy amount of brass is 100% real and there is nothing at all uneven or bent out of shape with the sword. If you want a high quality beautiful sword no matter the type, buy Marto or any other European or U.S made product.