>>38248
>Romans observed the tendency to slash instead of stab both in their own soldiers and the barbarians, they also recognized the superior effectiveness of stabbing.

Ewart Oakeshott mentions this too. He writes that many bronze age swords were thin, long and had a hilt that was simply riveted to the blade. He also mentions that even though they have these thrust orientated designs, many finds show the hilt connection to the blade being damaged by lateral force in a way that suggests people were slashing with them.