Pugio

The most common sidearm for the Roman soldier was the pugio, which was a small dagger. The pugio was the Romans equivalent of the modern Swiss Army knife; it was used as a utility tool as much as it was used as a weapon.

The pugio was so common in Rome, that it was used in assassinations, some famous. A pugio was the weapon used to stab Julius Caesar.

Military officers and other high ranking officials often wore decorated and specially made pugios as a symbol of power and wealth.