Would one of you many fine members tell me what size rivets I need for my segmentata,1/8 or 3/16 X 3/8 or 1/2? With the ends peened over I am unsure which size is needed. I have both Deepeeka and DSC Lorica Segmentata.
Thanks
Try Armamentaria, if not I think LePrevo have them.
Or possibly Armillum, failing the the first 2.
Of course, these are in Europe, sorry.
I have made many Segmetata over the years and have found that the best way to fit the girdle plates and the shoulder plates together is to simply use what are known as clout nails, these are soft nails mainly used for fitting roofing felt.
They have a large head around 3/8 inch and are 1/8 inch dia' shanks so if you countersink the holes on the outside of your plates, then put these thro' the leather from the inside and then the plates and peen into the countersink you have close fitting plates.
For the hinges and other fasteners you will need 1/8 dia' shank brass ones with dome or mushroom heads, if you countersink on the inside of your plates this time there is no snag on your tunic.
If you can't get hold of brass rivets use 1/8 brass wire which you can nip in a vice leaving about 1/8 inch out of the top of the vice and peen down with a ball hammer gently, if you do a neat job you can create your own rivets cheeper as well.
Ave!
If you are asking what *length* the shank should be, 3/8" is plenty. Of course, on almost every rivet you will have to clip it to length before peening. Actually 1/4" rivets may do for most of the work, and you get a few more of those per pound. But at some point you may find that you need one just a TINY bit longer... Brian is right that you can make your own rivets out of heavy copper wire--most Roman rivets don't have heads that are quite as nicely domed as modern commercial ones.
I've never seen any indication of countersinking with lorica rivets, and have never seen any problem with normally-peened rivets on a repro lorica, either. Any sort of subarmalis will keep snaggy bits off your tunic, anyway. Save yourself the extra effort and do them fast and sloppy like the Romans did!
Oh, and in case you haven't been there already,
http://www.larp.com/legioxx/lorica.html
Happy armoring!
Matthew
Brass and copper rivets can be found here:
http://www.rjleahy.com/store/rivets/brvr.htm
Tandy Leather company has copper rivets with flat heads in two diameters and at least two lengths.
http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/home ... =Product_1
Maybe that will get you on the way. Their setting tool is a nice one, and works just right with the "burrs", which are sometimes called washers, too. You can make your own washers, though, from scraps of metal. AFAIK, Roman washers for rivets in that context are generally square/rectangular.
And you'll need some decent cutters, side or end cutting pliers will work fine. A small to medium sized ball peen is just right for peening the ends over the washers. Go slowly, many light taps are far superior to one or two bashes.
I have a seg from Brian and the quality and fit is unsurpassed!
I vote for copper roofing nails available from Home depot. If you don't like the large head you can cut it off and peen both ends.