Segmentata of Choice?

[Gaius Colletti]

I did a search but could not find a similar topic, so for all you reenactors what type segmentata do you prefer (specifically the types Corbridge A & B, Kalkriese, Newstead...) but feel free to add the maker of the armor as well. If you know a thing or two about the versions, feel free to chime in. Obviously they have different appearances (Kalkriese has some gold edging, straps instead of ties on girdle, corbridge has seemingly smaller chest plates, newstead has hooks...)

I ask because I am looking into getting one myself, and almost got a Newstead segmentata before I was warned that apparently the hooks in the back come undone often, and less pieces means less flexibility for the Newstead. I really like the Kalkriese segmentata's overall appearance, but see very few of them for sale. I know it is sometimes called a "prototype" and I believe it was maybe only used into the 60 AD? Is there a reason the corbridge segmentata is seemingly the most common type?

[jvrjenivs]

Well, first of all, the best question to ask yourself is what period do you want to portray. As you suggest yourself already, the Kalkriese finds have the earliest dating. Next are the Corbridge types and the Newstead seems to be of some later date.

Well that said, together with the fact that within the Corbridge types we have 3 different versions (A, B, C) seems most re-enactors choose a Corbridge segmentata. (it's from the period most people re-enact.)

Also worth to mention is the fact that only the Corbridge type of segmentata were available until some time ago, commercially.

Next about your mention of parts comming loose. Either the one is wrongly made or it's just an error the romans also faced. We've quite some 'on field' repairs (some very badly done) on excisting originals. So, nothing wrong with that. The straps of the 'Corbridge A' type need replacement once in a time, too.

[Gaius Colletti]

I am looking to portray a First Century AD legionary, so naturally Newstead would be out of the question, but I still want to get more info about it. From my limited reading I have only heard that the Newstead was less flexible, as well as the hooks sometimes coming undone, but like you said Jurjenius that may have been an isolated incident.

I really like the Kalkriese, but as you mentioned until recently it was not commercially available, and I still can only find a handful of suppliers that sell them. I have been looking into Corbridge more and more because it is very common, and I can get a good price on it. Still I would like to hear some pro's and con's from people who have these segmentata

[Magnus]

Corbridge A or B/C is what you'll need for our period Matt. I can't speak for the commercially made ones, other than what I had mentioned to you before about the hinges and leathers. But my Corbridge A that I made is about 10 years old, and has served me very well. It actually fits better and is more comfy than my Corbridge B that I made this year. Kalkriese is probably too early, though some may have still been floating around by the mid-1st century, and Newstead is definately too late. I don't believe the Newstead was any less articulated or flexible than the Corbridge B/C. Their construction is essentially the same, with differences in the girdle plate fasteners mainly.

[Crispvs]

When you say that you want to depict a first century AD legionary, which part of the first century do you mean? A full century is a long time and a great deal changed within that time. As Magnus says, by the middle of the first century AD (which is the period most of us depict) the Kalkriese type was probably becoming less common compared to the Corbridge type (and possibly both were less common than mail), whereas during the first quarter of the century it would be much more appropriate and during the last quarter of the century it would probably be an anacronism. The same applies to lots of other items of kit as well.

Crispvs

[Gaius Colletti]

The Legion I am joining portrays mid-first century, particularly 40-70 AD I am told. But I am asking in general what segmentata you guys prefer, regardless of time period, just for overall comfort (as comfortable as armor gets) or design, flexibility...

[M. Demetrius]

By around 70, wasn't Newstead also in use?

[Crispvs]

As far as I know, evidence for the Newstead type doesn't start turning up until the 130s AD according to the archaeology. Doubtless Mike Bishop will be along in a minute or two to correct me though.

As to comfort, just make sure it is the right size for you. For that time period you could go for either Kalkriese or Corbridge, but the Kalkriese type may have been going out of use by the middle of the first century AD.

Crispvs