07-14-2007, 10:07 AM
Well Paul, lead seemed to be a logical material both to easily shape into a weight (low melting point) and costwise, but yes, it's an assumption. Even so, leaving lead or bronze weights laying around attached to one-time weapons just doesn't sit well with my thrifty nature :lol:
I do not regard the pilum as a one-use weapon and will favor and recommend ash as a timeproven candidate for spear poles. It's straight, strong, has a good weight (not overly heavy) and is a nice wood to work and shape due to it's long grain structure. It's also a good grower and fairly abundant throughout the European continent, often in the vicinity of streams, marshes and bogs.
I do not regard the pilum as a one-use weapon and will favor and recommend ash as a timeproven candidate for spear poles. It's straight, strong, has a good weight (not overly heavy) and is a nice wood to work and shape due to it's long grain structure. It's also a good grower and fairly abundant throughout the European continent, often in the vicinity of streams, marshes and bogs.
