04-13-2008, 01:39 AM
Very, interesting, Robert....the Hastae shafts are a little thicker than the Greek 'Dory' shafts which were mostly 17-19mm, with some as thin as 16mm, and some as much as 20 mm.
One thing I find a little surprising is that the javelins were thicker than the short dual purpose spears (Lancea)....I would have expected the thinnest to be the javelins.
As to butt spikes, that would be correct for both Greek and Roman weapons....the butt spike is for 'long' thrusting spears, while generally ( and no doubt there will be exceptions), the lancea and javelins would not have them....after all, no sense putting an expensive piece of metal on a weapon you are literally going to throw away now, is there?
Additionally, in order to 'fly' true a missile weapon needs to be 'nose-heavy' and a butt-spike would not assist this......
One thing I find a little surprising is that the javelins were thicker than the short dual purpose spears (Lancea)....I would have expected the thinnest to be the javelins.
As to butt spikes, that would be correct for both Greek and Roman weapons....the butt spike is for 'long' thrusting spears, while generally ( and no doubt there will be exceptions), the lancea and javelins would not have them....after all, no sense putting an expensive piece of metal on a weapon you are literally going to throw away now, is there?
Additionally, in order to 'fly' true a missile weapon needs to be 'nose-heavy' and a butt-spike would not assist this......
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
