Shining/Polished/New vs Worn/Weathered/Used Armour

[Hibernicus]

Here are some excerpts from our CODEX HISPANA by way of explaining how we look at things:

"An important aspect of our Philosophy is how the Kit is made. We prefer Kit made with hand tools rather than power tools, made more like the historic Romans would have made it. In most instances the effects are noticable even to the untrained eye. Not because some of us are inept at cutting straight lines but because too many modern replicas of Kit are machine made or machine assist and thus too mechanically perfect! Handmade gear looks, often feels and behaves differently than machine made equipment. "

"We like to say that for many Members of Legio IX Hispana half the fun is making the gear, the other half is using it. Collecting gear is not the goal. Putting the Kit you've made to the physical test is essential to understanding how it works and functions. Your kit should not be revered. Your Kit is a tool, to be used. It is not Art. What good is that Dolabra if you never use it to dig a trench or cut roots?"

"As a soldier or civilian in Legio IX Hispana you should not be afraid to get your gear wet, dirty, scratched, sweaty, muddy etc. How will you learn how it works if you do not use it? From a book? We are not armchair historians. We fight and dig, we march and train, build, work and play.... in sun, mists, rain, cold, snow, dust and blowing sands. Why? Because they did! ... and it's fun!"