How To.. wear the Pugio and Gladius (belts, fasteners)

[Crispvs]

John,

As far as I can tell most type 'A' rings were iron, although I understand some to have been copper-alloy). Type 'B' rings (the ones some people mistake for buckles) are more complex. Some were of iron, as in the Velson example, but many were cast copper-alloy. Then again some were made by bending wire to the correct shape. There was a third construction method as well, which is the one used for the Velson rings, as well as others. This involved bending a piece of metal which had been thinned at the ends into the required shape. Another piece of metal, of flatter section was bent up at right angles and about a third of the way in from each end. Its ends were turned out into scroll shapes. The first piece of metal was then soldered into the second so that the turned up ends of the second piece hugged the outside of the first piece. A small metal tube was then soldered to the back of the second piece of metal to form the hinge tube and an embossed facia plate was soldered on to hinde the hinge.

Here are drawings of a couple of cast examples from Vindonissa. The one on the left is an unfinished casting which still retains its pouring sprues.


(Taken from Unz and Dreschler-Erb's Vindonissa catalogue)

Obviously yours is a type 'A' John but there may be some people reading this who need to know about type 'B' as well. Well done on refitting the rings by the way.

Crispvs