Bronze scale questions

[Matt Lukes]

The specifications for the fabric composition were given by the University of Regensburg, apparently based on research AND archaeological evidence. I just made the thing, then. Funny enough, the damaged scales look 100% like original damaged scales. In that the nature of the textile armour seems to be quite exactly of the nature than what was used in the reco. The scales are certainly NOT incidental. They provide the textile "armour" with a stable surface, the spring-like quality of the metal on the fabric, especially when regarding the thread between the scales, deflects blows very well: a splendid composite armour.

So there's more to underpadding that's no generally known? Okay, well we'll see what this evidence is comprised of I guess. I was hardly commenting on the accuracy anyway, just the signficance- obviously 15mm of linen and felt is going to affect the situation greatly and thus cloud the performance of the actual armour; this test is of an armour 'system' to use a modern term. And since there's no question about the scales' dimensions, material, etc., of course damage of one form or another looks the same as some artifacts.

You didn't answer the question about a control though- just how much differently the arrow penetrated without the scales in place would show whether or not they play a really significant role or not. And I was clearly only talking about the arrow shot- you're melding in any attack there. Of course, like I said way back, scales do a good job of deflecting blows- it's penetrations that are where it seems less-effective when very thin. This demonstration doesn't counter my statement since it's clearly the extreme padding that seems to do much of the work. I was talking about the actual armour- scales and subgarment, not padding. Nobody discusses padding direclty with plate armour, or mail or really any other form, yes? In the case of Roman stuff with good reason- the nature is pretty much unknown. What examining the actual armour does is shed some light on what the padding might have been- because super-thin scales don't seem to provide much defense against penetrations, one could infer that the padding may have been more significant, whereas with thicker scales, correspondingly less was necessary. And so on...