10-27-2011, 07:06 PM
Quote:http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat.html?fu...0&start=40 is a tread you could look at. Testing armour has ben discussed before on this forum, please use the search function.
http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat.html?fu...0&start=20 discusses the use of a falx vs. Roman armour.
I have never come across any conclusion that a spear was useless against mail, quite the contrary. Mail protects against blows (but use a subarmalis against the impact) and cuts, but it can be penetrated by arrows and spearheads, and swordpoints I guess.
You are quite right, mail protects very well against slashing cuts, not so good against blunt trauma (but underpading can overcome this), and against piercing stabs was the worst, a well aimed thrust did a lot of damage to mail, could split and open rings.
A spear would be more effective than a sword against mail because of reach and momentum, the fact that you had to spend energy to split the mail resulted in a "shallower" blow, whilst the spear had larger momentum* and could still do damage underneath.
*Not only due to larger mass but also because it would be used two handed. Usually.