10-27-2011, 09:58 PM
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.
So there has been a demonstration that revealed that a one handed stab with a gladius or spear could pierce lorica hamata? Could you provide more details.
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.
So there has been a demonstration that revealed that a one handed stab with a gladius or spear could pierce lorica hamata? Could you provide more details.