10-29-2006, 09:44 AM
There are some rules in experimental archeology. :wink: What this discussion boils down to is the question: "Can a pugio with a small, slender grip and knobs on the grip be thrown with greater ease and accuracy then one with a thicker grip with no knobs". The thicker grip would be the one you feel would be right if the pugio was only used for stabbing, it's primary function, in that I agree with Tarbicvs. This gives you a hypothesis, but you will need to make additional research material, like two pugio's with identical blades, but different grips.
Otherwise, its not an experiment, just seeing if you can throw a pugio, which I am sure you can. Given enough practice, you can successfully throw any hatchet as well, but its function will always be chopping wood, unless you turn the hatchet into a tomahawk, where design differences are evident to make it more functional for war than for chopping kindling (which it does just fine!). By the way, I suggest you try both underhand and overhand throw. IF the pugio had adaptations to allow it to be thrown, I think this would be interesting to see. Underhand may surprise you. The pugio when thrown should of course NOT be held by the blade (see John Wayne throw a Bowie :lol: ), because it's the handle the experiment is about. Also make note of penetration rate of the pugio's with the different handles. Have fun!!
Otherwise, its not an experiment, just seeing if you can throw a pugio, which I am sure you can. Given enough practice, you can successfully throw any hatchet as well, but its function will always be chopping wood, unless you turn the hatchet into a tomahawk, where design differences are evident to make it more functional for war than for chopping kindling (which it does just fine!). By the way, I suggest you try both underhand and overhand throw. IF the pugio had adaptations to allow it to be thrown, I think this would be interesting to see. Underhand may surprise you. The pugio when thrown should of course NOT be held by the blade (see John Wayne throw a Bowie :lol: ), because it's the handle the experiment is about. Also make note of penetration rate of the pugio's with the different handles. Have fun!!
