02-06-2011, 06:28 PM
Shawn.
I may also be termed a heretic for I have in the past made many Segmentata from stainless steel 0-9mm (20 gauge) in fact I have even used 0-6mm (22 gauge)
What I have come up against are those who would say no no!!! it has to be mild steel, where in the world did anyone get the idea that the Romans used mild steel I wonder.
It would have been raw smelted iron beaten down and even rolled into sheet, that would have given a more grey colour to the finished armour and not the highly reflective shine that one gets from mild or stainless.
There was a method that I used for any lorica segmentata and in particular stainless this is where I would hammer out all the curved surfaces on a rough iron block, which not only puts a more authentic finish to the plates but gives them a stressed and greater strength where in fact I'd match my 22 gauge against any simple curved 20 gauge any day.
I think what can be said about re-enactment gear is if it looks right it is alright, so in a nutshell I do not think there can truely be any argument over what metal as long as it looks the part.
I may also be termed a heretic for I have in the past made many Segmentata from stainless steel 0-9mm (20 gauge) in fact I have even used 0-6mm (22 gauge)
What I have come up against are those who would say no no!!! it has to be mild steel, where in the world did anyone get the idea that the Romans used mild steel I wonder.
It would have been raw smelted iron beaten down and even rolled into sheet, that would have given a more grey colour to the finished armour and not the highly reflective shine that one gets from mild or stainless.
There was a method that I used for any lorica segmentata and in particular stainless this is where I would hammer out all the curved surfaces on a rough iron block, which not only puts a more authentic finish to the plates but gives them a stressed and greater strength where in fact I'd match my 22 gauge against any simple curved 20 gauge any day.
I think what can be said about re-enactment gear is if it looks right it is alright, so in a nutshell I do not think there can truely be any argument over what metal as long as it looks the part.
Brian Stobbs
