12-08-2013, 09:15 AM
Jack, in his article on the sarissa phalanx Peter Connolly noted that early modern pikes were made from coppiced ash (that is, one cuts the ash tree near the ground, lets branches grow 14 cubits high cropping the side branches as they appear, then cuts the bundle of branches near the ground and repeats). Coppiced wood is very stiff and strong, but the industry died in the middle of the last century and it is now very hard to obtain coppiced ash poles of the necessary length.
A bit of flex is natural in such a long weapon, and helps to explain how the points of ranks 2, 3, 4, and 5 would all end up at about the same distance from the ground as the point of rank 1. But most modern replicas are probably weaker and more flexible than the originals.
Edit: For details on experiments with a small phalanx of fifteen reenactors see Peter Connolly, “Experiments with the sarissa- the Macedonian pike and cavalry lance- a functional view,” Journal of Roman Equipment Studies 11 (2000) pp. 103-112
A bit of flex is natural in such a long weapon, and helps to explain how the points of ranks 2, 3, 4, and 5 would all end up at about the same distance from the ground as the point of rank 1. But most modern replicas are probably weaker and more flexible than the originals.
Edit: For details on experiments with a small phalanx of fifteen reenactors see Peter Connolly, “Experiments with the sarissa- the Macedonian pike and cavalry lance- a functional view,” Journal of Roman Equipment Studies 11 (2000) pp. 103-112
Nullis in verba
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
