When to use your pugio

[Magnus]

Sidearm, pure and simple. Gladius breaks or whatever, you have something on your person to fall back on. I find the idea that it was used as a tool something of a modern interpretation of how we used bayonets in the army today. Given that the romans carried all of their own tools that they would need on campaign, including seperate utility knives, i don't see what role it would play as a tool.

[stevesarak]

Sidearm, pure and simple. Gladius breaks or whatever, you have something on your person to fall back on. I find the idea that it was used as a tool something of a modern interpretation of how we used bayonets in the army today. Given that the romans carried all of their own tools that they would need on campaign, including seperate utility knives, i don't see what role it would play as a tool.

Navy pilots carry a sidearm incase they are shot down. They don't plan on using them, but just in case they're prepared.

[Tarbicus]

The frequent presence of blood grooves and a raised midrib are surely the biggest clues to their function. Stabbing people must logically have been their primary use.

[Cornelius Quintus]

Ave omnes,

here’s the first reconstructed replika of a pugio helveticus, found in an centurion’s grave at Vindonissa.

It clearly shows the multipurpose function of Roman officer’s daggers. (some thousand years later adopted by the Swiss army). Please notice:

- serrated spear-spoon-head
- pilum murale dentale (battle and camp toothpick)
- replacement pilum head
- feather for helmet (or torturing the enemy)
- tent peg
- handmill/quern crank
- mini signum ID card
- micro cornu for calling help or for referee’s duty playing trigon
- fishhook
- combines needle and stylus
- hollow hilt, containing 10 centiliters of garum (to spice food or to poison barbarians)

Greetings from Germany

Heiko (Cornelius Quintus)

[Praefectusclassis]

:lol:

[Tarbicus]

Shouldn't the blade taper more to a point?

[Restitvtvs]

Pugios are great for neatly opening string- & wire-tied messages, scrolls, cartons, packages, etc. Although I must now stick with lighter-weight retiree impressions for health reasons, I'll certainly keep my pugio for these & many other just & practical applications. +r

[Robert Vermaat]

here’s the first reconstructed replika of a pugio helveticus, found in an centurion’s grave at Vindonissa.

Brilliant!! :lol:

[FAVENTIANVS]

here’s the first reconstructed replika of a pugio helveticus, found in an centurion’s grave at Vindonissa.

Brilliant!! :lol:

Idem!!!
What's the green stain?

[Chuck Russell]

wheres the toothpick?

[Crispvs]

"Pugios are great for neatly opening string- & wire-tied messages, scrolls, cartons, packages, etc. "

Hmmm. I would stick to one of the many types of 'utility knife' frequently found on Roman sites for these tasks. The pugio was clearly a weapon and although it certainly could be used for other things, at the end of the day, it was issued/purchased as a weapon and was intended to be used as a weapon.

I like the 'pugio helveticus'. It's about time I found something new to put on joke birthday cards. With your permission I will use this. Unfortunately though, I doubt that I will be able to find space for it in the book I intend to write some time on pugiones. :lol:

Crispvs

[Cornelius Quintus]

It's about time I found something new to put on joke birthday cards. With your permission I will use this. Unfortunately though, I doubt that I will be able to find space for it in the book I intend to write some time on pugiones. :lol:

Ave Crispvs,

feel free to use it for any non commercial purpose you like. If you need a jpg in a somewhat higher resolution, send a PN. (My 'original' is 228 KB).

And please set my name on top of the subscriber's list of your planned standard work about pugiones. I'll add the picture of the 'helveticus' to it then as a bookmark :wink:

[Cornelius Quintus]

Shouldn't the blade taper more to a point?

Ave Tarbicus,

you are right! Therefore the pugio helveticus tools were a foldout construction placed around the center rivet. Modern times Swiss army knives hide them all in the grip, foregoing the garum tank due to Geneva and Hague conventions.

[Cornelius Quintus]

What's the green stain?

Ave Valerius,

the remarkable stain is pure garum, leaping out of the pugio’s tank in it’s hollow hilt. The original Roman recipe was much more powerful than the soft Vietnamese fish sauces available today. A mixture somewhat between muriatic acid and rotting fish guts. Increases the Legionaries morale or kills any Non-Roman already by it’s odour… If produced today, it would have to be labeled with a ‘biological hazard’ sticker. :wink:

[Cornelius Quintus]

wheres the toothpick?

Ave Lupus,

it's the wooden mini murale. The comrades of a 'contubernium' could stick them together to form some barricades-style caltrops, very smart to stop naked (feet) fighting Germans. (By the way: Tough legionaries also could use the pugio’s included pilum head cleaning their teeth.) :wink: