03-21-2003, 03:21 PM
Ave!<br>
<br>
Yup, what Martin said. As I recall, there are 8 plates altogether, including one for the buckle and two for the frogs. So they were either spaced out around the belt, or possibly the back of the belt was left unplated. They aren't very thick, .032" at most. It looks like they were cast with integral pegs on the back, but pretty bloody thin castings if that's the case. It's possible that the pegs are really rivets, made flush on the front, but none have pulled out or come loose enough to tell, so I'm not sure about that.<br>
<br>
Apparently, the plates were originally silvered, and when that coating was getting worn they were covered with silver foil. That was getting worn out, too! On most of the plates, one end (or both on some?) was folded under, just an eighth inch or so, no idea why. The folded part doesn't reach the rivets. The plates with the frogs had extra-long ends cut into tabs which were folded under to form the hinge lugs. On the buckle plate, however, an extra piece of brass was folded for the hinge lugs and riveted behind the plate. One of the other plates had an extra rivet (with a very flat head visible on the front) in the middle of one end. There were no apron studs or terminals at all.<br>
<br>
Most or all of the rivets/pegs still have their washers in place. On one plate they are rectangular, on the others they are round, a little dished from being punched out, and some even have little "bites" out of the edges from being punched out too close to each other!<br>
<br>
I don't remember the dimensions offhand, something like 1-1/8" by maybe 2", but they aren't all the same. The leather they were riveted to was a little under 1/8", as I recall.<br>
<br>
Anyway, that's what I've got off the top of my head! My theory is that it's a second- or third-hand piece of junk, cobbled together from old parts. (Though at least they all match!) It seems the guy blew his whole budget on that fabulous pugio scabbard, and couldn't afford a new belt to hang it on!<br>
<br>
Vale for now,<br>
<br>
Matthew/Quintus <p></p><i></i>
<br>
Yup, what Martin said. As I recall, there are 8 plates altogether, including one for the buckle and two for the frogs. So they were either spaced out around the belt, or possibly the back of the belt was left unplated. They aren't very thick, .032" at most. It looks like they were cast with integral pegs on the back, but pretty bloody thin castings if that's the case. It's possible that the pegs are really rivets, made flush on the front, but none have pulled out or come loose enough to tell, so I'm not sure about that.<br>
<br>
Apparently, the plates were originally silvered, and when that coating was getting worn they were covered with silver foil. That was getting worn out, too! On most of the plates, one end (or both on some?) was folded under, just an eighth inch or so, no idea why. The folded part doesn't reach the rivets. The plates with the frogs had extra-long ends cut into tabs which were folded under to form the hinge lugs. On the buckle plate, however, an extra piece of brass was folded for the hinge lugs and riveted behind the plate. One of the other plates had an extra rivet (with a very flat head visible on the front) in the middle of one end. There were no apron studs or terminals at all.<br>
<br>
Most or all of the rivets/pegs still have their washers in place. On one plate they are rectangular, on the others they are round, a little dished from being punched out, and some even have little "bites" out of the edges from being punched out too close to each other!<br>
<br>
I don't remember the dimensions offhand, something like 1-1/8" by maybe 2", but they aren't all the same. The leather they were riveted to was a little under 1/8", as I recall.<br>
<br>
Anyway, that's what I've got off the top of my head! My theory is that it's a second- or third-hand piece of junk, cobbled together from old parts. (Though at least they all match!) It seems the guy blew his whole budget on that fabulous pugio scabbard, and couldn't afford a new belt to hang it on!<br>
<br>
Vale for now,<br>
<br>
Matthew/Quintus <p></p><i></i>
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
