republican pilum

[caius aelius corvus]

Hi,

Does anyone can provide me with pictures of a reconstructed late republican pilum ? Or drawings or pictures of real republican pila points ? My interest is on Cesar's time.

All the best.

Hervé CAILLAU

[jvrjenivs]

B&C2 Figure 23

[M. Demetrius]

Good job Peregrinus. I was looking for the same thing. Laud awarded!

[jvrjenivs]

And the reconstructed thing: Armillum Light pilum parts

I have two of these, and I must say that they're very nice!

[Marcus Mummius]

And the reconstructed thing: Armillum Light pilum parts

I have two of these, and I must say that they're very nice!

I have one of these too. But beware, they are heavier and thicker than the originals.

Vale,

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I just ordered a couple, they should be waiting for me when I get home!

[M. Demetrius]

What's interesting about the picture above, is how much diversity there was of length, thickness, attachment method, and point shape. It seems our "standard" pila that are sold by suppliers may be just one of the various types.

Somewhere (can't remember where right now) I read that the broadheaded and leaf shaped points were for use against elephants and cavalry, presumably the horses, and the pyramid points were for infantry. Even though it makes sense that way, does anybody have any evidence to support that theory? Having different equipment to issue to the troops seems like a quartermaster nightmare, but that doesn't mean they did or did not do exactly that.

[armillum]

Salue fratres
If you look at the drawing in B&C you will see a lot of pila measures and thicknesses. Thickness goes from 6 to 12 mm. aprox. Our pila measures 9/10 mm. We could have made them thinner but then they will bend a lot more in the "battlefield".
Do you have data about pila weights?

[Marcus Mummius]

Salue fratres
If you look at the drawing in B&C you will see a lot of pila measures and thicknesses. Thickness goes from 6 to 12 mm. aprox. Our pila measures 9/10 mm. We could have made them thinner but then they will bend a lot more in the "battlefield".
Do you have data about pila weights?

Hi Jorge, nice to see you here. I should have specified that I find the point a bit massive. The shaft falls very well into the acceptable range. I haven't done any performance tests with it yet, but I will soon. I will see if it's able to punch through a shield. The regular pila I have from Matt Lukes punch through a scutum without any problems.

I'll let you know how your light pilum performs

Kind regards,
Jef

[caius aelius corvus]

Hi,

Many thanks Jurjen.

Concerning the questions on the use of different shapes points, I can only refer to medieval arrowheads to make a parallel.
The crescent blade points, once thought to be made to cut the ropes of siege machines (stupid as the arrow is rotating on flight), are now thought to be shot at horses. Horse is a shy but tough animal. It is resistant to pain. So, points must be large to inflict large and painful cuts.
Hunting spearheads are large too in order to provoke hemoragies on big animals. Animals are not armoured even if their skins are thicker than our.
On the contrary, against an armoured enemy, you need small spear or arrow points to ease the penetration. A pyramidal point was also used on anti-mail armor dagger in medieval Europe and XVIth-XVIIIth century India for exemple.

All the best.

Hervé CAILLAU

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Hello Jorge!

Welcome to RAT! Good to see you!

[armillum]

Saluete fratres

Thanks for your warm welcome...
About republican pila, the socketed ones were more popular than the tanged ones, at least at Numancia. If I'm not mistaken the socketed ones were there more than double in number than the tanged ones.
The truth is that they are easier to make, they break less than tanged ones and are easier to repare. But the tanged ones are more popular today...