Looking for a website describing pugio shape and size

[stevesarak]

Hi,

Somehow I lost a link to a website that talks about pugio’s and their shapes and sizes.

Does anyone know the site. I think it was a re-enacting site but can’t find it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Steve

[Crispvs]

Hopefully when I can get the pugio database up and running as I am supposed to be doing I should be able to have a lot of the information you are after available on it. At the moment however, my computer will not accept the software I need to install to set the database up. In the meantime, here is a drawing I did a month or two back to demonstrate the different sheath types, which I know is not what you are asking for but does demonstrate the sort of explanatory picture I hope to do for blades as well when the time comes.

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic. ... 3&start=40


Crispvs

[stevesarak]

Thanks, looking forwards to seeing the database when its done.

I was trying to get some information on this blade, date, type etc. know of any sites or have any thoughts.

Thanks again

[Crispvs]

The really important thing in defining what sort of blade you are looking at is the shape of the cross-section. A raised midrib makes it a type 'A'; grooves which leave a 'sunken' or false midrib between them make it a type 'B' and a lack of grooves or any significant upstanding midrib make it a type 'C'. The 'plan' shape of blades, in my view, is far too variable to build a strong typology on.
Looking at your picture (and without an x-ray view) I would suggest that we are looking at a type 'C' blade with an unusually waisted shape to it. However, it is equally possible that it is a type 'B'. It is very pitted and without a cross sectional diagram or measurments we could not be absolutely sure. Can you tell me where it comes from as I am not familiar with this particular piece?

Crispvs

[stevesarak]

So it’s not the sides that signify the type, but the ridge running down the center, or lack of, waisted or not?

I don’t have any info other then it’s a Pugio from between 1 – 2 century from a private collector.

Steve

[Crispvs]

Well, to be honest, Scott and most people since (including me until quite recently) used the blade shape as part of the definition. However, whilst it is true that certain blade shapes are more common with particular cross sections, my feeling now is that there is too much cross-over and variation in blade shapes to use this as a secure typological factor. The type of midrib however, remains useful in defining types, as does the type of tang.

Crispvs