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Thanks Sean, you too- I'll be curious to hear how your testing goes.
I can't say I'm surprised about the pilum- earlier this year I played around with a recreation I made (copy of a Vindonissa shape) and was surprised at the lack of penetration power it had just in my lawn at about 15m. Given how tough I found the scutum board to be against a sword, I'd be surprised if a pilum would penetrate much either.
Was your rawhide like the heavy stuff you get from Tandy (or whomever) or was it parchment as the artifacts have? That's a very important point of course since there'd be a significant difference between the behaviours of the two.
And thanks for the reference- it'll be interesting to hear about another scutum given how few there are...
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Thin rawhide.
Hbernicus
Hibernicus
LEGIO IX HISPANA, USA
You cannot dig ditches in a toga!
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Cool- 0.5mm was what (IIRC) Dr. James told me the Dura has and having worked with it and tested it, it's pretty weak- not something that's likely going to do much except add 0.5mm more material between you and some barbarian's pointy thing LOL
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Brilliant, Matt, most interesting data! Your attention to the authenticity of the material and construction of the test object makes your experiment particularly noteworthy.
M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER
(Alexander Kyrychenko)
LEG XI CPF
quando omni flunkus, mortati
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Thanks Alex :wink:
It might be over thinking things again, but while most consider the great size of the scutum as its major benefit in Roman-style close-combat, I now wonder if the 'other' effects, given that they are particularly troublesome at close-range, might not have been more than just nice side-effects.
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My apologies to all.... seems the white and grey hairs on me 'ed are an indication of the seepage of "grey matter"... the partial shield board I referenced earlier was alder over oak .. Doncaster board.... .. mentioned in Roman Military Equipment, .. I knew that.
Hibernicus
Hibernicus
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I have to agree wit hyour wonderings about the shape and design of the scuta haveing more to it than just a big shield Matt.
It seems obvious that the design has a great deal going for it, and you tests are a great proof of that.
We were doing some drills earlier this year, and out target was a leather faced scutum.
Gladius point was similar in its penetration, albeit it was not of the strip construction, but as was mentioned, is definately a composit armour of its time.
I am glad you have gone down the strip consruction route! The more the merrier! Looking forward to seeing more of your tests, and yours too Hibs.
Also looking forward to that scutum, Hibs! :wink:
Visne partem mei capere? Comminus agamus! * Me semper rogo, Quid faceret Iulius Caesar? * Confidence is a good thing! Overconfidence is too much of a good thing.
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Oh yeah, after I made my first one 3 1/2 years ago, I knew it was the only way I'd make scuta- I just get requests for so many other things the second one was only a very recent project :wink:
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Hi Matt!
Excellent work! Laudes!
What kind of glue did you employed to make it?
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Thanks Jose
It's 315g strength hide glue- likely from cattle skin.
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Great!
I made an iberian oval shield, with birch wood, linen and cow leather, all glued with natural adhesive from ox. It really makes it stronger!
Nevertheless, i didn't used weapons against it... Surely, the next one!
Congratulations again!
