How To.. wear the Pugio and Gladius (belts, fasteners)

[Tim Edwards]

Excellent debate so far gents...

Whilst I respect Brian's work, I dont believe his 'Chichester' suspension system is at all valid.
I've seen the belt plate in question up close, and posted an image on this forum some time ago.
It is a highly unusual piece, I've seen no parallels anywhere else I've ever visited.
It is also likely to be second to third century in date, and in my opinion of negligible value for a discussion on first century armaments.
It is also from a civil context, and may not be a military item.
Finally, it is really tiny, and in my opinion unlikely to have supported an item of any weight or bulk.

I am in favour of both the buckle system, and the stud system as proposed by both Miks and Cesar.

I would cite a further two examples of the stud loops found in association with Gladius scabbards:

Burial 17 at Idria pri Baci, Slovenia
Burial (1?) at Verdun, Slovenia

Plus the already cited example from Windisch.

I dont find this suspension system at all surprising, similar (albeit larger) studs were also used in the suspension of late Iron age european swords.