How to make cataphract gear?

[marcust]

How would I make historically accurate cataphract gear? or purchase it?

What horse gear?

[jvrjenivs]

euhm, choose a design, materials and go on!

Right, what period, area, etc are you looking for?

[marcust]

I thinking aluminum (Armor) (All my budget can do at the moment) And probably the second-third century I want manicae, leg and feet segs, chain mail for the torso, mail guantlets, cavalry with sculpted hair and facemask (How do those perform BTW) Also where would I by a good spear, spatha, bow, and sheild?

[jvrjenivs]

Okay, you want a lot and fast (but mention a budget). I would advice to start reading here:
[url:2v5dvggy]http://www.comitatus.net/cavalryhome.htm[/url]

Okay it's more about the horse (and saddle) part, but it's the best start for everything that has to do with (late) roman cavalry. Most (sculped) hair/facemask helmets are from 1st or early 2nd century as I remember right. At least the awesome ones from Nijmegen and some from Xanten are.
I currently waiting for my face mask helmet, but what I know from previous experience with face-masks is that they work better then you would expect, and after some time you get used to it and never mind them anymore. But they need to have a good fit!

Do we have any evidence for foot segs? I know the 2nd century segmented manica and very nice 2nd and 3rd century greaves for you legs, but not segmentata likes. Hamata (chain) for as you main body protection is perfect.

About the others. The shield you could best make yourself. For the hasta (spear) look for some good sources. (I'm europe based, so I don't know the ways you should go). Take into acount what you want to do with it. Do you want to trow with them on demostrations, then I would suggest SCA speartips, otherwise historical ones. Same goes for the spatha. Those from deepeeka are nice, but I wouldn't use them in any kind of demonstation. Again, you've to better define your time frame, as the spatha do differ a bit. Custom made ones are really expensive on the other hand.

Check [url:2v5dvggy]http://www.larp.com/legioxx[/url] for USA based suppliers for all this.

[marcust]

What about barding?

Okay spatha timeline Syria, Parthia, Palmyra, Israel, Etc. I want my blade to be fairly durable and I want to use the spear for thrusting and the like, so what about solid greaves? Would those be accurate? also what should I wear under all that? and what about a back up weapon?

[jvrjenivs]

Okay, that's not my own period of knowledge, so someone else has to comment which one, but I think you should search for an original you want to have and ask someone to recreate it for you, like Mark Morrow

[jkaler48]

Don't forget also to research the correct size/type horse for the location/period.

[Peroni]

Okay spatha timeline 330-350. Region: Syria, Parthia, Palmyra, Israel, Etc. I want my blade to be fairly durable and I want to use the spear for thrusting and the like, so what about solid greaves? Would those be accurate? also what should I wear under all that? and what about a back up weapon?

Buy Simon James' Dura Europos Final Report Vol VII. It will show you exactly what you need for you and your mount. albeit a little early for your timeframe.

The latest edition of Ancient Warfare Magazine (Vol II No 6) is also a great source http://www.ancient-warfare.com/cms/

[M. Demetrius]

There's a lot of discussion about aluminum, but if you're aiming for accuracy, Clibanarius, aluminum simply isn't. They didn't have anything made of aluminum.

Lightweight steel, perhaps bronze, pounded into thin sheet. Why not shiny aluminzed mylar? Much lighter, and just as farby, as they say.

[John Conyard]

Peroni's recomendations are an excellent point at which to start. They both are in front of me as I type. This editon of Ancient Warfare has particularly evocative illustrations of 3rd century soldiers. But in terms of putting together an impression I would stick to James. Go for waxed and oiled leather rather than dyed or painted, and attach greaves/armour with linen or leather rather than chains.

Don't touch aluminum.