03-18-2003, 11:30 PM
Well, I must say that has restored my faith in the quality of web discussion. I was waiting for responses with a wince and I can't tell you how pleased I am to have found this site. As I'm sure John Maddox Roberts and Simon Scarrow understand, I daren't buy their books until I'm finished my series - it's too easy to plagiarise, even unconsciously. I will get them though - the Romans fascinate me and I'm sensing these are my kind of writers. I'm a little staggered to know there are that many SPQR books, by the way. It'll be difficult not to start getting them.<br>
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I've no idea what the tunic colour debate is, but have you brought up the subject of whether the Roman's had steel or not? I'd be interested if anyone has definite information, but as far as I know, iron has approx 0.5% carbon and steel anything around 1.5%. If an iron gladius was hammered at high temperature on a bed of charcoal, the metal would react to form a 'skin' of harder steel around the soft core. It would take a better edge and still not snap at inconvenient moments.<br>
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If I've stated the facts correctly, this is a perfect example of fiction vs. history. We don't know they had steel, but with expert Spanish sword-makers guarding the secrets of their trade, it's not a huge leap to imagine the Romans had it, even if they didn't know what they had. If I've just bored you to tears, apologies. I find this kind of thing pretty interesting. I do have a replica gladius and I practically cut my hand off the other day trying to see if it was possible to produce a fast-reverse of movement by checking the blade on the flat with an open palm. Extraordinarily dangerous thing to do with a sharp blade (mine isn't particularly), but just about the fastest change of direction I could make.<br>
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One other quick thought - a friend of mine is a serious fencer and his right shoulder is grossly overdeveloped, almost a hump of muscle. I do wonder if the legions had a slightly lopsided look on the march.<br>
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Conn Iggulden<br>
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<p></p><i></i>
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I've no idea what the tunic colour debate is, but have you brought up the subject of whether the Roman's had steel or not? I'd be interested if anyone has definite information, but as far as I know, iron has approx 0.5% carbon and steel anything around 1.5%. If an iron gladius was hammered at high temperature on a bed of charcoal, the metal would react to form a 'skin' of harder steel around the soft core. It would take a better edge and still not snap at inconvenient moments.<br>
<br>
If I've stated the facts correctly, this is a perfect example of fiction vs. history. We don't know they had steel, but with expert Spanish sword-makers guarding the secrets of their trade, it's not a huge leap to imagine the Romans had it, even if they didn't know what they had. If I've just bored you to tears, apologies. I find this kind of thing pretty interesting. I do have a replica gladius and I practically cut my hand off the other day trying to see if it was possible to produce a fast-reverse of movement by checking the blade on the flat with an open palm. Extraordinarily dangerous thing to do with a sharp blade (mine isn't particularly), but just about the fastest change of direction I could make.<br>
<br>
One other quick thought - a friend of mine is a serious fencer and his right shoulder is grossly overdeveloped, almost a hump of muscle. I do wonder if the legions had a slightly lopsided look on the march.<br>
<br>
Conn Iggulden<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
