Scale Armor & Accuracy

[gaiusseptimiuslucianus]

Sim and Kaminsky have a whole chapter on squamata and did several experiments to try and work out how the Romans did it which produced results consistent with extant examples. They concluded that drawn wire was used to attach the scales. Same with the links and the rivets in hamata, and the rivets needed for all other types of armour, and the pins for hinges, etc., etc. It is by far the most efficient way to achieve the dimensional consistency we see in Roman armour. It would be reasonable to conclude that the Romans produced ferrous and non-ferrous wire on an industrial scale. I also think they are right to suggest that the Romans had rolled plate.

Hi Dan,

Could I get the citation for the book by Sim and Kaminsky, that sounds like very interesting reading . I definitely agree that drawn wire would be superior for those purposes and its not hard to make you just need a pliers, a drawplate and a way to anneal the wire.

Best,

Lucianus