An interesting pilum failure...

[scythius]

<br>
Yesterday, while a documentary filmmaker was filming our exercitium (we were working on massed pila volleys) I broke another one of the club-owned pilae - LEG IX has about 60 or so in the armoury .<br>
<br>
I failed to notice that the pilum I grabbed was missing the metal collet, and after I threw it noticed an interesting type of failure - the tang itself had acquired a VERY pronounced Z-bend, breaking the two wooden 'tongues' of the shaft.<br>
<br>
I'll get Hibernicus to post an image of the affected pilum.<br>
<br>
<p>LEG IX HSPA - COH III EXPG - CEN I HIB<br>
<br>
- FIDELITAS - - VIRTUS - - MAGNANIMITAS - </p><i></i>

[Hibernicus]

Pics of Scythius' interestingly mangled pilum tang and split wood head...<br>
Note to self.. "Must check colette.."...<br>
.<br>
.<br>
<br>
<img src="http://www.rlqm.com/legioix_pilum01.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
.<br>
.<br>
<img src="http://www.rlqm.com/legioix_pilum02.jpg" style="border:0;"/> <p></p><i></i>

[scythius]

<br>
Hibernicus wrote:<br>
Quote:</em></strong><hr>Note to self.. "Must check colette.."... <hr><br>
<br>
<conmfused look><br>
<br>
What's that French tart got to do with ....<br>
<br>
Oh.<br>
<br>
You meant 'collet'. Right.<br>
<br>
Scy. <p>LEG IX HSPA - COH III EXPG - CEN I HIB<br>
<br>
- FIDELITAS - - VIRTUS - - MAGNANIMITAS - </p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

<br>
<br>
Cool pick scythius. Speaking of the ferrule (collet), my iron wedges keep slipping out....should I just add some more? <p>Magnus/Matt<br>
Legio XXX "Ulpia Victrix"<br>
Niagara Falls, Canada</p><i></i>

[Hibernicus]

<br>
<br>
Many of our pila live outside, so they tend to dry out, even if heavily oiled.<br>
<br>
Oil the heck out of the wood head... linseed oil... soak it... upside down in a can.... this will cause the wood to swell a bit... refit the collete and add wedges...<br>
<br>
Hibernicus <p></p><i></i>