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Loculus - Pack Satchel
#1
I am intrigued by this marching pack. I've seen it on the Column, I've seen it on Legio XX's site and on countless re-enactment photos. It looks damned impractical. Is it? Why a satchel instead of some all-purpose bivvie bag? What's in it? Does the envelope shape suit those contents? If not, then what the hell's going on?<br>
<br>
I've got a general purpose green woollen shoulder bag I stuff full of eating gear and other items and am considering sticking that on my furca along with blanket roll etc.<br>
<br>
I'd appreciate some roadtests ... I know Scythius has a linen bag which I like the sound and look of. The leather satchel just ... jars ... doesn't look adequate ... <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://b30.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=mithras@romanarmytalk>Mithras</A> at: 4/22/04 10:15 pm<br></i>
~ Paul Elliott

The Last Legionary
This book details the lives of Late Roman legionaries garrisoned in Britain in 400AD. It covers everything from battle to rations, camp duties to clothing.
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#2
<br>
Leather - go with the leather....<br>
<br>
Longer answer to follow, when I get home.<br>
<br>
Scy. <p>Scythius<br>
LEG IX HSPA - COH III EXPG - CEN I HIB<br>
<br>
- FIDELITAS - - VIRTUS - - MAGNANIMITAS - </p><i></i>
Adam MacDonald

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org">www.legio-ix-hispana.org
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#3
One of the tricks to making it more secure and more weather resistant is a series of ties under the flap:<br>
<img src="http://www.rlqm.com/3LoculusVer3open.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
.<br>
Or a more secure closure system keeping in mind that the hook ring closure is speculation. You can also tie it closed. Buckles work:<br>
<img src="http://www.rlqm.com/2LoculusVer2front.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
.<br>
We also like to use bronze rings to which you attach leather thongs in order to secure teh loculus to the furca:<br>
<img src="http://www.rlqm.com/1LoculusVer1back.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
.<br>
You can tie loops in the things that fit over notches on the furca, Slip the loop over the pole end and into the the notch:<br>
<img src="http://www.rlqm.com/furca03poleend.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
.<br>
Notches on all three pole ends:<br>
<img src="http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org/08furcacrossmember.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
<br>
<br>
Hibernicus <p></p><i></i>
Hibernicus

LEGIO IX HISPANA, USA

You cannot dig ditches in a toga!

[url:194jujcw]http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org[/url]
A nationwide club with chapters across N America
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#4
Right-o:<br>
<br>
Home for a few minutes before I go to the studio (I am recording some music for a new video game in production....shh!).<br>
<br>
The linen loculus was an experiment, and I don't think a very sucessful one. Typically, what I carry in my loculus are things I would rather keep out of the elements - spare tunic, socks, clean underwear, salt ration, tinder and firekit - all things that work better the drier they are.<br>
<br>
When we took our hike in the rain last year, I took the linen loculus along with as a 'bread bag' - I carried several largish loaves of flatbread in the loculus which very quickly got wet (not a surprise since linen has no natural water repellency).<br>
<br>
Additionally, the conjectural way that the IX packs the sarcina uses the loculus to provide some stability to the pack/furca setup - which the linen bag lacked.<br>
<br>
I'd say that the leather wins in one more aspect in my opinion - cloth is a relatively 'high-tech' (and therefore expensive) material - especially when compared to something like goat leather. Growth and processing time and costs are much less in this case.<br>
<br>
I'll still use the linen one as a bread and rations bag occasionally, but wouldn't depend on it too much...<br>
<p>Scythius<br>
LEG IX HSPA - COH III EXPG - CEN I HIB<br>
<br>
- FIDELITAS - - VIRTUS - - MAGNANIMITAS - </p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://b30.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=scythius>Scythius</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org/07ftmac02scythius.gif" BORDER=0> at: 4/23/04 1:17 am<br></i>
Adam MacDonald

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org">www.legio-ix-hispana.org
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#5
<br>
A pic of Scythius's linen loculus, with some of the contents spread out on his sagum...<br>
<br>
<img src="http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org/14.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
<br>
Hibernicus <p></p><i></i>
Hibernicus

LEGIO IX HISPANA, USA

You cannot dig ditches in a toga!

[url:194jujcw]http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org[/url]
A nationwide club with chapters across N America
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#6
let me add that there really isn't that much you <em><strong>NEED</strong></em> to carry in the loculus itself, so it really doesn't need to be super big. To my list, just add a few more additional neccesities (gambling markers, debtor's list, hobnails, brothel token(s), 'dear John' letters from home, letter to your Mum asking for money and socks...)<br>
<br>
Scy. <p>Scythius<br>
LEG IX HSPA - COH III EXPG - CEN I HIB<br>
<br>
- FIDELITAS - - VIRTUS - - MAGNANIMITAS - </p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://b30.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=scythius>Scythius</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org/07ftmac02scythius.gif" BORDER=0> at: 4/23/04 1:24 am<br></i>
Adam MacDonald

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org">www.legio-ix-hispana.org
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#7
Sythius wroted: Additionally, the conjectural way that the IX packs the sarcina uses the loculus to provide some stability to the pack/furca setup - which the linen bag lacked.<br>
<br>
Oh so true... a loculus that's packed tight rides against your upper back well, helping disperse some of the weight of the sarcina, reducing or eliminating swaying, keeps other gear form banging against or resting on your armor and a well packed, proper packed loculus keeps the sarcina from sliding forward.. it contributes greatly to balance and stability.<br>
<br>
Hibernicus<br>
<p></p><i></i>
Hibernicus

LEGIO IX HISPANA, USA

You cannot dig ditches in a toga!

[url:194jujcw]http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org[/url]
A nationwide club with chapters across N America
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#8
I can't wait to go on my first campaign! Here is the furca, made from ash, the dolabra from Albion, and the loculus, made from goat skin:<br>
<br>
66.66.131.145/roman/marchingKit.jpg<br>
<br>
Detail views of the loculus:<br>
<br>
front:<br>
<br>
66.66.131.145/roman/loculus_front.jpg<br>
<br>
and back:<br>
<br>
66.66.131.145/roman/loculus_back.jpg<br>
<br>
I wasn't able to locate a supplier of vegetable tanned goat skin in the USA. I had to order the goat leather from the UK. The studded ring I obtained from Raymond's Quiet Press.<br>
<br>
A good reference on the roman marching kit is the article by N. Fuentes in JRMES Vol. 2 (1991). In this article it is hypothesized that a kit might of been carried on the end of a dolabra without the use of a furca pole. They also show the carrying of a scutum using a shoulder strap.<br>
<p></p><i></i>
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#9
Excellent!<br>
<br>
May I suggest that you reinforce the area around the hook ring slot. We've started to oversew the perimeter of the slot as you do a button hole. Strengthens the slot, lasts longer with less stretching. We tend to pack our loculii FULL of stuff<br>
<br>
<br>
Hibernicus<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
Hibernicus

LEGIO IX HISPANA, USA

You cannot dig ditches in a toga!

[url:194jujcw]http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org[/url]
A nationwide club with chapters across N America
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#10
My loculus...<br>
<br>
is going to look like an abomination. I bought one new piece of leather for the back and flap part, and then canibalized a satchel i had made before for the front part of the leather. It's cow hide, but both pieces are VERY different in colour. THEN, my reinforcing straps are made from 3-5 oz leather scraps I had, which are a tad thick.<br>
<br>
You guys must have put all the reinforcing stitches on first right? That's what I'm doing. But because my leather is all thicker, I have to pre-drill the holes, which is quite a bother. <p>Magnus/Matt<br>
Legio XXX "Ulpia Victrix"<br>
Niagara Falls, Canada</p><i></i>
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#11
I've attached reinforcing straps while the loculus body was open and flat and when it was sewn up... I prefer flat.. <br>
<br>
Try a stiching awl or use a glover's needle.. three sided... and stitching palm (sail maker's palm..). You 'll be able to push the needle through the 3-5oz leather with ease<br>
<br>
Yours will look perfect by the way... perfect because you used the resources at a hand... perfect becasue it's not perfectionist!<br>
<br>
Hibernicus <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://b30.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=hibernicus>Hibernicus</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org/04ftmac02hibernicus.gif" BORDER=0> at: 4/23/04 4:19 pm<br></i>
Hibernicus

LEGIO IX HISPANA, USA

You cannot dig ditches in a toga!

[url:194jujcw]http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org[/url]
A nationwide club with chapters across N America
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#12
I made my loculus from a single piece of goat skin, the front, the back, and the flap. The reinforcing straps were then stitched on with the front, back, and flap layed out flat. <p></p><i></i>
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#13
The main bag part....did you turn the edges in, then sew them? Or lay them flat and sew them together with one piece on top of the other.<br>
<br>
The reason I ask, is because if there are side reinforcing straps, wouldn't it be easier to sew them on at the same time, if you sewed the pouch pieces together flat (as in my case since mine is in two pieces.).<br>
<br>
If you guys are confused at what I mean, Here is a diagram. I think the way I have it drawn on the left is better in my case because I am making the bag part out of 2 pieces, not one folded one.<br>
<br>
<img src="http://img13.photobucket.com/albums/v39/TlantMagnus/Loculus_sketch.jpg" style="border:0;"/> <p>Magnus/Matt<br>
Legio XXX "Ulpia Victrix"<br>
Niagara Falls, Canada</p><i></i>
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#14
For attaching the edges together I layed the front and back together, overlapped the edge reinforcement, and stitched the three pieces together with a single length of stitching. I did not turn the edges in. Either method works. <p></p><i></i>
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#15
I made mine from cowhide. I sewed all of the reinforcing straps on flat and then sewed the sides up, keeping the edges about half an inch apart and ovelapping both with the side reinforcing strap, which bridges the gap. I therefore have quite a stiff loculus which nonetheless still allows me to get to the small objects which end up in the corner of the bag.<br>
<br>
Crispvs <p></p><i></i>
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers.  :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.net">www.romanarmy.net
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