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Too slow! Get moving!
#16
If you can provide Suhel or another craftsman with detailed instructions on the measures and construction of the Gladiator helmet you want, then this is a good way to get a custom fitted piece.
Otherwise I would be quite careful as a Gladiator helmet is a very complex construction, and we can be very thankful to Christian Koepfer for the work he put into the AER items.
Olaf Küppers - Histotainment, Event und Promotion - Germany
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#17
Thank you, Olaf, for all your comments here. As our purpose, right now, is basically heading in a "martial art" direction, perfect historical accuracy isn't as important. But yes, I definitely see how mixing and matching different periods could be detrimental or even nonsensical. I'm collecting and digesting books as we go, plus reading what I can find here on RAT, so hopefully I can pass on this information to the group. I have various books so far: the Osprey book, Junkelmann, Jacobelli, Sheldrake, etc.

And yes, the AER stuff looks amazing and I'm sure is worth every penny! I just don't have that many pennies to spend at the moment. Sad

Thanks again!
--
Gnaeus Caelius Ahenobarbus (Darin Arrick)
Gladiator (Thraex, Hoplomachus)
Seattle, WA, US
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#18
I am in the Upstate of South Carolina, glad to hear of more gladiators in the US!! I have paired off with Martin1 many times, learned from him, and seek his consul on many things about gladiators. He is a knowledgeable man about gladiators and what he has said is true!

I don't know Olaf, other than here on RAT, but he also speaks the truth about acquiring proper gear. It is important that you get proper equipment, not just for your period in history and style of fighting but also actual gladiator gear that will stand up in practice and in the arena.

Look forward to hearing how you progress and one day face off in the arena!
Joshua B. Davis

Marius Agorius Donatus Minius Germanicus
Optio Centuriae
Legio VI FFC, Cohors Flavus
[url:vat9d7f9]http://legvi.tripod.com[/url]

"Do or do not do, their is no try!" Yoda
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#19
Do you have a website/yahoo group /facebook page and contact info so I can add your group to my list of (Roman) North American reeactment groups?
John Kaler MSG, USA Retired
Member Legio V (Tenn, USA)
Staff Member Ludus Militus https://www.facebook.com/groups/671041919589478/
Owner Vicus and Village: https://www.facebook.com/groups/361968853851510/
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#20
You might see if you can contact this group for information:

Gladiatorium Academia
John Ebel
Box 2146
East Hampton, NY 11937
631-329-2430
[http://mailto:[email protected]]gla...online.net
John Kaler MSG, USA Retired
Member Legio V (Tenn, USA)
Staff Member Ludus Militus https://www.facebook.com/groups/671041919589478/
Owner Vicus and Village: https://www.facebook.com/groups/361968853851510/
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#21
A PM has been sent with our website. I tried to post it here but it came back that I was sending spam to this website.
Joshua B. Davis

Marius Agorius Donatus Minius Germanicus
Optio Centuriae
Legio VI FFC, Cohors Flavus
[url:vat9d7f9]http://legvi.tripod.com[/url]

"Do or do not do, their is no try!" Yoda
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#22
You can't put up just a link, or the new system reads that as spam. So if you
a) include some words with the link, or
b) put up a message like "Here's our website" and then edit in the link, you can work around the filter.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)

Saepe veritas est dura.
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#23
Dear Gnaeus,

Not wishing to seem rude, but in my opinion heading in a "martial arts" direction does by no means exclude getting proper gear if you want to "feel Roman" and not just "play Roman".
A while back, I made an Esjbol sword for someone into martial arts, and not being a praticed swordsman myself, this was a sobering experience for me. He wanted something that felt and cut like the real thing. I made that sword close to the archeological spec (although I used C45 monosteel, which is top range for Roman hardware) and he pointed out things in the balance of the blade. Even when it's shape looked fine, the feel wasn't there and only after some more serious sanding did he like the sword I had made, as now it handled like the weapon it was designed to be.
So if you want to just bash at each other running around half naked, I do not suppose it matters what you get, but if you wish to practice the martial arts of gladiatorial fighting, go slow and invest in good stuff, as this will give you the true feel of the abilities and limitations of the weapons you handle and the helmets and shields you wear and carry. The AER site not only has good stuff for sale, it has usefull info on gear and pairing, too.
There are quite a few things you can make yourself as a group, by the way. You can get a good galerus made at your local friendly car bodyshop, they have all the tools for hammering out that and shieldbosses. Then you can make your own shields using poplar/whitewood plywood (cheaper and more authentic then hardwood ply). If you have a blacksmith handy, he can do you a simple socketed trident (these heads are a lot smaller then you may think).
I hope your group thrives and prospers and you have tons of good bloody fun :woot:
Salvete et Valete



Nil volentibus arduum





Robert P. Wimmers
www.erfgoedenzo.nl/Diensten/Creatie Big Grin
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#24
Our gladiator website is: The Imperial Gladiator School [Image: index.html]
Joshua B. Davis

Marius Agorius Donatus Minius Germanicus
Optio Centuriae
Legio VI FFC, Cohors Flavus
[url:vat9d7f9]http://legvi.tripod.com[/url]

"Do or do not do, their is no try!" Yoda
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#25
Our Gladiator website is: The Imperial Gladiator School [Image: index.html]
Joshua B. Davis

Marius Agorius Donatus Minius Germanicus
Optio Centuriae
Legio VI FFC, Cohors Flavus
[url:vat9d7f9]http://legvi.tripod.com[/url]

"Do or do not do, their is no try!" Yoda
Reply
#26
Thank you for this great message! We definitely want the "right" equipment. We're making some of our equipment and buying some. For example, we've made wooden Thraex shields (2 feet square, plywood, with a rear handle) and a Murmillo scutum (2x4 feet, cut-out handle, boss made from steel mixing bowl Wink ). We've made foam weapons for sparring (gladii, sica, spear/trident; we go mostly at half to three-quarters speed and force) but also have hard weapons for working the palus and doing drills. We've bought a little armor (Corinthian helmet for Hoplomachus, galerus for retiarius, high greaves, short greaves) and will be buying more soon. We also use some martial arts padding (headgear, gloves, shin guards) for sparring purposes. Yes, we're having a blast. Here are some pics from two weekends ago. I'm the bald guy in the brown shorts. Smile

Link to pics

Gnaeus Caelius Ahenobarbus
aka Darin Arrick
Gladiatura Kentuckiensis
Lexington, Kentucky, US
--
Gnaeus Caelius Ahenobarbus (Darin Arrick)
Gladiator (Thraex, Hoplomachus)
Seattle, WA, US
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#27
I know me and my friend do fighting and we have some roman stuff i having made or modified most of it the things right now being a roman shield, helmet with iron cross bars, manica, and greaves im trying to make a lorica segementata but the sheer time is catching up to me right now on this process. But the point im trying to make is that with things like armor and shields you can save yourself alot of money by making things yourself. shields you only need from 1/4" to 1/2" if you dont have the linen or canvas to cover the plywood though i wouldnt recommend the 1'4". armor ive found a great investment if your gonna make it yourself and go that step is a bunch of thich roofing nails a bolt cutter and ball peen hammer and close cell foam. you can use the foam to get your shapes and templates right and figure out what you need exactly and what works and what doesnt to a certain degree cause you can heat it to make a bend and keep it that way. as for steel working theres multiple things you can do you can get some 18 gauge steel or 16 or higher. Or you can be really cheap and get a mass quanitity of 22 gauge and fold it three times and forge weld it into 18 gauge. alot of it is a learning process ive learned this myself in 2 years and am still learning all the time and will in the years to come im only 19 so i got time for sure. very good starter armor though not so much for gladiators is a linthorax. i currently fight in a linthoraw made of leather and impact foam with a band of 22 gauge steel on the side very duarable even stops a gladius stab. but ive rambled enough if you have any questions just ask. oh btw with shields if you want to make a curved scutum you can wet it and drill it into a curved former or you can take think think plywood and glue it in layers with wood glue then wedge it between a former and something heavy to keep it bent.
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