Scutum carrying strap

[Marcus Mummius]

Greetings,<br>
<br>
Does everyone carry his scutum in a leather bag or could there be a carrying strap attached to the scutum itself?<br>
<br>
And I've got another question: I have got absolutely no idea where to find leather. I live in Belgium. If anyone could offer me some information I would be very grateful.<br>
<br>
Thanks in advance!<br>
Cheers,<br>
MarcusMummius <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

The scutum cover is simply to protect the shield, it's not there for the purpose of carrying the scutum. A strap needs to be attached to the scutum itself, not the cover. See how I did it:<br>
<br>
66.66.131.145/roman/scutum.html<br>
<br>
My cover is made from goat skin. I used five hides obtained from Le Prevo. Their located in the UK, so maybe they're an option for you. Their address is:<br>
<br>
Le Prevo<br>
No. 1 Charlotte Street<br>
Newcastle NE1 4XF<br>
<br>
Their telephone number is:<br>
0191 232 4179/222 1927<br>
<br>
Their email is:<br>
[email protected] <br>
<p></p><i></i>

[Uwe Bahr]

Avete omnes,<br>
<br>
I am just trying to reconstruct a group of legionaries in paenula and with their covered scutums on the back according with the painting of Angus McBride in Ross Cowan's "Roman Legionary 1 (Osprey's Warrior series)". The painting refers to Marcus Junkelmann's reconstruction of the scutum carrying strap.<br>
<br>
But I don't understand the way of carrying the scutum on the following photo from Junkelmann's march from Verona to Augsburg in 1985:<br>
<br>
<img src="http://people.freenet.de/u-bahr/Junkel7a.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
<br>
The man on the right has the strap crossing the chest, but in which way is the man on the left carrying his scutum? He has put over his hooded paenula and the scutum on his back - where is the strap?<br>
<br>
Uwe <p></p><i></i>

[Flavius Promotus]

Maybe he first attached the strap and put on the paenula after that ? This seems also to be the case with the legionary in the middle.<br>
<br>
I have never carried a shield and a cloak simultaneously with the shield on my back (only with the shield on my side), but I prefer to first take on the shield and then the cloak.<br>
<br>
Otherwise, you would have to take off the shield, too, if it gets too hot. And if you carry a lot of equipment Junkelmann-style, it is a cumbersome operation.<br>
If you put the cloak over the shield straps you can take it off more easily.<br>
<br>
Just my humble opinion - I don't know what other units have experienced.<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>

[Uwe Bahr]

Flavius,<br>
<br>
the man in the middle is not the solution of the problem. He has left his left arm free and obviously wears the paenula only over his right body half just to be able of using the scutum carrying strap. The man on the left obviously is wearing his paenula over his both arms and may have the straps under his cloak. But how are the ends of the strap lead to the scutum?<br>
<br>
Uwe <p></p><i></i>

[Flavius Promotus]

That we see the paenula running down the entire length on the front does not necessarily mean it also covered his behind. Maybe it was put over the shoulders but held in place on the back at about half length by the scutum straps.<br>
This is probably indicated by the large fold on his right shoulder.<br>
<br>
Have you thought of asking Junkelmann about it ? <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Here's one person's implementation of the Junkelmann carrying system:<br>
<br>
www.florentius.com/Scutum.htm<br>
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The Junkelmann system is purely conjectural. Trajan's column shows legionaires carrying their scuta about their left shoulders, not about their back. <p></p><i></i>

[Flavius Promotus]

The relief on Trajan's column is not totally beyond doubt, but there is a crude relief in Mainz which shows a signifer and a legionary, the latter with his marching equipment.<br>
<br>
Just like the legionaries on the column, the Mainz legionary carries his helmet attached to his right shoulder plate and the shield is carried on the left side. This relief is from the 'Frontline area' (fortress of Mainz ?) and should be more or less reliable.<br>
<br>
I cannot say much about the Junkelmann method, since I never carried a scutum on my back while wearing chainmail.<br>
The method seems to work quite well with chainmail, but the Peterson group found it awkward to carry a shield on the back if they were equipped with loricae segmentatae.<br>
<br>
I tried the 'back method' a few times and I always gave up after a few hundred meters. The Dura-Europos scutum and my Newstead just could not get along with each other. The shoulder plates were shoved inwards by the curve of the scutum and I could not lift my arms freely. Marching was also difficult. (I did not have the opportunity to test it with a Corbridge.)<br>
<br>
The side method worked much better. We used shoulder straps attached to the scutum grip, and the straps were led over the left shoulder. We have found it possible to carry the shield for more than 30 km in this way but then the shoulder HURTS !<br>
And after a few weeks there are these chronic problems in the left shoulder...<br>
Maybe we should have put the strap over the right shoulder ?<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>

[Crispvs]

When constructing my shield harness I had four considerations in mind: firstly, it must be able to support the shield in a way which would allow me to move relatively comfortably over long distances; secondly, it had to have some sort of quick release mechanism to enable it to be employed quickly in an emergency (ambush) as the optimum carrying position is inconsistant which the normal defensive use of the shield; I had to be able to put it on and hoist my shield onto my back (actually back and left side) unaided; and it had to be durable. I modified Florentius' 'Junkelmann' design by replacing the hooks with buckles about six inches away from the ends of the straps, as I felt that the hooks might get caught on straps or other equipment if the shield had to be employed in a hurry. This allowed me to avoid having to attach rings to the handle of my scutum as the straps simply passed around the handle and then through the buckles. I was concerned that the straps might shift around on the handle as I marched, upsetting the balance of the scutum, but in the event this did not happen and the scutum remained quite stable. To give extra strength to the leather of the straps (and thus greater durability) I made each strap from two pieces of leather stiched together down both sides. I also made the main shoulder strap much longer than Florentius' one and made it the same width all the way along. This was not uncomfortable on the shoulder as some people suggested it might be, because the collar plates of my armour distributed the weight in much the same way that Florentius' widened shoulder strap would. The narrowing and lengthening the main strap (the strap which leads from the shield handle over the left shoulder from behind) meant that I was able to buckle the main straps to the scutum handle and then pass the main strap loosely over my left shoulder and through the buckle attached to the top end of the forward main strap whilst kneeling next to the shield on one knee. I then stood up and by bouncing the shield up and down whilst pulling the end of the main strap, ratchetted the strap and buckle into a position which held the shield high enough over my left shoulder that it did not knock against my calves when marching. The torso staps were then buckled around the chest to achieve a firm (but not constrictive) fit for the whole harness. Interstingly, when I managed to get the hang of donning the shield and harness it was noted that my shield rode in precisely the same position as that of the shield of the marching soldier from the Mainz column base (who also appears to have a strap running across his chest, angled up towards his left shoulder). Although initially I did not do the main straps up as tightly as I later learned I needed to (resulting in cuts and bruising to my calves) after I had got the tension and height of the shield right I carried the shield fairly comfortably on this harness over much of the length of Hadrain's Wall with no further trouble (aside from my rather poor level of fitness in comparison with that of the Roman soldier). Overall the harness performed very well but I noted certain features which could have been improved. Firstly, after the shield had been hoisted into position it was much more difficult to release the 'quick release' buckles than I had expected (although it could still be done in a few seconds) and if I was making a second harness I would lengthen the strap beyond the buckle which would result in a greater length of strap to use as a lever to unhook the buckle pins. This restriction meant that when removing my shield I resorted to undoing the buckle of the main strap. However, marching several miles tended to make the main strap retreat under the main shoulder guard and the buckle was sometimes difficult to get to. If I were to make another I would attach the buckle to the main strap rather than the forward strap and I would make the forward strap shorter. This would mean that the buckle would be ratchetted down rather than up the strap and would thus be in a much more accessable place against the side of the torso rather than on the shoulder, where mine ended up. I also made the mistake of making my front torso strap too long, meaning it buckle on my side rather than more conveniently on my front. Overall then, a good harness and sveral lessons learnt.<br>
<br>
Crispvs <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Ave Crispus,<br>
<br>
You are 100% correct, those hooks had to go. I have also removed them end use a strap with a loop, and girth hitch that around the handle. A bit of practice donning and removing the whole enchilada makes it quick and easy. I'd love to see pictures of your rig.<br>
<br>
Vale, Florentius <p></p><i></i>

[Crispvs]

Florentius,<br>
<br>
I don't have a good picture but there are one or two photos on our website [url=http://www.romanarmy.net" target="top]www.romanarmy.net[/url] which give a glimpse or two of parts of it. I'll apologise now for leaving my shield cover at home in the rush to get away and for the fact that I haven't got around to turning the centre plates of the main shoulder splints on my lorica around yet. I still haven't worked out how to post photos but if you look at the Hadran's Wall page on the site you can see me adjusting the harness just prior to rigging it to my shield (labelled 'pig fat application'). The torso straps can be seen in the photo 'Kitting up' and I can be seen ratchetting my shield up into position in the photo below. I can be seen from behind with my shield slung on the harness in the photo labelled 'gladiator??'. Your experienced eye may be able to give you some idea of the harness form these few glimpses. As a practical experiment, each of the seventeen soldiers participating in the Hadrian's wall march used a different harness design, to test each and assess whether or not it was a practical possibility. Sorry about the tortuous method of showing you the photos.<br>
<br>
Crispvs <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=crispvs>Crispvs</A> at: 11/3/04 11:33 pm<br></i>

[Anonymous]

Ave Crispus,<br>
<br>
I have examined the photos in conjunction with your descriptions, but I'm mostly working off your text. I can see some of the different designs in the "siesta" shot. You will also find that with the shield cover in place, on the few occasions it does touch your leg, it's protected. I like your idea of having the main buckle on the BACK strap heading up from the handle over the shoulder, this would greatly improve the ratchet action. I also find that I just grab the bottom edge of the shield and shove it into position, which helps. I also agree the torso strap buckle strap needs to be quite short, giving easier front access. I'm not clear on your description of the quick release, or the handle straps. You have a buckle on each end of the main shoulder strap to attach it to the handle? Does this mean 5 buckles total- 1 main buckle, 2 attachment buckles, 1 torso buckle, and 1 quick release buckle?<br>
<br>
POSTING PICTURES TO RAT PROCEDURE: Go to this address: photobucket.com/ and set up an account, it's quick, free, and easy. Usually, it best to crop the useless areas around the outside, and make it as small a file as possible, while keeping the detail. Sign in to your photobucket account, and click the browse button, select your picture then click open, then submit to upload it. Then you copy the url listed under your picture. When you type your message here, click the image button to the left, paste the url in, and viola, when you add reply, your picture shows up like magic. Here is a picture of me in civies, and my lovely lady, Sabina Nona. Our Centurio Magnus is in the background. This is from our recent appearance at a Marching Through History Timeline event. <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/jaredfleury/fortmacjar012.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
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Vale, Florentius <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=jaredfleury>jaredfleury</A> at: 1/13/05 2:36 am<br></i>

[derek forrest]

The weather this year was so lousy that I wore a Paenula and impedimenta more than a straw Hat.<br>
Because I was already wearing it I tended to carry everything on the top. Seems a pain to have to take it off in the pouring rain!<br>
<br>
It works OK but you have to push the cloak up your left shoulder to accommodate the strap.<br>
<br>
I daresay you could wear the cloak over the top of the shield and then put the impedimenta on the top of that.<br>
<br>
I shall try both next season unless of course summer breaks out <p></p><i></i>

[Crispvs]

Florentius,<br>
<br>
There are four buckles on my harness: one to join the main straps, one to join the torso straps and one close to each end of the main strap unit, with about eight inches of strap extending beyond each of these last two to go around the handle and back through the buckle. The idea of using a strap and buckle arrangement around the handle was that I would be able to release each handle strap from its buckle simply and quickly to release the shield, to be used as usual without straps hanging off it to get in the way. I found however that I had not allowed enough length for the straps and so a very short length of about three inches was left to project from each buckle once done up. This meant that I did not have much to take hold of when I wished to release the straps and the weight of the shield meant it was reasonably difficult to undo each buckle. When I revise my harness I will be allowing more length beyond the buckles to ensure that when done up around the handle enough strap will still project from each buckle that I am able to get better leverage than at present. Hopefully this may solve the problem. If this still does not work, moving the main strap buckle to the back strap should still ensure that a fairly quick release is possible by undoing the main and torso strap buckles, although the harness would still remain attached to the shield.<br>
Hope this helps,<br>
<br>
Crispvs <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=crispvs>Crispvs</A> at: 11/5/04 8:53 pm<br></i>

[Anonymous]

Ave Crispus,<br>
<br>
Thanks, I think I've got it. I'm going to rebuild my harness along those lines.<br>
<br>
One thing I found that is when carrying the Furca with the Junk. scuta strap, is that the furca rests across your should, and lines up along the top of the scuta, with the ditty bag and loculus hanging over the back. This has the result of stabilizing both, allowing a fairly handsfree march. If you so wish, and are a pathetically out of shape as I am, your right is free to use the pilum as a walking stick. The pull forward of the Furca setup also assists in levering the bottom of the scutum out and further from your legs.<br>
<br>
I've never had cause or opportunity to march with a cloak on, but i'm sure someday I will. Then I can babble on about that<br>
<br>
Derrek, I'd still love to see some photos of the rig you use!<br>
<br>
Vale, Florentius <p></p><i></i>