11-16-2006, 09:58 PM
Its a known fact that, in general, old growth wood has denser grain than modern plantation grown wood. This makes it stronger.
I never claimed it was necessary to purpose grow wood for scutums just suggested it as likely.... as an opinion.
The semi-cylindrical scutum is a complex assemblage. Different varieties of wood selected for their particular qualities, assembled in such a way as to compliment each other, skinned and reinforced to add additional layers of strength and endurance to a variety stresses.
Since we do not know how many scutums had to be made per legion each year we can not say how non-selective a scutum maker would be.
Perhaps when huge numbers of shields had to be made they were made with the available wood.. so X quantity of birch, X quantity of ash....
Perhaps when urgency was not a factor the scutum maker would be much more selective in the wood he used, perhaps contracting to have certain types of woods grown knowing that he had to provide X number of scutums per year.
Perhaps, perhaps not.
I never claimed it was necessary to purpose grow wood for scutums just suggested it as likely.... as an opinion.
The semi-cylindrical scutum is a complex assemblage. Different varieties of wood selected for their particular qualities, assembled in such a way as to compliment each other, skinned and reinforced to add additional layers of strength and endurance to a variety stresses.
Since we do not know how many scutums had to be made per legion each year we can not say how non-selective a scutum maker would be.
Perhaps when huge numbers of shields had to be made they were made with the available wood.. so X quantity of birch, X quantity of ash....
Perhaps when urgency was not a factor the scutum maker would be much more selective in the wood he used, perhaps contracting to have certain types of woods grown knowing that he had to provide X number of scutums per year.
Perhaps, perhaps not.
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
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
