What was the pilum made of?

[Robert]

Nasty thing about fir is the knots. Ash has far less knots and a nice long grain, much nicer to work, more predictable in the split. I will go for the "coppiced poles of ash" (Hibernicus) anyday, especially when the multipurpose character is taken into account. Any army traveling could stock up at whatever grove they passed, replenishing supplies.
Still think ash should not be classed a hardwood, medium density at best. It just grows too fast te be a proper hardwood, this being the reason it is seldom carried in commercial trade these days. It's not that ash is scarce, it just doesn't make it to the sawmils these days.