What was the pilum made of?

[Aurelianus]

I've tried several woods for Pila, Hasta and other Roman stuffs (oak, hazelnut, beech, pine, …). For me ash is the best choice! It’s quite light, tough, durable and very well to work with.
I would not bee surprised if the Romans would have preferentially used the same wood.

[Hibernicus]

I too prefer ASH

hardwood / soft wood etc.... A bit of basic research on wood will reveal a variety of characteristics: density, flexibility, compressibility etc..

With all factors considered ash is the best choice.

The major advantages coppiced wood has over timber for use in pilum shafts:
1) its far easier to harvest (smaller diameter!)
2) grows to a usable size sooner
3) a whole pole is stronger than a quartered split, rived or sawn board that's been shaped round
4) far far less labor to make the shaft

A coppiced pole can be harvested and shaped in 15-20 minutes.
A finished metal shaft can be attached in about the same amount of time.

[Magnus]

Of course, most of us buy our wood from a lumber mill, thus things like growth rate and availability isn't so much of an issue. I may in fact make my next shaft out of something other than ash, oak or maple, just for craps and giggles.

[Ceannt]

Hi all

My two cents about it is that any wood that was close at hand would have been used but not ash because you make hurleys with ash and i know from trying to make one myself is if the grain of the wood is not curved it will shatter from the first hit it will soo i would a straight grain wood would be the best

[Hibernicus]

My two cents about it is that any wood that was close at hand would have been used but not ash because you make hurleys with ash and i know from trying to make one myself is if the grain of the wood is not curved it will shatter from the first hit it will soo i would a straight grain wood would be the best MARIUS

The Oberaden pilum shafts, the wood shafts, were ash.

Do some research on wood characteristics.

An Irish website:

http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about581.html

Ash is, and has been one of our most widely planted broadleaves for use as a raw material in the production of coach axles, furniture, tool handles, oars, walking sticks and more recently, snooker cues. Being a favoured wood for the construction of these pieces due to it flexibility, strength and resistance to splitting, it comes as no surprise that ash wood has been used throughout the history of Ireland for making hurleys. At a rough estimate, one acre of ash woodland can produce in excess of 1500 hurleys, more than enough to cater for a few unfortunate and sometimes intentional breakages during an All-Ireland final.

[Aurelianus]

All of our practise weapons for gladiatorial fights are made from ash (that one made from oak and beech blow up in the chimney long time ago). With ash there has been no shatter at all yet (and we really don’t fondle each other with it). Rather this wood is unbelievable tough!

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Possibly why the ancients used it! 8)

[Ceannt]

I stand corrected.

Thanks

[Hibernicus]

Shane there are a number of ash species in Ireland. Maybe some are unsuitable. We have an Ash species here in Southern California with characteristics not at all like white or black ash. We have evergreen oaks and some of the varieties don't got more than 25-30 feet tall!

[Nerva]

316 Stainless Steel...wood...shiney wood at that...

[Pertinax]

Am not convinced with regards to the Pila being weighted. With a weight around the 3-4 kilo would that not of been enough to give it good weight to cause some damage. Take a look at the modern javelin of c800g (28ounces) which can do some serious damage (anyone seen the vid of the chap getting one in the shoulder - ouch) and the modern javelin is only just that bit lighter than the pila (obviously I know there are diff designs etc) so no added weight would be needed and to add, these got a distance of 30-40m. Christ there are too many 'weight' words in that paragraph. :x

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

There are reliefs I belive!

[Nerva]

Peter Connally did a technocal treatises not so long ago on the development and construction of the Pilum. I have a copy at hope and I'll scan and give to (small enough file to email). It answers most of the questions you ask.

[Robert]

Please, Martinus, please send me a copy at r.wimmersATchello.nl. I find conventional e-mail easier for sending attachments. Still have some pugio pics for Cripivs waiting

[Paullus Scipio]

Yes, please, Martinus, I too would be most grateful to have a copy - if PM doesn't work, I can send an e-mail address !

Thanking you in anticipation !!