Roman helmets: Imperial Gallic/Italic and Ridge - comparisons and sources

[Dan Howard]

He's fallen for the discredited idea that 4th century Roman equipment was inferior to what was produced previously. In fact the opposite was true. The Diocletian reforms resulted in more standardisation, better quality control, and superior metallurgy in Roman equipment. The equipment that was issued to fourth century legionaries was among the best the Romans ever produced. This coincides, not with a collapse, but with a period of expansion and military success. The Diocletian reforms enabled the empire to survive for another 150 years.