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Plumbata
#91
Paul, the only really 'difficult' element of a plumbata is the barbed iron tanged/socketed head. The other components are easy to make by anybody, even the plaster of Paris bivalve mould for casting the lead weight!<br>
<br>
Aitor <p></p><i></i>
It\'s all an accident, an accident of hands. Mine, others, all without mind, from one extreme to another, but neither works nor will ever.

Rolf Steiner
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#92
And have a word with Tony Drake at Arbeia about the head,<br>
<br>
Crispvs <p></p><i></i>
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers.  :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.net">www.romanarmy.net
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#93
Excellent armourer, give him my regards when you see him again!<br>
<br>
Aitor <p></p><i></i>
It\'s all an accident, an accident of hands. Mine, others, all without mind, from one extreme to another, but neither works nor will ever.

Rolf Steiner
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#94
If you need pictures of British examples, contact me at fectioAThotmail.com<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
Valerius/Robert <p></p><i></i>
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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#95
Aitor,

(reviving an old thread here)
I had a good look at at De Rebus Bellicis again, and I noticed that our author, when describing the elusive plumbata et tribolata, does not mention the lead weight. Now of course, from the name alone you would expect this. But he describes both weapons in great detail, and indeed mentions the lead weight for the second (known) version, the plumbata mammilata. Would it be possible that the 'caltrop' version, if it existed at all, had only a caltrop for a weight? He says that it was "soldered on just below the point" , while the lead weight of the mammilata was "attached at the same point"

Your thoughts?
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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#96
Posibly, Robert...
Anyway our surce here is too meagre and it would be easy to keep the tribulus in place using the lead weight than without it!

Aitor
It\'s all an accident, an accident of hands. Mine, others, all without mind, from one extreme to another, but neither works nor will ever.

Rolf Steiner
Reply
#97
Quote:easy to keep the tribulus in place using the lead weight
Ah, but that's the beauty of a caltrop - it's always the right side up, so you would not need to keep it in place.
I agree with you, the source is too meagre. Personally, I don't think it ever existed, but I might construct one to see if it would work...
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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#98
I updated my webpage about How to.. make a Late Roman Plumbata

[Image: plumbata26.jpg]
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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#99
Hi Robert,

very interesting site, presumably I will never need to reconstruct a plumbata, but Your reconstruction instructions are always very entertaining; long time ago I repetedly visitied Your site with the construction of the late Roman flat scutum - the reason was the photo with the unrespectful spouse that was advised to ignore, a sort of humor, which is seized from the life in the middle. BTW, referring to the topic subject, have a look at Your PM's.

Greets - Uwe
Greets - Uwe
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At Comitatus we just had an enjoyable training weekend. I have a short clip of a new recruit (Salvianus) trying out the plumbatae for the first time. He's throwing underarm, but some of us (me included) are beginning to favour the over-arm (throwing-knife-style) throw.

[url:3kdjcamf]http://www.comitatus.net/plumb1.AVI[/url]

If the file's too big, try right-clicking and downloading using 'Save Target As ...'


[url:3kdjcamf]http://www.comitatus.net[/url]
~ Paul Elliott

The Last Legionary
This book details the lives of Late Roman legionaries garrisoned in Britain in 400AD. It covers everything from battle to rations, camp duties to clothing.
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There is an article about slinging plumbata (actually it is the kestros or cestrosphendone) in the RA Journal - Arms and Armour vol2, No 1 2005. pp79-86
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen & Sword Books
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Quote:At Comitatus we just had an enjoyable training weekend. I have a short clip of a new recruit (Salvianus) trying out the plumbatae for the first time.
Nice to see. Your plumbatae are very short, aren't they?

Quote:He's throwing underarm, but some of us (me included) are beginning to favour the over-arm (throwing-knife-style) throw.
Why is that?
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
Reply
Quote:There is an article about slinging plumbata (actually it is the kestros or cestrosphendone) in the RA Journal - Arms and Armour vol2, No 1 2005. pp79-86
I have been discussing this some time ago on slinging.org.
Could you get me a copy or a scan of the pages?
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
Reply
Quote:Nice to see. Your plumbatae are very short, aren't they?

Yes, but we get very good ranges with them. Out to 70m. We have produced three others at various lengths to try them, but have not had chance yet ... Do you throw yours underarm? What range do you get?

Quote:Why is that?
Less unpredictability. And we were also needing direct fire at shorter ranges, for skirmish combat in the woods. The throwing-dagging technique gives great accuracy at shorter ranges and DOES NOT!!!!!! fly off backwards. :roll:
~ Paul Elliott

The Last Legionary
This book details the lives of Late Roman legionaries garrisoned in Britain in 400AD. It covers everything from battle to rations, camp duties to clothing.
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Yes, overarm offers the best results (we started throwing underarm too, but it was a fiasco :? )

Aitor
It\'s all an accident, an accident of hands. Mine, others, all without mind, from one extreme to another, but neither works nor will ever.

Rolf Steiner
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