06-28-2015, 12:09 PM
Quote:brennivs - tony drake post=368431 Wrote:I still wonder why they twisted the shank?Tony, that's a question that remains unaswered as yet. I've asked a number of blacksmiths (including you) and the best I got so far is that twisted metal shafts might be more heat-resistant, implying that such twisted plumbatae were used as incendiary devices.
Could it be something to do with making the dart fly longer, straighter and true? The same as rifling of a gun barrel makes bullets flying further and straighter than smoothbore barrels?
Adrian Coombs-Hoar