Roman slinger gear

[Legionare Vibius Atimoniu]

I was wondering what the slingers would look like if they wore any armor or something. Me and my brother have recently begun slinging and if we could get some gear and our parents would drive us till I can drive us we might join a legion as slingers. Are there any legions close to Lawrence county? It is about 50 miles from nashville.

[Johnny Shumate]

Here is an illustration I did of a Roman slinger. They wore no armor and perhaps carried a shield (at least on Trajan's column). I practice slinging, but I don't belong to any offical reenactment group....
Johnny
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/ ... nSling.jpg

[Peroni]

This illustration of a slinger confuses me greatly! No slight on your artistic talents here, It's a lovely illustration.

My question would be.. Whilst he is holding the grip of the shield, how the devil is he supposed to reload the pocket of the sling?

I always thought that the shield (usually a small Iberian 'Caetra') was suspended aound the neck to allow for two free hands?

A Caetra is a round buckler about 50cm in diameter with a large forged iron grip like this...


I have made a reconstruction of such a shield, I will post photos when I get home from work!

In the meantime here's a photo of a colleague in his slinger impression from Robert Vermaat's Fectio website. He has a small caetra on a strap.

[Ebusitanus]

Great stuff. My take is that he is trying to look Balearic with that small Falcata. Not sure if by the Trajanic times there were many caetras around though.

[Peroni]

You're correct, it is mainly a Balearic impression from the time of Caesar.

[Legionare Vibius Atimoniu]

Hmm neat! Any idea how much it would cost to get together a set of gear like your freind has Peroni?

[Peroni]

The only major costs would be the small weapon, and the shield.

Shields are easy to make yourself, so if you can find a supplier of the sidearm, some period-suitable fabric and some leather or twine to make some slings, and a shoulder bag for ammunition (lead glandes or stones)you're (as we say in Britain) 'sorted'!

Lead is extremely easy to cast into moulds for the glandes I have made them many times myself. have a short and a long sling for different ranges too.

A slinger is a 'minimal' kit soldier to portray, and ideal for someone new to Roman military reenactment.

[Ebusitanus]

So much cool equipment, so little vendors :lol:

[Legionare Vibius Atimoniu]

What would be a suitble time period fabric?

[Marcus Mummius]

What would be a suitble time period fabric?

Either 100% linen or 100% wool. Wool was most common. Linen was often left undyed (it's easier to dye animal fibres than vegetal fibres).

Vale,

[Peroni]

Here's a couple of photographs of a caetra I made last year..
I didn't have the workshop facilities back then to make the correct iron grip, so I improvised and made it from wood.

The decorative rivet bosses on the face are part of the ring attachment on the back. (That was the trickiest bit!)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/ ... all068.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/ ... all070.jpg

[Ebusitanus]

Great looking piece Adrian!

[Mithras]

I find to load a sling one-handed that you kneel, and lay the sling flat on the ground (crouch behind your shield if you have one) put in a stone (the finger ring can still be wrapped around your finger - no problem) then pick up the knot end of the sling - carefully .... and stand. You are ready to sling.

8)

[Caius Fabius]

If you use a wrist tie, you can also load one handed from your ammo pouch without having to put your ammo on the ground.

[Iulia Cassia Vegetia]

Salvete,
A customer of mine sent me this link, and thought that you might be interested.
http://www.slinging.org/9.html