10-25-2006, 10:31 AM
Quote:The leather that AD has used it is "leather crust" thick 5 millimeters. The segs. built from AD weigh around 4 kilos. We have experimented this segmentata both on the battleground (quite a lot times) both in the field jobs. A gladio hammered of point in any part of this cuirass has provoked a deep cut around 2 millimeters. The leather crust is seed-rigid and reduces well the hits.
I don't sincerely see the utility to strike arrows against the segmentata (in general) because the legionary had the shield as principal protection. With the shield it defended very well himself against the arrows or other (stones - missile acorns - javelins). When he fought in formation it always effected the denominated formation "testudo" and one of these weapons rarely reached his body (and the Romans always fought in shut formation.)
The most common weapon on any low-tech battlefield was the spear. 5mm of unhardened leather would not prevent a spear thrust. According to Williams' results even 5mm of hardened leather offers little resistance against a spear thrust. Your armour will have no joy resisting a sword thrust either. There is no point testing this armour against sword cuts since even a few layers of cloth is sufficient to resist such an attack. Thrusting is the key. Not only does leather offer less resistance to a thrust but, unlike metal which causes the blow to glance off, leather causes the point to catch and bite - preventing a glancing blow. In order for leather armour to be successful it needs to be constructed of multiple layers, or layered with another type of armour such as mail.
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen & Sword Books
