Byzantine Weapons and Warfare

[kuura]

I guess one of the only other ways to possibly conclude this discussion would be for some of us to actually make a menavlion and do some trials.

For me personally I don't fancy throwing a spear/javelin the size of a small sapling hock: exactly how far are you going through it anyway, probably not any great distance. Also what side arm were the Menavaloi equipped with? Any warrior using a one shot wonder weapon would need sufficient back up. The early Imp Romans were trained swordsmen, so what about the back up for these guys. Doesn't seem too bright throwing away your primary weapon.....As quoted from Mark Lesters film 'The Three Musketeers' ''Only Porthos could invent a new way of disarming himself''.

If they are 'Heavy Throwing Weapons' then surely the guys using them must be physically strong to such an extent that they would be deformed, take for example English longbowmen who trained so frequently that their upper right sides increased in mass.

As for Heavy throwing weapons shattering on impact...some do. Correct me if I am wrong as Early Imperial stuff isn't my strong point, but were some Roman Pila fitted with dowel connections between the soft iron head and the shaft so that they did break on impact?

Another type for consideration are the Fransisca thrwing axes. Ok more a cutting, smashing weapon, but having used those quite a lot after 'average' use the shafts do split and break on impact.