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Marching Pack
Last Updated: 3-15-08
Galea, Lorica: Segmentata, Lorica: Hamata, Tunica, Subarmalis, Balteus, Gladius, Pugio, Caligae, Marching Pack, Tools, Cold Weather Gear
After the reforms of Marius during the last Punic War the Roman soldier was required to carry a number of items to eliminate
a long baggage train. The Roman marching pack, well not really a "pack" in the sense that we know of, was how these
items were carried. The Roman marching pack was actually a "T" pole, called a furca, that held all the gear that
the soldier was charged to carry. Now, what he had to carry is up for debate but from the writings of Plutarch and Josephus,
and from the carvings on Trajan's Column we think we have a pretty good idea.
The items are beleived to be a bedroll/claok rolled up, a mess bag which could contain food, an entrenching tool probably
a dolabara, one or two pila, and a rectangular leather stachel called a pera .
The "T" shaped pole would be about four (4) feet tall with a cross bar about twenty (20) to twenty-four (24) inches long.
The crossbar should be about six (6) to ten (10) inches form from the top of the top of the pole. Now, the construction
details are unclear so how to attach the crossbar to the main shaft is up to you. You can nail it straight to the shaft,
or carve out the shafts and glue them together. If you use a nail use a period looking one or ruff up a modern nail
to look period. If you use glue wrap an old peice of leather around the cross section to cover all of the edges.
The net bag is a bit of a probably for us. We are not sure what this bag was for. Was it for a water bottle?
Did it have another bag that had a couple of days rations in it? Most re-enactors would agree that it was for a water
bottle but in Legio VI FFC we will leave it up to you!
The pera, the rectangular leather stachel, is also a mystery to us. We are not sure of what was kept in the bag.
Was it extra tunics? Was it cold weather or rain gear? Was it for there personal affects? We in Legio VI
FFC use it for a wide range of things. We in the ways described as well as a bag to carry messages in at events.
Pera Construction:
I) There is two ways to construct the bag. One
is have the body from one peice of leather or multiple peices. Either way the all the leather should be one (1) to three
(3) ounce.
***This would be a good time to oil your leather with neatsfoot oil.
Now or after completion!***
II) Once you have decided you want to cut the peices
out of the leather. If you cut the cut out of one peice of leather the peice should measure thirty (30) inches long
(from bottom to tip of flap) and eighteen (18) inches wide. Each panel should be twelve (12) inches long and eighteen
(18) wide with the flap being six (6) inches long. The reinforcing strips should be a half (1/2) inch to one (1) inch
wide. On the front panel you want to leave a little room on the reinforcing strips for the closure ring.
This can be a simple ring with a one (1) to one and a half (1 1/2) diameter or can be a closure ring that can be purchased
from Raymond's Quiet Press. This has a little "button" peice on there for the leather to slide on to and hold down.
III) First you want to sew the reinforcing
strips to the closure ring. Then sew the reinforcing strips to the panels.
IV) Then sew the panels together. Once
the panels are together you want to sew reinforcing strips on the sides of the bag where the panels were sewn together.
V) Now you want to create a small handle and strap so
that the bag can be carried over the shoulder. The same ounce leather as the bag is made of is fine. You don't
want to sew the leather strap to the sides of the bag with out a ring seperating the bag from the strap.
Suppliers:
Soul of the Warrior you can find the net bag with a linen liner bag. It is readily available but easy to make yourself.
La Wren's Nest you can find a pre made furca pole, but it is very easy to make one!
Deepeeka makes a very good leather bag. Remember, all Deepeeka products can be purchased at Soul of the Warrior.
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