Connor O's Senior Project Blog

Project Title: Ars Faciendae Armae Romae: The Art of Making Roman Armor BASIS Advisor: Thomas McMath Internship Location: Allenson Armory Onsite Mentor: David Goodman, Owner, Iron Rhino Forge

Project Abstract

For my 16th birthday, I asked my mom to give me a lesson at a blacksmith’s shop. I had the opportunity to tour his shop beforehand and in my first lesson, I forged a simple J-hook. At that point my interest mainly pertained to swords, knives, hammers, and tools. I had heard from various people within the blacksmithing community how armoring was much different than traditional blacksmithing, requiring a completely different set of tools and techniques. For my 17th birthday, I was gifted Mark Aspery’s Mastering the Fundamentals of Leaf-Work and became fixated on the idea of creating decorative leaves using “Repoussé” techniques. Soon thereafter I realized that these skills were nearly identical, if not harder, than actual armoring. In the coming weeks, I plan to investigate lesser-known smithing techniques, such as raising, forming, and creasing, which are more practical on larger projects than repoussé. I will create the extensive number of different stakes and hammers required to do so, and then I will culminate my research by recreating a Roman Imperial Gallic “G” Helmet. To do so, I will be working closely with David Goodman at Iron Rhino Forge, who is a humble expert in the field of traditional ironmongering and will provide insight into the many different techniques required. I will also be communicating extensively with a colleague of Mr. McMath from the University of Arizona, who specializes in Roman armor’s specifications through his archaeological experience. This colleague’s experience in metallurgy will ensure that I do not just recreate a helmet which resembles my desired product, but one that is identical to historical examples of the Roman Imperial Gallic “G” Helmet.