Ancient Engineering SeriesMANGONEL.com
Ballistic Technologies of Antiquity

3-File set


Workforce 3-piece file set for metal or wood, includes 1/4" round file, flat mill file, and triangle file.

These are the files we use to insure a perfect fit when we assemble of our models.

The Round file has a 1/4" diameter, perfect for smoothing out the 1/4 inch axle and peg-holes on our models. Also useful for enlarging other holes or smoothing inside curved surfaces.

The Mill file is a little over 1/2 inch wide. This is an ideal file for rounding off sharp corners and clearing out any lap joints that are"too-tight" of a fit.

The Triangle file has sides that are 3/8" each. Great for filing notches and marking cuts on dowels.

All files include a durable red plastic handle. The single cut teeth leave a smooth finish. All files are six inches long plus handle length.
$12.95
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    Price: $12.95
    Minimum age: 0
    Availability: In stock.

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    Item code: 43001

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Interesting Notes

What is a Mangonel?


The term "mangonel" literlally means "engine of war." It is a ballistic device, usually some type of artillery. In other words, a catapult. But "catapult" is a more general word that includes a broad range of things that use mechanical means to shoot a projectile, including slingshots and aircraft carrier launch systems. So a mangonel is a unique type of catapult.

The word Mangonel derives from the ancient Greek word "Manganon", literally meaning "engine of war". The Romans called it a Manganum. In pre-medieval French the word Manganum was changed to Manganeau, and the English changed that to Mangonel in the 1300s.

The history gets a little sketchy in the middle ages, but some historians believe that "mangonel" was shortened to the word "gonnel" about the same time that cannons were being developed, and later still, "gonnel" was shortened to "gun." And to this day, in the military a gun is strictly big artillery. (Rifles and pistols are referred to as "weapons", NOT "guns".)

The three most common types of ancient mangonels are the Greek Ballista, The Roman Onager, and the Trebuchet.

In France, the word Mangonel is used for a Trebuchet that uses a fixed counterweight for power. (The other kind of trebuchet, the hanging counterweight type, is called a "Trebuchet". Go figure!)

The English use the term Mangonel and Onager interchangeably for the Roman single-arm torsion machine.

The Greek catapult, probably the first machine to be called a mangonel, was also known as the Ballista and is where we get the word "ballistic".