Fabrica Cacti

19/02/2026

FABRICA CACTI – A NEW CHAPTER

It has finally happened.
After years of workshop work.
After hundreds of private conversations.
After countless emails, measurements and refinements.
After thousands of hours at the anvil, with leather, wood and metal —
Fabrica Cacti now has its own digital home.

Not only in the field.
Not only at events.
Not only on social media.

But in a space that belongs entirely to us — and to you.

• From today, you can find us here: www.fabricacacti.com

This is an important step for us.
A step toward clarity, structure, and the next stage of a workshop built over more than 15 years.

On the website you can now:
– view full pricing,
– read detailed model descriptions,
– explore available variants,
– create a wishlist,
– place orders directly.

No middlemen.
No lost messages.
No dependence on algorithms.
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This is only the first stage.
We have already transferred around 80% of the models that have left our workshop over the years —
and more will be added systematically in the coming weeks.
Each model represents dozens of completed pieces, hours of research and field testing.
The website will grow just as our workshop does — steadily, thoughtfully, without compromise.
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To mark the beginning – something available immediately.
In the Ready to Ship section, three gladii are now available for immediate purchase:
– A classic gladius in its pure form – blade forged by Faber, wooden scabbard covered in leather, finished with brass fittings.
– A Pompeii-type gladius featuring openwork and engraved decorative plates.
– A ceremonial Pompeii-type gladius – the jewel in our crown, with a richly repoussé brass-mounted scabbard.
First click — first owner.
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This is a meaningful moment for us.
We remain craftsmen working in a real workshop.
But today, we also have our own digital infrastructure — a space that organizes years of work and gives you structured access to everything we create.
If you have been with us for years — thank you for your trust.
If you are discovering us for the first time — welcome to research-based craftsmanship, built on experience and tested in the field.
Visit the site. Explore it.
And if you know someone who has been asking about our work — feel free to share this post with them.
Let us know in the comments:
Which of the three gladii will disappear first?
This is only the beginning.

03/02/2026

❗️Brief organizational update❗️

Due to an ongoing administrative procedure on Facebook’s side, my personal Facebook account has been permanently disabled, and the linked Fabrica Cacti Instagram account is currently unavailable.
This may make it more difficult to reach me directly for those who previously contacted me via private messages.

As a result, our responsiveness on Facebook may be limited for the time being.

However, we are operating as usual - all orders are being processed and inquiries are answered.

For now, the newsletter is the best way to stay in direct contact with us.

Subscribers will receive:
early information about new projects and custom commissions,
updates on production schedules and availability,
behind-the-scenes insights into our work and upcoming releases.

👉To stay in touch, please contact us via:
📧e-mail: [email protected]
📨newsletter subscription:
https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2084091/178333723826063311/share

This is currently the most reliable channel while we finalize the launch of our new website, which we will announce in the next post.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Łukasz Sędyka
Lvcivs Tvllivs Cactvs
Fabrica Cacti

Join our newsletter — up to 2 emails per month.Stories behind our handcrafted products, new projects, and insights into historical reenactment.

28/01/2026

Yes. We made an expensive sword.
Looking for compromises and budget solutions?
Not this time. Not with us.
If you want detail, quality, and real weight in your hand -
message us.
Fabrica Cacti

26/01/2026

In the rush of everyday struggles with craft and material, I almost missed a very important moment in our online journey.
There are now over 8,000 of you here!

It is a great honor and a true source of motivation - that you, dear friends, clients, and lovers of fine craftsmanship and history, have decided that it is worth joining this community.

For me and the entire Fabrica Cacti team, this has always been, above all, a passion that over time turned into everyday work. It was not the easiest professional path I could have chosen - but thanks to you, your reactions, conversations, and discussions (both in the comments and in private messages), I am absolutely certain that what we do is not merely a way to earn a living.
It is something far more.

We are building a community.

Like you, we are reenactors, archaeologists, historians - or simply people fascinated by the past and by craftsmanship. It brings me great joy that our experience is met with your appreciation. I also deeply value every piece of constructive criticism - because it is what pushes us forward.

I still remember comments about the details:
that the hinges in the armor were slightly too large,
that the caligae could have been sewn a little differently.

We listen carefully to your needs, suggestions, and observations. Without you, we would not exist in this form, nor would we be able to grow.

So a hundred times over - on behalf of myself and the entire team:
THANK YOU for being here.

- Tell us in the comments - what detail matters most to you in historical craftsmanship?
- And if you’ve been with us for a while, let us know how you found Fabrica Cacti.

14/01/2026

Born from a passion for history.

Designed for long marches.
FABRICA CACTI caligae are iconic Roman legionary boots, entirely handmade in our workshop – stitched and hobnailed using traditional techniques. A multi-layered sole, thick leather, and functional details built for durability, comfort, and authenticity.
For over 15 years, we have been crafting footwear that is not a prop –
but a tool of the march.
Craftsmanship that carries you forward.

livinghistory reenactment historicalfootwear

12/01/2026

Dear Customers and Friends,

We have changed our email address. You can now reach us at
📧[email protected]

Please add it to your contacts – you will be hearing more from us soon!
Fabrica Cacti Team

Psst… isn’t this helmet stunning? 😍

02/01/2026

It would be fitting to sum up the past year, to thank all of you for your trust and belief in our craftsmanship, and to tell you about our plans for the year ahead — which are, admittedly, quite ambitious.
For now, however, time is in short supply. Not because it is wasted, but because we are constantly working for you, completing orders from the past six months — and with every passing week, we are getting better and more efficient at it.
So while we prepare more concrete updates and proper summaries, we are sharing a few photos from the workshop, so you can see what is currently happening and what we are working on

21/12/2025

Over 20 years ago, when I first stepped into the world of Ancient Rome-collecting notes for what later became Hellas et Roma and then Legio XXI Rapax-I kept bumping into pieces of kit that, to a modern eye, can look…
“unnecessary”.
Not because they’re decorative, but because their only job is to protect other equipment.
Bronze blade covers for a dolabra or axes (often richly decorated, sometimes even with glass beads), leather helmet covers, pouches, bags-and yes: tegimen.
The fact that Romans used leather covers for shields says a lot: they cared deeply about proper storage and maintenance of combat gear and tools. And honestly, it’s a reminder for us too-because a “legionary” look with heavily rusted, abused equipment kills the impression faster than anything. (That’s a separate blog post waiting to happen 😉)
Back to the main piece: Tegimen-a leather shield cover.
A lot of leather, careful fitting, and a lot of stitching. The one shown here is made from calf leather; the edges are folded and sewn for durability. On the front: a decorative protection for the umbo and a tabula ansata identifying the owner as a member of Legio XXI Rapax-with the Capricorn as the legion’s symbol.

10/12/2025

Sometimes you wonder how our products hold up - so here’s a message we recently received from Samuele Pagliarini with his feedback:

WOOLEN TUNIC:

„The tunic is great even in this cold november. I tried both on morning and evening and maintains the temperature in an exceptional way that even if you don't have sleeves or trousers you feel good”

SUBARMALIS AND LORICA:

„Subarmalis looks great and does a good job (my shoulders thank you) and i haven’t tried the lorica segmentata in battle but between marches and training with shield and sword the weight is well distributed on body which (my shoulders thank you again) you almost don't feel the weight also it doesnt cause problem with breathing even after run.”

Check out the picture of this handsome man 👉
Photo: Samuele Pagliarini

Thank you for your opinion! 💚

09/12/2025

We know what you really want for Christmas...

05/12/2025

Preparing your parcels is one of the most important parts of my work. It’s not always easy to show everything you order — after 15 years our offer has grown really wide. So today I’m sharing a short, slightly chaotic video of the latest shipments.

Remember, this is only a small glimpse of what we can make for you. Feel free to message me with any questions or orders!

And I promise that by the end of this year I will finally launch our website to make communication easier.
Thank you for being here!