yes, exactly my point. At the beginning of the Republic Rome had kind of a Milita-system, meaning they had no standing army. The citizens had to arm themselves every single time when war was brought upon them. These citizens were divided in 5 classes, after their assets, because they had to afford their own weapons. Rich = equites, less rich = heavy infantry (3 different classes, triarii, principes, hastati), poor = skirmishers, cannon fodder or didn't have to serve.

Though at the end of the second century BC there were voluntary professional soldiers existed, but still recruitments were made.

104 BC, Marius' reforms: NOW the equipment was given by the state, and the recruits were divided in classes by their experience, not equipment, therefore triarii = badasses, principes = future badasses, hastati = greenhorns.

Therefore, at least to me, it is very clear that until 104 BC no uniform equipment could be found in the Roman army.