The Armour Archive

nkante

Does anyone have a tutorial for applying brass or copper trim to the edge of a piece of metal? A buddy uses copper pipe, cut down the middle, then hammered on. It can't be that simple, can it? It would be so simple to use some gold car door edging, but I wan't it to last.

nkante

I used a watered down latex paint solution to 'dye' my canvas. I filled a large tub with water, added the paint until it was soupy then dumped in the canvas. It came out just how I wanted it. And it held up to several days of hard rain 2 summers ago.

nkante

It can definitely be done. It works just as you figured John. Wet it, stretch it over a form and let it dry. You will need a positive and a negative form though. As it is drying it will want to shrink. It will need something to prevent it from pulling itself out of the low points, if that makes sense.

nkante

My shield has a concave rigid handle that my short spear rests in when I am fighting 'madu'. It allows me to hold but the weapon and shield at the same time. If you did that to a buckler it could be legally held in the hand while you are using the spear. Release the spear and you have full control t...

nkante

This is what I came up with. Vinyl peel and stick faux wood tiles. It wouldn't last more than 8 blows, but it will due for my soft kit.

nkante

Yes that is a shield from the Igbo tribe of Nigeria. The fiberboard didn't work out. I have been looking for brown plastic, so thanks Alex, I'm on the way to the depot now.

nkante

I have seen tourneys that used destroyable shields. They have strict construction guidelines for safety reasons. Body can't be metal, plastic or wood thicker than 1/2 inch. No nuts, bolts or rivets that could fly off. Wood needs to be covered front and back with canvas. They are meant to be broken. ...

nkante

Thanks, I have been looking all over for better pics of that shield. It's nice to see a better view of the edging. I want to make this for my soft kit. But I still want to make a viable piece of protection. I might use it in limited combat,such as 'Warriors of History', or a destroyable shield tourn...

nkante

I need some help. How would you make this shield? GO...

nkante

Savastian's idea sounds right to me. I would follow the same methods used to create a samurai mempo, but do it with a Thai motif. You could actually use a heat gun and do it in barrel plastic.

nkante

Ask and you shall receive.
http://www.afrizim.com/activities/South ... fields.asp

nkante

I just watched that entire series yesterday. Shaka changed everything. He increased the size of the shield so his warriors could close on the enemy who for the most part used their spears as missiles. He increased the size of the spear blade while shorting the shaft for better use in close quarter c...

nkante

So not a madu. That is a center grip shield with parrying stick in the same hand. At no point did they use them for offense. Madus have thrusting tips on a fixed shaft. They are Indian, and these are African. Would you fight with them? Pffffffffft! I think not.

nkante

It is long! But scrolling through there is a lot of fighting. Some of those sticks were more robust than I would have expected for a 'sporting' event. One guy gets knocked out cold from a shot straight down the middle. I recognized many techniques. On sides, off sides, wrap shots. There is an awesom...

nkante

This has to be the best video on Zulu stick fighting I have ever seen. These guys are throwing hard shots no armor. I love how the fights are basically melee single battles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7gkbqcMmgc#t=3791

nkante

The kid stopped playing. He was young and had some family issues. It's a shame because he was pretty good. A natural athlete. He won his first five fights in armor.

nkante

OK. Finally finished it. I took some liberties with it but I am very pleased with the overall product. I used street sign aluminum in place of iron plates. I replaced the iron rivets with brass screws peened over square nuts, which I think gives it visual weight. I made a set of rigid shoulder strap...

nkante

Thank you Ceawlin.
My quest will not be complete until I face your shield of red and yellow swirly death.

nkante

My persona is from 16th century Benin Empire, located in modern day Nigeria. The Oba(king) was known as the Great Leopard. And he would have given leopard skins to his high ranking warriors to wear as armor. I did surprisingly well in the last tourney I entered, with all but 1 of my defeats coming a...

nkante

Thanks folks! Someone finally returned a call. I got an quote for both rolls for $300.

nkante

I don't know why I didn't start my search here, but can some one suggest a place to get brass and copper strips? I need a 50 foot long, 1.5 inches wide, 20 gauge thick coil of copper and another in yellow brass. I have found a copper suppliers but I can't seem to find a supplier to fill the brass. P...

nkante

This is a photo example of the kind of lamp illustrated.

nkante

I came across this illustration and was thinking that it would be a nice A&S project for me. But I am having trouble visualizing how they describe the wick placement. I understand the iron plate on top of the wick, but are they describing a wick that 'rings' the bowl, creating a round fire? Or one p...

nkante

Thank you folks.

nkante

I respect the work that all of you do here on this site. You are all artist. My question is, How do you calculate what to charge for your pieces? I have been an artist for years but I usually gift or trade my work because I have such a problem pricing my work.Do you guys use a formula for pricing yo...

nkante

Not sure of the exact time frame, but general 1800s. No Vlad you aren't seeing things. I have seen 3 pieces in photo, and 2 in illustration, And the patterns differ slightly in all of them. Some change overlap at the top 'underarm' band, and some don't. a few of the examples have vertical bands, in ...

nkante

This is an example of a style of iron cuirass worn by some of the mounted warriors from the West African Borno Empire. I am making my reproduction from aluminum, hence my recent post about disguising aluminum with a patina. The original is riveted closed on the left side, but open on the right for t...

nkante

Thank you folks. The first one seems perfect.

nkante

I will building a cuirass for someone out of signs, and I would like to make it look less like aluminum and more like iron. I plan on hammer working the finish so it doesn't look machined. I was thinking about hammering it against some gravel to give it a pitted look. But is there anything else I ca...

nkante

I have seen that last picture. That is is where I got one of my ideas from. I was thinking about putting a boss on in the middle of the fan, so he could hold the shaft center grip style. But now that Eff has informed me that using a helmet in the off hand is period, I think my idea to use jingasa is...

nkante

Thanks for ALL of the replies. I do want to be within our time period. But it is the attachment technique that I was most interested in. I am not looking forward to lacing up another set of samurai armor. The last time I spent weeks working on it only to have the guy wear it once and never return. I...

nkante

I was most interested in the way the do was constructed. I looks very simple. The plates are simply tied together without all the fancy lacing.

nkante

I am very intrigued by this set of armor. The do seems to be constructed in a way I have not come across before. What can you tell me about it. I also like the elbow section of the kote. Can someone give me some info on this style?

nkante

Thanks. That is a new one to me. One more question. How big do jingasa helms get? I'm thinking... maybe it could be used as a round center grip. I know I;m talking fantasy now, but I would like to make something as least plausible.

nkante

My newbie hasn't began to narrow down period. He just likes Japanese armor. I will probably start him off with a small pavese, or tate as it was called in this thread. I plan on starting him off with some simple ashigaru armor. As he progresses in skill and in the SCA I'll help him make his fancy sa...

edging question

Re: Anyone tried to dye sunforger canvas?

Re: tooling rawhide

Re: "Floppy" buckler handle?

Re: Wicker shield

Re: Wicker shield

Re: Wicker shield

Re: Wicker shield

Wicker shield

Re: Helmet "mask"

Re: Son's of Shaka!

Re: Son's of Shaka!

Re: Son's of Shaka!

Re: Son's of Shaka!

Son's of Shaka!

Re: Is this really a samurai shield?

Re: Borno iron cuirass

Re: How the Leopard got his Spots

How the Leopard got his Spots

Re: Brass & copper

Brass & copper

Re: Need some help with illustration.

Need some help with illustration.

Re: How to price?

How to price?

Re: Borno iron cuirass

Borno iron cuirass

Re: Disguising aluminum

Disguising aluminum

Re: Is this really a samurai shield?

Re: Another Samurai question

Re: Another Samurai question

Another Samurai question

Re: Is this really a samurai shield?

Re: Is this really a samurai shield?