RalphS, The North Swedish horses look intriguing, but when I visited the webpage I didn't see any photos of their use as riding horses. Do you ride your stallions? Do they have comfortable (i. e. smooth) gaits? The Friesians I have seen seem to have very rough trots, which to my mind makes them seem...

Is there a website for this stainless steel, welded mail from Germany? Does it include a pricelist?

Thanks
Val

The answer to your question is, it varied from time to time and place to place (of course!). In some places, a woman would bear her own or her families' arms dimidiated (half of the shield) with her husband's (half of his), or quartered. In some places and times, the sons would bear their fathers' d...

Modern methods that I know of for preventing fraying include: 1. Fray-Chek or Fray guard which you can buy at fabric stores- chemicals that essentially glue the edges of the fabric to itself-one kind is stiff and the other isn't and I can't remember which is which, the advantage is that you can appl...

I second Mike-remember, it's not a sewing machine-it's a power tool that helps you make clothes.

Jehane

I have always wanted a metal sword. I've been looking at different things on the web, and now I have a question. It seems that the two main methods of sword production are to 1) take a steel bar and cut away everything that doesn't look like a sword and 2) take a steel bar, heat it, and pound on it ...

Janos, "Melton" is almost always a heavy weight, partially felted wool suitable for winter coats. It would not make a nice houpeland, IMHO. You want "suit weight", "light weight" wool to hang nicely and not roast you to well done. I like wool crepe, wool twill, and gabardine because they all flow ni...

Hold on a minute! I *didn't* say "Figure out what kind of clothes you like," first, I said "Do a little reading first," then decide about clothes.

First thing, do some research. Believe me, a person who can wear a necktie can get used to wearing any thing.

Go to the Saint Gabriel Library and read the following articles. Then read other documents in their library until you find something you like. http://www.s-gabriel.org/faq/introduction.html http://www.s-gabriel.org/docs/cultures.html Then think about what kind of armour, clothing etc you like. For i...

Try http://www.florilegium.org/files/HERALDRY/mottoes1-msg.html and http://www.florilegium.org/files/HERALDRY/mottoes2-msg.html Here are two Latin translations from the above, meaning "Party on!" Usque Comissor (Party continually in the here and now) or Usque Comissare (Party continually into the fu...

Try Stephen's Florilegium under "heraldry" http://www.florilegium.org/files/HERALDRY/mottoes1-msg.html and http://www.florilegium.org/files/HERALDRY/mottoes2-msg.html Gunnora Hallikarva and some other folks have translated a bunch of Latin phrases. or you can try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/latin-...

For classical Latin pronunciation, try
http://www.utexas.edu/courses/cc303/sounds/.

For Church Latin, try
http://members.aol.com/stlmetros/latin.html
The second one is for singers, but will probably work.

Steve-
What didn't work too well? My CoP is going to look quite a bit like the one in your picture and yes I want to learn from other's mistakes.
Best regards,
Val/Jehane

Thanks, Mad Matt, I'm working on my own coat of plates (why does every thing take 3 times as long as you want it to?), and having some inside pics is a big help. I have a couple questions. The top breast plates look like they are in 3 pieces, and are rivetted so that they can move past each other. I...

I was doing some heraldic research and came across this: http://www.heraldica.org/shell/illustr.pl?265 In English, it's called a wake and ormond knot, but in French, lac d'amour and in German, Liebesknot, which I think means "love knot." Unfortunately, there are no dates. It looks easy enough to tie...

I thought you wanted to know how to wear the fine, sheer scarf.

I understand why people would want a women- only tourney, but I think it's a bad idea. I would be much happier with a new fighters' tourney, or even an under two hundred pounds tourney. (Actually, an under two hundred pound melee practice would be nice.)

I'm old, short, and female, BTW.

Hi- I'm a little baby herald, not yet warrented, and just went to my first name workshop. St. Gabriel has the best name advice, unless your local herald is really into onomastics (the study of names). Here are some things I learned. 1. Every one had one forename, no middle name, and most people had ...

Speaking from a lady's perspective, if I spent a lot of time embroidering a favor, I'd want it worn next to the recipient's heart-protected from getting torn and lost. Not so visible, but more romantic (and safer!).

I think I see what you mean, but it is the center of the lame that is touching my knee. After I get the lame off, should I drill new articulation holes just below the old ones?

THanks,
Val

I don't currently have access to a digital camera or a scanner, so posting a pic of the legs would be hard. In answer to Gundo, the offending lame rotates inward much farther than the corresponding one on the other knee. THe knee doesn't gap and it opens and shuts adequately, just this one lame is c...

I made some mild steel legs with 5 lame knees at a weekend armouring workshop we had, and then quit before I used them. Now I want to fight again, but the legs have two problems. 1. When the right knee is straight, the lame above the cop rotates in too far and pokes me in the kneecap. It isn't painf...

This is probably old news, but besides having some of the world's most famous paintings, the Art Institute of Chicago has some armour, including mail, garnitures, a beautiful black and white harness, and a collection of rapiers and ceremonial pole arms. The European stuff is in its own hall, Europea...

Gratias.

I know that I have rotten timing, but I'm interested in getting into SCA combat archery. (It's a patriotism thing-I'm a new fighter, and we don't have many archers, so they need some). The thing is, with rules etc in a state of flux right now, I want to spend my money on something that will stay leg...

I was unable to get wool thread for a tunic I was making a while back, and, as the wool I was using was kind of easily frayed, I just unraveled pieces from a long scrap and used that to hand-sew the seams and hems. I haven't had the chance to use it much, but I've washed it a couple of times and the...

I had the same thought as Juliana. And, the armhole is so wide that it would not protect the arm side area of the breast. THe between the breasts area seems too wide. So, while it is pretty, I don't know that it's very functional. Maybe if it fit perfectly. Protecting and allowing enough movement se...