The Armour Archive

Malek

Thanks all for the awesome suggestions. Actually (and this will get worked into my documentation) I am going to work with my wife and have me pose with various sizes of frame drum to see if it matches the proportions we have seen in the pictures. Once that is done, I'll know what size to make the ho...

Malek

Thanks all for the information and references. I'll see what I can do about setting up a green-wood bending attempt. In the meantime - would period steam boxes be all that much different from modern steam boxes - in the event I go that route instead? Again - I ask because I was unable to locate refe...

Malek

Hmn - I had not considered bending green wood. I have some birch logs that have been seasoning in my garage for about a year. - definitely no longer green wood, but those are destined for arrows. I have found references to birch being available in the Persian and higher / cooler ranges of Turkey for...

Malek

A project for Kingdom A&S in An-Tir is to make a "Zilli Bendir" Think of a 24" tamborine with 5 large brass jingles around the edge. I have looked up steam and laminate/glue bending - but seem to be coming up short on finding either an extant drum example from the time/place or references to woodwor...

Malek

Georgie's based out of Portland, OR has decent prices on burners.
For the propane tank, a dual-burner setup may be best.

http://www.georgies.com/gcc-main-catalog.shtml#download
Pg 67 of the catalog has the burners on them.

Malek

If you are going DIY - check out this video. The guy made his insulating liner from Perlite (from the gardening section) and sodium silicate with a small amount of Plaster of Paris. When he runs the forge, it gets plenty hot enough for forging. Not sure if it gets to welding temps. I have not tried ...

Malek

From Cold Steel.
Reasonably close for most cultures that use saber style blades.

http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/88STS/ ... SWORD.aspx

Malek

I used el-cheapo 99-cent rattle-can paint for my resist.
Painted the whole thing then used a lightly modified awl to scratch out the design.
Once my shop is up and running again at the new house, I'll experiment a bit more with things like "Frog tape" and such to see how well it works.

Malek

I have done some electro-etching. It was on aluminum, but it worked pretty well. I got a farm/mower battery and a charger for it. The amperage of the battery is what helps the etching process. Got about a 0.75mm deep etch after about 20 minutes. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5154/14412501042_55ffd2...

Malek

Plasti-dip coverings have been used by LARP groups for a few years and I have not heard complaints of color transfers to clothing from them.

Malek

I did not do the calculations myself. Rather I cited from another paper done by Sir Matheus Bane from An-Tir. He did some experimentation that showed the effects of English Longbows vs arrows and cited the calculus formulas used to arrive at that conclusion. Page 8 of the document shows the calculat...

Malek

Leather on its own is flexible and has a pretty high friction factor. Suffice it to say, 60 frames a second does not fully demonstrate how the plain leather flexed as the arrowhead cut into it. When hardened, that hardening reduces the flexibility of the leather and makes the material more brittle. ...

Malek

Hard to say exactly. Definitely the arrows would have less impact force. Give the results of the veg tan and 2x hardened, likely would be proof. I don't know under what circumstances that technique would have been used. I have been trying it out myself for target archery, and it definitely takes som...

Malek

UPDATE: There were some complaints about the original formatting of the video. I have put together an updated video that is now much easier to read. The original video is still on Youtube at the original link, but I made it private/non-searchable so people can go to the new video and not strain thei...

Malek

Thanks for the question. Lightweight was basically for veils, etc. Medium weight was about the type you will find on shirts and dresses. Heavy-weight was stained heavy bridal silk that the fabric store had for $2/yard (for what I was going to do with it - stains did not matter!) I have no clue if th...

Malek

I put this as a single entry into the An-Tir Kingdom A&S last year. Got some initial buzz. I converted my PowerPoint presentation into video and posted it. Check it out here: Medieval Mythbusting: Silk Shirts vs Arrows version 2.0 EDIT: updated video has been published - as there were complaints abo...

Malek

Made a couple of seats like this:

1/2" Plywood - 12" X 18"
Camp Pad; 3" seat cushion foam; Hi-Loft Poly-Fill batting.

Malek

For me it would depend on the nature of the "Dislike" of the other person. It seems like a cop-out. What may be a major issue for me may seem minor to another. Ultimately - you have to decide for yourself if the person you are about to face: Can I face them safely and maintain control of myself whil...

Malek

Aluminum plates that I etched out for my armour skirt. Painted the whole thing with inexpensive spray paint Used a template and an awl to scratch the pattern out. Strips of duct tape over the edges. Electro-plate etching (battery and salt water) 20 minutes. About 0.75mm deep etch. https://farm6.stat...

Malek

I use anticipation a lot. This both helps and hinders. If I anticipate correctly - I have the advantage. If I anticipate incorrectly - I have a fresh bruise and something to think about. I find the key is to get that anticipation to the almost subconscious level so that my own actions provide the mo...

Malek

Although the plates of my lamellar are not as big as the ones the OP is making, I do have some insight on longevity. Some plates were made of newspaper Some were made from cotton sheets All layered up with wood lacquer. When it was LARP combat with foam weapons - it held up fine. When it was SCA com...

Malek

Vladimir wrote:It keeps asking me to sign up for a flicker account.

Can you post a direct link or the pic itself?

Edited now - had to remember how to set direct links from Flickr.

Malek

This is interesting for sure. Years ago I made lamellar armour out of cotton sheets layered up with wood lacquer. http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1396/780844399_4c51782a9d.jpg Initially I made it for a LARP game, but it also served me for my first year and a half of SCA heavy fighting. I had wondered ...

Malek

Perhaps this - let her make what leather armour she will. Suggest a custom molded plastic kidney/rib protection to go under it. - it would allow her to keep the desired look and she will be better protected. A crew I ran with had a couple of sets of leather char-aina armour. Not hardened and some ha...

Malek

Depending on intended use - I use a doubled over canvas for the outer edging on my shield to cover the ugly black drain hose I use for edging. I guess the bonus is that I can mix/match the colors I use and spruce up my shield that way. Historical - not likely. Looks good for SCA and similar applicat...

Malek

Here in An-Tir, Sir Ogedai wears lamellar.
So does Kharasaran and there is one other whose name escapes me that looks rather Mongol in his armour and presentation.
My armour - well, the back-story is Mongol in nature, but it's not lamellar!

Malek

Yurts in general - a bit more planning goes into a Yurt and setting up the camp. Here is what I do: * Pick your spot and lay out the ground cloth. My ground cloth is slightly larger than the footprint of the yurt itself, and where the khana goes is marked. * set up the pole that hoists the smoke rin...

Malek

My birthday tomorrow. The wife and my dad conspired to take me to the Portland Art Museum to see the Samurai Arms and Armour exhibit. http://www.portlandartmuseum.org/special/samurai I managed to remember my digital camera and took lots of pictures. Managed to get some good detail shots, too. Check ...

Malek

Not likely too many people's persona - here is some 16th Century Tibetian armour:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellismendez/2210000983/

Malek

For my leather bits - Once the soaking, dyeing, tooling and basic assembly is done, I do the following: * Have digitally controlled gas oven. --* set to 200 degrees. -- * get oven thermometer and place it on the rack where the leather will actually be. ----* When the temp at the oven rack is at 180-...

Malek

Glad to see you taking orders again!
Was a pleasure doing business with you last time.

Malek

I have the same handle for my wife's shields. - seen many a practice and war - holds up just fine. One is wood, the other is plastic. (all hidden by the hand cage) I removed the pad on the bottom, drilled out the screw holes to fit the carriage bolt I used to secure the handle. Also cut a little "L"...

Malek

I know that shield!
Hope it holds up for Crown this weekend!

Malek

Being a lefty fighter who seems to wind up training a ton of new guys, here is what I offer: * When fighting sword and shield, your swords will be on the same side. - This changes avenues of both attack and defense. * Your shield is still extremely valuable, but it takes a modification to your minds...

Malek

Actually, I was reminded to put that here.

http://www.amazon.com/Backyard-Bowyer-B ... 0983248109

He has a lot of good stuff. Definitely should buy the book and support him in doing what he does.

Re: Woodworking techniques for 14-1500 Turkey

Re: Woodworking techniques for 14-1500 Turkey

Re: Woodworking techniques for 14-1500 Turkey

Woodworking techniques for 14-1500 Turkey

Re: Gas forge question.

Re: Gas forge question.

Re: WTB - Mongol styled saber (live steel)

Re: Acid etching project/shield

Re: Acid etching project/shield

Re: Personalized Plastidip Hand axes.

Re: Silk Shirts vs Arrows - Medieval Mythbusting

Re: Silk Shirts vs Arrows - Medieval Mythbusting

Re: Silk Shirts vs Arrows - Medieval Mythbusting

Re: Silk Shirts vs Arrows - Medieval Mythbusting

Re: Silk Shirts vs Arrows - Medieval Mythbusting

Silk Shirts vs Arrows - Medieval Mythbusting

Re: Camp seating. Benches. Breakdown.

Re: Fighting someone you do not like

Re: Etching. The resist. Stickers?

Re: If folks wouldn't mind providing some feedback...

Re: Laminated canvas for hidden/covered armor experiment

Re: Laminated canvas for hidden/covered armor experiment

Re: Laminated canvas for hidden/covered armor experiment

Re: New fighter want leather armor

Re: Cloth Shield Edging?

Re: SCA Mongols in metal lamellar

Re: Tamerlane Yurts? Yurts in general?

Visit to Samurai Armour Exhibit

Re: Kidney Belt

Re: Hardening leather

Re: Taking new orders as of sept 1

Re: Handle for heater shield?

Re: Coffin Shield

Re: Going Sinister

Re: PVC bows for combat archery.