The Armour Archive

William Hurt III

I am sorry I didn't reply as soon as said I would. Some things came up that demanded my attention for a few weeks. Anyway, This may be too little too late but here are some pictures of the cuirass and lance rest pegs I was taking about. The lance rest isn't finished yet. I decided to make the lance ...

William Hurt III

Your first attempt looks pretty darn good to me. It looks better than the rolls I have seen on some original armour

Keep up the good work,

William

William Hurt III

Hi Icefire, I was the one who made the suit in the first photo you posted and am in the process of making another for a customer. The cuirass is about 70% finished and I will try to get a few pictures for you of how the straps and lance rest work. My mind is on a lot of other things right now so ple...

William Hurt III

Sorry for taking so long to reply... Things are pretty rough for me right now and my armour future is looking a bit bleak but I will try to keep working on the book. I suppose I should explain that business is good (as far as an armour business can be) thanks to my wonderful customers. You all have ...

William Hurt III

Thanks for the support everyone. I do enjoy working on the tutorials 'cause it gives me a break from hammering but it is still work related so I can justify the time sitting down :) To answer some questions... ...on page 6 - I'm not sure where on the roll you're striking (guessing close to the edge)...

William Hurt III

Now that is one hell of a sexy helmet! I want one :) I am one who is not a fan of adding grills to helmets that didn't historicaly have them but I think you just changed my mind. I love that grill! I think the helm you made is more appealing than the original. I can't blame you for thinking twice ab...

William Hurt III

Awesome work! I am anxious to see some of the planishing and sanding pictures. I find it interesting that you roll edges before planishing. I always planish and sand first but I am sure your method is more historical. Again, very nice work... or as we say in California "Damn biotch! That armour is s...

William Hurt III

Hello All, I am very sorry I have been so inactive on the AA over the last few years. Sometime back in 2004 several people were asking about rolled edges so I decided to work on a tutorial. I ended up getting wrapped up with custom orders and didn't get a day off to finish the tutorial until this la...

William Hurt III

Thanks for the input. I will let the owner know. The photos are recent. We took them about a month ago when he visited the shop. I will add a mental note to make those things when I get some free time Wolf :) So many things I want to make but so little time. I have a bunch of stock items that are ab...

William Hurt III

I have a customer that is considering selling his sallet and asked if I could help. I hate pricing my own work and it isn't much easier on someone else's pieces. If anyone would like to suggest a fair price it would be appreciated. I suppose if you would like to buy this helmet I can pass your offer...

William Hurt III

Ditto what Mr. Gillaspie said! Very nice clean work!

William Hurt III

Don't play with flails! They leave diamond shapped holes in your shins LOL. I too, have made plenty of same side pauldrens and helmet halves in my day. Now what I do is put a dent from the inside of each one as soon as I get done cutting them out and deburring. When doing hot work, assume everything...

William Hurt III

Frederich Von Teufe, I want to thank you for your essay. I have read it a number of times over the years. Even though I had already heard the basics of running a business your essay just said it all, and more, so well in a nice little package. 2 of my good friends are making plans to start one man b...

William Hurt III

Here are 2 books you may want to look into; Medieval Craftsmen, Armourers. By Matthias Pfaffenbichler. ISBN # 0-8020-7732-3 This book has some information on delivery times and discusses armourers subcontracting with polishers, locksmiths and leather workers. It also has some information about the s...

William Hurt III

Oh! Thank you all. It is so nice to not feel so alone yet I am sorry that others have had my same troubles. All of the posts here have some comment that I can relate to but I think Ambrogio best expressed the difficulties and feelings I have had to fight over the last 13 years. I have managed to sta...

William Hurt III

Oh and by the way... Great shape on your greave greaves Josh.

William Hurt III

LOL! I make a lot of armour for a joust troop that has no interest in historical accuracy. I try to suggest they move in a more period direction as I feel it is safer, functions better and would look better. No biggy though, they are just doing a stunt show and like mix match fantasy stuff. Anyway, ...

William Hurt III

I agree with what Carmel said (very nice work by the way.) I planish most things from the inside when ever practical. The closer to flat that your planishing hammer face is the less the plate will further dish. Planishing most often takes very little force but many repetitive hits and gets really bo...

William Hurt III

Hello all, I have been doing some fantasy metal artwork for the last few years under an assumed name. I was selling only to retailers. Josh, my apprentice finaly perswaded me to sell some of the things direct to the customer. For now I have put up some metal masks on my site but may sell more fantas...

William Hurt III

I was doing some research the other day and came across a manuscript illumination showing an armoury making a breastplate. I was stunned... A forming technique I had not heard of. After analysing the illumination carefully I came to the conclusion that what is happening here is that the master armou...

William Hurt III

You could always make them but it is quite time consuming. I made a bunch of brass rivets out of 1/16th" brass rod for these legs. They are flat headed but dome headed aren't too much harder to make. m There was a post here a few months ago detailing how to make rivets but I couldn't find it in the ...

William Hurt III

Lloyd, None of the images on your website seem to load. Just FYI If I was closer I would love to come squire for a day or 2. It is hard work but also a ton of fun P.S. Do you happen to have any pictures of Mitch's black suit? I never got any and can't really remember what it looked like. Oh and than...

William Hurt III

Howdy Gruber! I love the work you have been doing. Here are a few pictures of a gauntlet from a pair I started ummm... 7 years ago and never got around to finishing LOL. Anyway, hope they help. http://ageofarmour.com/images/gauntcuff.jpg The brass is formed by either hammering it into a trough carve...

William Hurt III

Thanks Tom. Yes good discriptions can be very helpfull. One of these days I will need to learn to read

I will see what I can extrapolate from all the information and build a helm when I am done with the current set of orders.

Thanks all,

William

William Hurt III

Thanks for the heads up reviews on Centaur Forge. I have a link to theirs on my site mainly because when I visited their store in Wisconsin many years ago they spent all day chatting with me about smithing and were super helpfull. I left feeling like I made new friends rather than buying something. ...

William Hurt III

Thanks for the kind reviews I did receive a few emails and appologize for any delayed response. The power and internet keep going out here. I tried sending replys but don't think they went through. The black oxide shop had to stop offering the process due to EPA regulations It looks like the items w...

William Hurt III

Sorry for my delayed reply. The power went out today and was unable to check the archive or get any work done I think everyone here has expressed the same confusion about the original that led me to post the initial question. I do have 2500 years of European helmets and think it is a great reference...

William Hurt III

Hello all, I am planning on sending out several things to the black oxide shop later this week. I thought before I did I would check to see if anyone wanted them silver as they sit currently. The Items are listed here; m The first pair of arms, the armet and the great helm are all slated to go into ...

William Hurt III

I have been searching for weeks through my books and all over the internet for decent pictures of the original "Black Prince" Helm. I am revamping my old patterns and would like to have a few pictures to better judge the shape. Any pictures of the top of the great helm without the crest would answer...

William Hurt III

Howdy Wolf, I just got your email. Sorry I haven't responded yet. I made that stake from a 3" round bar stock remnant I found at the local steel yard. The top is 18" long with the valley ground into it using my Bur King. The post is 1 1/4" square steel bar stock welded to bottom of the cross piece. ...

William Hurt III

Alcyoneus, Thanks for the roofing sealer tip Great Idea! Jurgen, It doesn't lift when I use it on non-ferrious metals. I seem to only have a problem with steel. I am sure I have no undercutting as it am painting the design on rather than covering the piece and scoreing it. I have tried it on all lev...

William Hurt III

I am not sure about what is best for bringing out detail on pattern welded steel but I use ferric chloride for etching armour. I tried just about every combination of acids and resists and the asphaultum/ferric chloride method is the only one that has worked for me on steel. I tried hcl and asphault...

William Hurt III

Ohhhh Shiny object. Very nice clean work! Just curious, are they stainless or mild?

William Hurt III

Ditto Mykaru and Sasuke. The difficult part is that you can't just hold the piece up to your own head and say "that seems about right." Unless the horse is right next to my shop and completely at ease with armour, I make about 20 measurements, sketches and a rough posterboard pattern by "drapeing" i...

William Hurt III

Thanks for the info all. It will be a few before I get around to contacting anyone but I appriciate the help finding the artists to make one. Studbuckle, you may very well be the originator of the term. I first heard them called that at Southern Faire a few years back. What is the correct name for t...

Edge rolling tutorial

Price Check on Raised Sallet

Some new fantasy and historical items for sale

Long lost historical forming technique

Selling Great Helm, Arms, Black, Silver?

Pictures of the Black Prince Helm?