The Armour Archive

Akmatov

Long time, no visit.

Is the basic Newbie Tool Kit still available?

And if so, how much is it?

Akmatov

chef de chambre I myself chose the 14th Century, because of interest in the historical period, the variety of armour and its being the first point where the actual armour (visable) was close to what the SCA requires. My sense is that in the late 14th and 15th centuries men-at-arms fighting on foot ...

Akmatov

First, let me state I am a newbie just starting out, so there is a lot for me to learn; but this is something I've really starting to wonder about. Looking at the armour and the shields a lot of people use, it seems to me that a lot of us are wearing armour and carrying shields more suited to a pers...

Akmatov

Wow! Thank you gentlemen for all your responses. Much to think about. For starters I seem to have overdone it with the 16 gauge. My legs are mounted to suspenders which put the weight, partly, on my shoulders - hmmm. Helmet is about 8 pounds, which adds to the pressure on the spine. And, yes this wa...

Akmatov

Just got my COP finished in time to make the last day of battle at Estrella last weekend. It was GREAT!! But I ran into an unexpected problem. After about three hours my back was killing me!!! Years ago I seem to have dented it falling off a 5-ton truck onto cobblestones. Hasn't bothered me in years...

Akmatov

I have no intention of portrying the Knights of Calatrava. I am however interested in the Military Orders in general.

Akmatov

As the guy who started this thread, I was delighted to see at this weekends Estrella War XXI a contingent of Teutonic Knights fighting under their banner. Unfortunately, I was unable to hook up with them, but they looked, and fought, great.

Akmatov

Thank you spanish_hospitaller for the information. I will go back and see if I can find the source for thinking the Knights of Calatrava could be married and get back with you. This forum is a wonderful opportunity for me to learn more about things.

Akmatov

it seem as if they were idiots that didnt know how to stay alive. Absolutely not my intention!! I seem to remember that during the period of Artic exploration it was learned the the locals actually knew what they were doing and if you wanted to survive in their environment, copying what they wore a...

Akmatov

They were much hardier than we are an not spoiled with all our modern gizmo's And they died in droves from exposure and malnutrition. The most miserable night of my life was spent patroling an Alp during an exercise in freezing temps with precipitation that was half snow and half rain. I was wearin...

Akmatov

Just for fun, I think the Knights of Calatrava could be married. As I recall this caused the Pope some heartburn, but he eventually approved it. Apparently some of the founding members were married and planned to stay that way. Regarding knights and sergeants, the relationship between then and now i...

Akmatov

me too please

Akmatov

very interesting, thanks

Akmatov

Thanks for sharing how you did this is such detail. It is really VERY nice.

Akmatov

Actually, the issue was sufficiently clear cut in the 12th and 13th century that the Templar Rule states that a layman can be expelled from the order if he joins under false pretenses (i. e., becoming ordained without permission, being given a knightly habit as a layman), In the specific case menti...

Akmatov

You really *had* to have been a "Knight" to wear the white surcoat in the Templar order. That is the issue I've been looking at as I wish to be as accurate as I can without stepping on SCA mores. As best I can tell, academics have had a hard time nailing down the social class of the Military Orders...

Akmatov

As the guy who started all this, just thought I'd mention that I've been doing some reading and I'm VERY reluctantly starting to think that the problem I have, in terms of combining authenticity and the SCA, isn't the cross, but rather the white surcoat and the shape of the cross. The question in my...

Akmatov

CRUCIATI - Latin for "Cross-bearing one". I cite Harold Lamb for the use of the word

Very interesting

Akmatov

[quote]I wish I had access to the accounts of William of Tyre or Albert of Aix, since I would swear I've read translations that use the term 'crusader' - I'd love to know what the untranslated word was. /quote] You may be right, the only thing that gets passed down is what was written, and not even ...

Akmatov

And I am very interested in your documentation for the word "Crusade" being a modern invention. I'm not trying to give you a hard time but I am really interested in hearing more. Thanks! Ld. David de Clermont I have read, and will see if I can dig up just where if you like, that the Crusaders didn'...

Akmatov

Thank you all very much for the many very helpful comments!!!! You guys are great!! Oh, and just make sure everyone realizes you are portraying a Sergeant of the Order, not a Knight... that *will* cause problems Ld. David de Clermont Try not to impinge on the Chiv's strata of society. That is, if yo...

Akmatov

Thank you all for the many fast responses! Just to clarify a bit. I have begun the process of registering my personal arms, which are the ones listed in my signiture. Did it almost a year ago and I'm told I should be getting a response from the COH any year now. Sigh. However, there is some reason t...

Akmatov

Someone should definately volunteer the authenticity police to go and discuss the helmet.

I think I'll watch, from a safe distance.

Akmatov

I'm not sure if this is the right group to post this, but it seems the closest. I'm a very new player in the SCA with a desire to be as historical as possible. I spend some time considering and selecting a personna and am attempting to design/make armour that would be appropriate for that personna. ...

Akmatov

This discussion about buckle location is very interesting as I currently have the leather laid out, marked, the buckle straps made and I'm just about to attach the buckles. I too like the idea of being able to dress myself. Certainly, in period most fighters would have had someone there to help, but...

Akmatov

Hmmm, very interesting. I think I can keep them on the side by mounting the buckle on the front 'flap' and the tongue on the 'wrap-around' band. BUT now I'm going to be looking at how the location of the buckles and my arm are going to rub. Had not thought about that! Ouch! As to cutting me out of m...

Akmatov

My only suggestion is to place the buckles in line under the right arm. Reason being that most of the shots you'll take (in SCA combat on your CoP) are to your left side and the front. As one who is actually about to attach buckles to a COPs tonight and one who is the newest of newbie fighters, I'm...

Akmatov

Many thanks, just what I was looking for!!!

Akmatov

Many thanks, just what I was looking for!!!

Akmatov

Really, really NICE!

My theory, based on my own super-snail speed, is that you can make yourself some very nice stuff you could never afford - just slowly.

Akmatov

Maybe I am not understanding the question but second sons and after could still be knighted. Is that what your question is about? Any male noble could be knighted. My understanding agrees with yours, that any male noble could be knighted. But given that for financial reasons many were not, I was wo...

Akmatov

I knew the orders gradually became more demanding about the requirement for their members to be of noble blood, but I was wondering if the 'knights', as opposed to the sergeants, had to actually be knights before they could join. Given that they were usually members of the lower nobility and usually...

Akmatov

Was just wondering about something the other day. Many of the Teutonic Knights, Deutschenorden, were rather junior members of the gentry. Also at about the same time period a lot of men of gentle birth didn't chose to become knights due to the costs and obligations involved, but were active as armou...

Akmatov

Yep, that is what just registered! Duh! This is an example of why I should run stuff by you guys, so suddenly the obvious in noticed.

Akmatov

Oh DUH! Washers on BOTH sides or even ESPECIALLY on the outside!!!!!!!

Now I have to find some brass washers or somehow make some leather ones.

As a total newbie, I'm constantly astonished at the details I miss on the first pass. Thanks!

Have We Confused Cavalry & Foot Equipment?

Weight Problem -> Plastic or Leather or ????

Teutonic Knights at Estrella XXI

Crusaders Verbotten in SCA?

Teutonic Knight = knights?