The Armour Archive

Curt B.

Hello, I'm attempting to finish up my new body armour (front and back leather brigandine w/ .063" inner aluminum overlapped plates). I did a preliminary weigh, it weighs about 15-16 lbs. approximate, but that is almost the final weight, not the final weight. I still need to weigh my old brig in comp...

Curt B.

St. George wrote:You mean covered in leather, right?

St. G-

Yeah, metal plates underneath.

Curt B.

I haven't made myself new body armour in over 10 years. Why? Yes, I'm lazy, but the amateur brigandine I made back in 2001? has a leather shell, and it's probably just now reaching it's end of life (well, I took care of it too). I'm making another one with leather (another prototype). If I can get i...

Curt B.

Tired of seeing people go bonkers over someone grabbing their spear ("you better not break that or you'll pay for it!", vicious threats, etc. during the episode) I don't do it, it's not worth it.

Curt B.

I am attempting to be more aggressive and actively play the game. Waiting for the perfect shot or first mistake may be clever, but I ain't got all day to stand in the sun, especially in summer.

Curt B.

When you are older, other variables can come into play that offset youthful regeneration, such as using more conservation of body motion for less damage your muscles, less bruising by better defense technique, more quality shots instead of quantity, better, more refined armour, etc.

Curt B.

You are incorrect in your assessment, I have trained many men to Knighthood & Crown who had little to no money in the West. I for one don't disagree with you. I agree, you don't necessarily need alot of money (at least when gas was at say, a buck fifty a gallon). However, Crown, from what I heard, ...

Curt B.

A now retired knight used to have this body twirl manuever move-thingy with his polearm. One day long ago he caught my left arm with the haft of the pole arm, pried my lower arm back with end of the weapon levered against my torso, and somehow managed to bend my arm backwards at the elbow joint whil...

Curt B.

Yeah, I've seen people who took 5+ years off and they are seriously active again. I've taken 4 months periods off lately because of burn out (my fighting seriously sucketh after that, but it's worth it for perspective). It happens. You don't "owe" the SCA anything, so there's no need to feel guilt f...

Curt B.

Beverly B2 = nice tool.

Curt B.

Did period arming doublets have extra padding in the elbow area? Just wondering. Thanks.

Curt B.

D. Sebastian wrote:I couldn't stop if I wanted to.

You mean you can't stop because you can't remember why you should stop?

What a vicious circle.

Curt B.

Something very similar to that archer photo happened to me at the most recent Fool's War in Macon, Ga., but I was a shieldman. As I was running forward in a bridge battle, I hit a brick wall and my 245 lb (w/o armour) self was launched into the air. Of course I landed on my rear. A pain shock went t...

Curt B.

I will say it was a bad experience to get hit really hard in the back of my shoe (heel area--not the sole but the back of heel) in the ravine battle as I was falling to the ground.

That really hurt. A new SCA pain experience. But I still have my foot.

Curt B.

We make rules not for the top 10% of fighters. We make them for the bottom 40%. The margin for error with the 2" tips is MUCH smaller than the 3". So for a spear god like fighter, they can adjust easily. For Joe Goob, they go out and core sample people. I think I understand where you are coming fro...

Curt B.

Among other things, my body is *used to it* and I believe it now requires the induced stress from time to time. Otherwise, I feel like something is not quite right if I go too long without rattan fighting.

I guess I have no choice but to continue until major injury or age problems, etc. stop me.

Curt B.

I recommend two layers of different foam.

Use closed cell for the first layer (nearest the helmet surface). Then use a second layer of open cell- in contact with your head.

Reduces potential headaches from the hard stuff and is cooler to wear in hot weather.

Curt B.

... there's no such thing as a "maintenance hardening", it doesn't wear out over time. Yeah. Mine is probably denting because I let people hit it and it's only 14 ga (before I finished it) of unknown SS alloy. I was confused and attempting to come up with explanations for the denting, like possible...

Curt B.

Do you have any idea on the alloy of stainless? Probibly your best option would be to planish the helm and call it good and posibly upgrade to a new helm. No, I don't know the alloy. I was thinking someone might say what you just stated. I'll just planish the dents out. For the next helm, what woul...

Curt B.

Hello, I have a SS helmet that appears to be less dent resistant over time (i.e years of use). Can anyone offer any tips on hardening an existing, used, stainless steel helmet in order to make it more dent resistant? I guess quench hardening is probably not acceptable due to the alloy properties, bu...

Curt B.

Been going mostly for last decade-plus, and only been really disappointed the one year a long while back that it never seemed to stop raining, and the roads and parking areas turned to mush. I barely made it out the first few days and I just went home. I heard the folks that stuck around eventually ...

Curt B.

Two stick fighting has too many advantages in SCA-style combat. And it may make your opponent mad and pissy when you hit them three or more times before they can even get a chance to call "good." That's one reason why I don't use it much anymore. Hence I now kinda suck at it. As far as fighting with...

Curt B.

Count Johnathan wrote: Squires aren't slaves, they are students and important loyal allies against the hoardes of evil out there.

Wow. I think that's the most positive and coolest thing I've ever heard about squires. After hearing that, I think I may want to pick up a red belt again. lol.

Curt B.

Talon, the aluminum would cover the back of the hands and wrists. Though the math would seem to point to it being safe for fingers if the material thickness required wasn't so thick. I was doing some personal research on that one. If I ever get back to building armour, I would like to make some all...

Curt B.

Thorvaldr Skegglauss wrote:fight with a buckler instead of a shield exclusively for a few months....

you will move or you will bruise.... it is up to you...

What he said.

Curt B.

Is Al. allowed for finger plates?

Curt B.

I started building a few pavises earlier in the decade. I think I saw Duke Gaston's shield(s) and had to have one, since I base my persona on 1450's or later. My original one was somewhat larger, I was trying to use it for melee as well. It got beat up. I made a second one but never finished it or u...

Curt B.

Just in time! I was about to put a thrusting tip on my sword. Now I can postpone it for another six months.

Curt B.

I know if you have a bruised rib and then get wasted at an evening party at GWs, the pain goes away for a while, but nausea may result.

Curt B.

Does Nissan wear a red mask? I guess I didn't put 2+2 together when I was at the war.

Curt B.

Depends on how you want to fight. If you are an average fighter that doesn't want to go for gold and dislocate something trying to throw that perfect flat snap, just exercise (cardio) for about three times a week, 15-30 min/session, do some light weight lifting with that and go to practice or an eve...

Curt B.

Here. There.

Curt B.

It is the more subtle rhino that is the threat. The one who is a very good fighter and you are hard pressed to get that one good shot in and then when it finally comes in with all you want on it, he ignores it. I fought a Knight one time in a tourney. I would not describe him as a rhino, but I digr...

Curt B.

Ok. This seems to work for me. I have cheap Wally Mart lace work boots. I stick a good sole insert in them. Then I try to lace them up as tight as possible. I used to just snug up the laces. And my foot would occasionally angle and fall onto its side, resulting in ankle or near ankle injury. In my o...

Curt B.

I usually blame myself if someone doesn't call my shot. And I really blame myself if I can't hit them like they want before they hit me. But I will have to say the most trouble I've ever had were from people with those extra thick kidney belt things that look like a championship wrestling belt. One ...

SCA body armour weight

Re: There is too much leather armour in the SCA.

Re: There is too much leather armour in the SCA.

Re: Snagging Spears in a Melee

Re: Attack or wait?

Re: "Getting Good" after 30

Re: What does it take to compete at the top levels of SCA He

Re: Are you worried about being injured when you fight?

Re: Well, I'm done.

Re: Eastwood Economy Throatless Shear

Re: Blue foam in articulated elbows?

Re: Bradshaw Feeling Effects of Concussions

Re: Aggression on the field.

Re: Gulf Wars - Bad Experiences?

Re: Gulf Wars - Bad Experiences?

Re: What are you training for?

heat treatment for used stainless helmet