The Armour Archive

Gerhard von Liebau

Hey Chris, I hope you and Pia are doing well. I just decided to log in here and wander around a bit since I'm not on social media right now. The finished legs really turned out great, and of course the obligatory (yet often overlooked) velvet lining captures the essence perfectly. Very well done. Ch...

Gerhard von Liebau

And yet you keep calling it unique. The fact that the Keeper of the Records of the Tower of London sent it to a friend to be published over 200 years ago does not make it unique except by the fact that no similar item has been published. He in no way indicates it is unique and in fact sent it for p...

Gerhard von Liebau

Hello folks! Two weekends ago I was inspired to cut out blanks to make two pairs of rerebraces, which are both now finally completed. The leather is 4-6mm thick depending on the piece, and it actually took three tries to get one of them to bake without shriveling the surface of the leather, which is...

Gerhard von Liebau

You didn't start with a question you started with a statement about why I would reference that book when Edward III was beyond the scope. When the subtitle clearly places the item under discussion within the time frame of the book. As does the first chapter's title referring to Edward I. As to it c...

Gerhard von Liebau

Its a library catalog record. Everything you need to know about possible relevance is in it. Subtitle: chivalric society and its context, 1270-1350 Contents: The late thirteenth-century precedent: Chauvency, Le Hem and Edward I -- Civic festes and society in the Low Countries and Northern France --...

Gerhard von Liebau

Sean, Gerhard's reply is exactly why your wishful thinking on these things is a waste of time. Gerhard, was not even willing to take the minute it takes to click and open the link and look further into the book I asked about to see if it answered his questions. Firstly, Brent, I did click the link....

Gerhard von Liebau

Did yall go through the sources used for the book Edward III and Chivalry by Juliet Vale? https://www.worldcat.org/title/edward-iii-and-chivalry-chivalric-society-and-its-context-1270-1350/oclc/9381679 I'm not sure why you'd reference that specific title, as the reign of Edward III is beyond my per...

Gerhard von Liebau

It's called a Kastenbrust. Look that term up on Google or around here or MyArmoury, and you'll soon learn much more than anyone can possibly type in a single reply!

Gerhard von Liebau

Mart and I translated and considered a majority of the purchased items in the Windsor tournament roll while I was working on developing my cuir helm, which was inspired by the text. You're right in saying that it really does simply come down to doing some leg work, even going so far as researching t...

Gerhard von Liebau

Mac wrote:That's a very handsome shield! I like the floral work in the red field.

You know that last pic of of an ostrich, right? The horseshoe is the giveaway.

Mac

Thanks, to you and Dan and Todd!

Yes, that image inspired the background you commented upon. Not the bird!

-Gerhard

Gerhard von Liebau

And some inspiring sources...

Gerhard von Liebau

Started this one fifteen months ago, had it decorated sometime during the summer, and set it aside while procrastinating on the rivets and strap work... But it's done now! My official description - A shield depicting a crane holding a rock, which was a symbol of vigilance and camaraderie in medieval...

Gerhard von Liebau

Howdy folks! Here's a little album I put together of photos from a recent visit to the "Knight's Hall" at the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg. It is a wonderful collection of mostly 16th-17th century European armament... I was able to document every piece in the room except a single pistol, which I ac...

Gerhard von Liebau

Just superb, Chris! I was thinking the other day about how things might be going with this project, but failed to get online to check... Looks like I came around just in time for the update! I'm really excited to see how the components will look when all displayed together. I assume that all of the ...

Gerhard von Liebau

Hey Mac! Thanks. When I first started it I thought for a while that I might try to build up the kit around it, based on the other details in the purchase roll, but as of a few months ago the decision to give it as a gift to my friend and patron Joe Metz was set in stone. He has a wonderful collectio...

Gerhard von Liebau

Howdy folks! I started this project ages ago, and it simmered for months or even more than a year at a time on several occasions, between bouts of inspiration and progress. I ended up deciding to give it as a gift to my most generous patron. The purchase roll from a tournament hosted at Windsor Cast...

Gerhard von Liebau

I've purchased a helmet and two gambesons from Alexander in the past, and have had a great time working with him. We still keep in touch via Facebook where he has been sharing some rather stellar work in recent times. I'm very confident you will be pleased to work with him! Cheers!

-Gerhard

Gerhard von Liebau

Thanks for sharing these tests and the results! It made a great morning read. I make hardened leather armor using the baking method, inspired by my mentor-from-afar Dan Houchins, who used to actively make very sturdy SCA-quality leather armor using that method. I only run water liberally over my lea...

Gerhard von Liebau

I was a bit too young to get to know most of you fine gentlemen on a personal basis when Tom was still very active here, but I remember his contributions and am aware of his impact on the community. I'm very sorry to hear of his untimely passing. My condolences.

-Gerhard

Gerhard von Liebau

Howdy!

I hope everyone is having a nice holiday season. I'm dropping the price of these to $150 + shipping in an attempt to get them gone! ^.^

-Gerhard

Gerhard von Liebau

Chris, it all looks fabulous! I hardly know what to say, as you're obviously still in the process and I'm well aware of how much work is left to be done... I can only look forward to more updates! I hope things are well, otherwise!

-Gregory

Gerhard von Liebau

It's really thin, too, c. 2mm. Fine if that's just one layer of several, but... The tooled layers of the rerebraces from Dordrecht are only about 2mm thick as well, and are suspected to have been glued to a second layer - in one case that's supported by the fact that there are no holes for straps o...

Gerhard von Liebau

Hello folks, This advertisement is for a reproduction pair of 14th century cuir bouilli rerebraces. The leather pieces are 25cm tall and 19.5cm wide, just like the original from Dordrecht that they are based upon. The grotesque figures are inspired by a miniature in the Luttrell Psalter and a stone ...

Gerhard von Liebau

Hello folks, Recently I finished up a reproduction of the leg harness depicted in the funerary statue of Guillaume de Durfort, a French military leader who served in the Battle of Campaldino on 11 June, 1289. Gathering what I can from spotty references, I believe he died just after the battle from i...

Gerhard von Liebau

Any updates on this?

-Gerhard

Gerhard von Liebau

Mac wrote: I have edited-in a link in the first post of my thread.

Mac

Well done, future Mac!

Gerhard von Liebau

Thanks much, Zubeydah!

Mac, if I might be so bold, perhaps you can edit your first post in the actual thread and provide a link to this glossary as a post-script?

-Gerhard

Gerhard von Liebau

Welcome to the forum, William! Even three or four layers of fabric stitched together with the weft and warp laid down at 45° angles can be protective. Some surviving medieval arming garments are no more than two or three layers in some places, and although their defensive quality would be negligible...

Gerhard von Liebau

Notre Dame (or Chartres?) Window (c. 1225)

Gerhard von Liebau

Beaumont Family Glasswork (Chartres Cathedral c. 1215-1225)

Gerhard von Liebau

Just go watch Ian LaSpina' channel "Knyght Errant"

https://www.youtube.com/user/neosonic66

Gerhard von Liebau

Chrome tanned leather makes nice straps because of its physical properties, but I simply can't get around the usual industrial finish. Bridle leather is infused with wax and grease compounds and is usually finished by vegetable tanning, and latigo is made using a mixture of chrome and vegetable tann...

Gerhard von Liebau

One thing that may help regarding the bevor is that you seem to have the cheeks on your sallet slightly more rounded and less pronounced than on the original. Once you bring out the visor a bit on either side, you'll probably have comparable wiggle room given that the original cheeks are more restri...

Gerhard von Liebau

Looks like it'll mostly be a lesson in sanding and polishing. Ha! Good luck gettin' it done!

Gerhard von Liebau

I just realized the decorations on the scabbard you just linked from Maciej's gallery is based on one of the Leiden scabbards drawn in the article. Cool.

-Gerhard

Re: Greenwich Buckhurst armour

Re: Source: The Windsor Tournament Roll of 1278

A Couple of Pairs of Leather Rerebraces

Re: Source: The Windsor Tournament Roll of 1278

Re: Source: The Windsor Tournament Roll of 1278

Re: Source: The Windsor Tournament Roll of 1278

Re: Source: The Windsor Tournament Roll of 1278

Re: What Armor is this?

Re: Source: The Windsor Tournament Roll of 1278

Re: I made another heater shield...

Re: I made another heater shield...

I made another heater shield...

The "Knight's Hall" in the Hermitage

Re: Greenwich Buckhurst armour

Re: Leather Tourney Helm Inspired by the Windsor Roll of 127

Leather Tourney Helm Inspired by the Windsor Roll of 1278

Re: Jolly Knight

Re: I tested 16 leather hardening methods, and made a new on

Re: We just lost Tom Justus.

Re: FS: Dordrecht-inspired cuir bouilli rerebraces

Re: Greenwich Buckhurst armour

Re: Possible Polish find of a cuirie

FS: Dordrecht-inspired cuir bouilli rerebraces

Guillaume de Durfort Cuir Bouilli Leg Harness (c. 1289)

Re: St. George from the St. Wolfgang Altarpiece, reconstruct

Re: The St. Florian Project by Robert MacPherson - A Summary

Re: The St. Florian Project by Robert MacPherson - A Summary

Re: Number of layers for a "lightweight" gambeson?

Re: Salt shaker topfhelms...Where do they come from?

Re: Salt shaker topfhelms...Where do they come from?

Re: LindyBeige on Commissioning his 15th c German kit

Re: Leather for straps

Re: Mac's blog

Re: Mac's blog

Re: Carol van Driel-MurrayArticle on Scabbards from Leiden