The Armour Archive

Finnacan

Most people use all cotton velvet or velveteen. They do this not only because it is WAY more affordable, but also it doesn't cook you like 100% silk will.

Still, real silk velvet is hard to beat. James is right, once you see it, you can't unsee it.

Finnacan

Losthelm, thank you for that suggestion. The idea of working with a hammer and graver with a pitch pot has huge appeal. I guess my one question is this - I know pitch pots were used in history, but was the round bowl seen in tsuba videos used in Europe in the middle ages? It seems obvious that moder...

Finnacan

Much appreciated.

Yeah, looks like a curved line on a flat surface is best accomplished with hammer and chisel.

I'm beginning to see why I enjoy etching so much.

Finnacan

Hey, gang. Technical question concerning decorative incisions made with files, specifically to ornament a surface. This isn't about 'jimping' or work done specifically on the spine of a blade. It isn't pierced work either. The filework I'm interested in is the sort seen on hilts, pommels, chapes, st...

Finnacan

I figured a lot of folks would want to know this, especially with cooler weather around the corner. This lady is a serious fiber fiend. If you want a knitted and felted Tudor cap or bonnet, I can't recommend these enough. I own one myself, a heathery brown number that looks and feels fantastic. Chec...

Finnacan

Couple of options. There are a number of 'bycocket' style hats seen in the 14th century (Robin Hood style and variants). There are also some simple felt caps, some that fit the skull, some with small brims upturned and down turned, and some with wide brims, like unfinished felt hat bodies. And there...

Finnacan

Lot of good info here.

Much appreciated, folks. I am curious to try filework one day, but until then I may just stick with the decorative rivets certain merchants carry.

Honestly, few of the spurs on the back of the belt mounts look strong enough to substitute.

Again, thanks everyone.

Finnacan

I'm wanting to use some rivets for attaching buckles to leather straps, and I was hoping I could use something decorative and authentic looking while avoiding those pop rivets at Tandy's. I suppose it would need to brass, as I doubt pewter would be strong enough to use as a rivet. Is a brass belt mo...

Finnacan

Okay now THAT is cool. Looking at the arrows being drawn by the archers in this piece - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Altarpiece_of_St_Sebastian.jpg You see cresting, but it isn't the normal series of rings, running perpendicular around the shaft, like this >>>---- l ll ll l --------> They ...

Finnacan

Interesting. Those don't show classic cresting (colored rings painted around the shaft in front of the fletching), they show colored stripes and chevrons painted on the fletching itself. The red bands you do see would be silk thread for binding the fletching and adding strength to the nock, I should...

Finnacan

At first glance, marking an arrow with bands of color to identify the owner seems perfectly reasonable. I got to looking for historic examples. I figured heraldic cresting would be limited to nobles for hunting/practice. I sincerely doubted that military archers would have personal cresting, but I w...

Finnacan

One thing I'm considering is the style of hilt seen on this dagger, with the forward swept quillions... http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=DT5163 A number of historic daggers have this feature. Seems to me it would a better 'blade catch' than a simple cruciform or curved crossguard. Howeve...

Finnacan

I'm looking at the array of daggers available for the rapier field, and thought I'd ask what people like or dislike about various models. I noticed that James the Just has a new dagger blade provided by Darkwood, called the Amazonia Dagger Blade, and it looks like a nice piece with a good price. How...

Finnacan

I've seen it. I've seen it at Pennsic, Estrella, Gulf Wars and around my home turf. Most of the people doing it are usually newer players or members of the smaller households or 'clans'. They generally are trying to be what they think is accurate, and they are often interested in better information....

Finnacan

A two-part epoxy with pigment - very cool.

Thanks for sharing.

Finnacan

Really wanting to see the enameling question answered. Love the quality of the castings.

Finnacan

Just a suggestion,... One of the hardest historic knives to find is the long Irish knife, or skean. Simple wooden handle, long thin single edged blade. Most are dated to the early 16th century, and were well known during the Tudor Era Irish rebellions. Here is a decent replica - http://www.myarmoury...

Finnacan

I wonder if the fellow on the far left in green is supposed to be the Antichrist or the False Prophet. He appears to be uttering something manifesting as toads. I remember an old book that covered the arms of Heaven and Hell and Satan's arms were basically three black toads on a red field. I like th...

Finnacan

Much appreciated, gentlemen, my thanks.

Finnacan

I second MJ's question, how are you achieving that enameled look?

Finnacan

Yes, I understand why they are on the Thorsberg Trousers, I mentioned them as an example of the concept of belt loops being known in history.

Finnacan

The title of the thread pretty much says it all. I know belt loops have made rare appearances in history (the thorsberg trousers come to mind) but I was wondering if they were ever an option on doublets, from the 14th to the 16th centuries, or any form of belt suspension for that matter. And yes, I ...

Finnacan

Thanks, folks. Much appreciated. I've sewn a stab stitch, a running stitch and a whip stitch by hand, (not to mention a number of blanket/buttonhole stitches) and figured I'd do it if I had to, but I may have to pull out the machine and practice a few blind hem stitches. I knew stitching was visible...

Finnacan

Okay, this has me stumped. I'm still learning the basics of sewing, and attaching guards (bands of fabric) or wide ribbon to a tunic, not at the bottom but up from the nearest edge a few inches, has me confused. I'm talking the sorts of trim you see on waffenrocks, like velvet, or bands of silk half...

Finnacan

I second the Known World Handbook. The newest edition is way more thorough and up to date considering what it used to be, and the newcomers love it. It improves their game, their garb and their interest ten-fold. I personally think every group should have some on hand for newcomers. If you show them...

Finnacan

domed, and while you're at it, can you also look into making some where the sides curve toward the opponent instead of sloping back over the hand? In other words, domed in the opposite direction? Basically, it looks like you are holding a shallow bowl with a knuckle boss in the bottom, and the oppon...

Finnacan

Yeah, Gabardine is a modern weave that looks like period weaves. The machine for weaving gabardine was the real invention, honestly, and many textiles are woven as gabardines, not just wool. However, the finished cloth in wool looks close to a number of the finer worsted twills found. That is why it...

Finnacan

Gunter, only a little, very slight. It will not get anywhere near the fuxzziness of wool flannel or even tropical weight.

Finnacan

The lightest wool that still has a medieval look to it is gabardine, and you can find it in a variety of colors, including red. Good wool gabardine is worsted wool, woven in a twill with many more warp threads than weft threads. This causes a very thin diagonal ribbing on one side, while the other s...

Finnacan

You know, Charlotte, now that you mention it, this robe (or variants thereof) could be made of a fine wool with a smooth finish and lined in silk. That would certainly be a richer garment than wool lined in linen, or a heavier wool unlined. Or you could make it out of silk entirely. As for using the...

Finnacan

Okay, so some do use the zoombang as a standalone.

Nice to know, thanks, guys.

Finnacan

.... just begging to be etched with all sorts of late period floral foofery - One in the visitors center at Fort Caroline in Jacksonville, FL. http://www.bguthriephotos.com/Graphlib/GraphData5.nsf/Images/2005_FL_Ft_Caroline_0640/$File/FTCAR_050309_177.JPG Oh. Ooooh, man. Yeah, thanks for sharing th...

Finnacan

Okay, so who uses a rotella shield on the rapier field, instead of the usual 12-15 inch bucklers? I noticed Therion Arms has a nice steel one, 23 inches diameter, just begging to be etched with all sorts of late period floral foofery - http://therionarms.com/reenact/therionarms_c773.html What is it ...

Finnacan

Thomas, yes, I'm well aware, but the impression I was getting was the zoombang is a fine replacement for padding, to be worn with something else, even though it did pass muster as stand-alone for kidney protection with the SEM. Most reviews around here don't wear the zoombang alone, but with a gambe...

Finnacan

Hey, gang. Been digging through the archives and was curious as to any updated information on this as low profile armour - http://www.skeletools.com/motocross_impact_skele_vest_bmx_chest_protector_s/1.htm I know a few of you use it, but does it work as sufficient rigid protection for the kidneys, fl...

Re: Hisorical velvet?

Re: Filework techniques

Re: Filework techniques

Filework techniques

Knit and Felted Tudor/Flat Caps - New Source!

Re: 14th century hats

Re: Using Belt Mounts as Rivets

Using Belt Mounts as Rivets

Re: Cresting Arrows

Re: Cresting Arrows

Cresting Arrows

Re: Favorite Fencing Dagger?

Favorite Fencing Dagger?

Re: Lets talk iron age Celts.

Re: Pewter cast items to show off.

Re: Pewter cast items to show off.

Re: What should I offer in future? Looking for dagger/knife

Re: Italian wall painting

Re: Belt loops on doublets?

Re: Pewter cast items to show off.

Re: Belt loops on doublets?

Belt loops on doublets?

Re: Attaching guards and wide bands of fabric

Attaching guards and wide bands of fabric

Re: Zeke's big Idea too help the new people!

Re: Flat or domed bucklers poll

Re: Soft Kit - Sources of Light Wool

Re: Soft Kit - Sources of Light Wool

Re: Soft Kit - Sources of Light Wool

Re: Herjolfsnes Gown 63 - buttoning?

Re: Skeletools Vest as standalone armour

Re: Rotella with rapier

Rotella with rapier

Re: Skeletools Vest as standalone armour

Skeletools Vest as standalone armour