No, I meant that the gray plates remind me of the layout of my coat of plates, though I realize they're not! But that "quilted coat" is just a mailshirt--it's got little vertical lines between the horizontals.
Matthew
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- Mon Mar 25, 2024 4:55 pm
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: Breastplates with Wings
- Replies: 4
- Views: 451
- Sun Mar 24, 2024 8:10 am
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: Breastplates with Wings
- Replies: 4
- Views: 451
Re: Breastplates with Wings
Heck, that looks like the back of my Visby coat of plates without the fabric covering! Horizontal strap(s), rings at the top corners. By "quilted coat", do you mean the yellowish bit below the mailshirt? Those look like very Romanesque pteruges, to me! Biblical scene, maybe? (Also reminds me of reen...
- Thu Feb 29, 2024 7:39 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: What rivets do you use and where do you buy them?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 440
Re: What rivets do you use and where do you buy them?
Behold, rivet smorgasbord: https://www.mcmaster.com/products/rivets/rivets~/rivet-type~solid/ Yes, it's standard to refer to rivets by the diameter of the shaft, and 1/8" are typical for most work, as far as I know. Now, most of what I've made over the years is ancient stuff, so I get to use copper ...
- Wed Nov 08, 2023 8:50 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Cold work vs forging
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4072
Re: Cold work vs forging
I wouldn't sweat it. Sure, it's very frustrating to know that such people are out there, and spouting nonsense, but it looks to me like you know more about armor and metallurgy than he does! Reminds me of the "expert" who proclaimed that a great helm (repro, perhaps?) would "explode" when struck by ...
- Tue Sep 12, 2023 4:44 pm
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: Felt Armour
- Replies: 41
- Views: 29404
Re: Felt Armour
Would these be felt caps? https://open.conted.ox.ac.uk/sites/open.conted.ox.ac.uk/files/styles/full_size/public/resources/DSC_0659.JPG?itok=0FhJerip and https://open.conted.ox.ac.uk/sites/open.conted.ox.ac.uk/files/styles/full_size/public/resources/DSC_0657a.JPG?itok=hDh4nQct I'm only seeing helmet...
- Sat Aug 26, 2023 7:25 am
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: Felt Armour
- Replies: 41
- Views: 29404
Re: Felt Armour
I'm doubtful. The image is just too small, and I would never expect realism from a depiction on an oil lamp. Considering there are other much more reliable suggestions of wearing a tunic *over* armor (such as mail), seeing actual pteruges sticking out at the shoulders of a tunic doesn't surprise me....
- Sat Jul 08, 2023 8:06 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: Woodworking Project Diary
- Replies: 107
- Views: 68056
Re: Woodworking Project Diary
I generally cut out the outer outline *before* I start hollowing out the cavity. After the pieces are glued together I rasp and sand off the outside to thin and round it. There is a little chance of going through the wood to the cavity, but the 2 pieces support each other at that point, and it's usu...
- Sun Jun 18, 2023 9:57 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: Woodworking Project Diary
- Replies: 107
- Views: 68056
Re: Woodworking Project Diary
I rout out scabbard slabs with the little router ball on my drill. I just go at it aggressively and eyeball until it seems to be close, both halves, then clamp them together and try the blade. Keep hitting the high spots until the blade fits freely, even a tad loose. I always find that once I glue t...
- Tue Aug 30, 2022 8:03 am
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: Viking Arms and Armor, Again
- Replies: 5
- Views: 11469
Re: Viking Arms and Armor, Again
Since none of the many discussions of leather armor seem to mention this list, which should be pretty well known, I'm wondering if there is a translation problem. What are the actual words in the original language? Ditto for "leather hoods". "Broad axe"? "Light axe"? Hmmm...
Matthew
Matthew
- Wed Aug 10, 2022 7:35 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: Woodworking Project Diary
- Replies: 107
- Views: 68056
Re: Woodworking Project Diary
I should have realized that you are way ahead of me, as usual, ha! I will be watching closely. Yeah, it's the usual thing--the craftsmen back then had done this so often they didn't even consider it a problem, just a procedure. We still have a problem with just paying attention to what little they d...
- Tue Aug 09, 2022 8:37 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: Woodworking Project Diary
- Replies: 107
- Views: 68056
Re: Woodworking Project Diary
I am only one of several (or many) people who have stretched wet rawhide over a planked shield and gotten a warped shield at best, or a splintered disaster at worst. I would say "BE CAREFUL", but I'm not even sure what the best course of action *is* for "being careful". Rawhide has tremendous streng...
- Thu Mar 24, 2022 8:43 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: Woodworking Project Diary
- Replies: 107
- Views: 68056
Re: Woodworking Project Diary
...But quite a few traditional wood-core shields were domed. There are a few modern guesses as to how to make those, such as building a giant piece of wood and hollowing it with an adze or a lathe, or building up a 'layer cake' or 'corbel dome' of rings https://www.larp.com/hoplite/hoplon.html ... ...
- Sun Nov 28, 2021 8:50 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: Cobbling Time
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2950
Re: Cobbling Time
I actually never used lasts when making medieval shoes. So probably their shape was a bit off, but no one ever complained about the fit or function. So if you can turn it inside out, maybe after some soaking in water, easy enough to fix because the seam will be exposed. Blown seams like that never s...
- Thu Nov 25, 2021 8:33 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: Cobbling Time
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2950
Re: Cobbling Time
This is what I always use: https://www.michaels.com/white-waxed-linen-cord-by-bead-landing/10268123.html It also comes in black, brown, and dark red (maybe more?), but natural is best for any historical stuff. Though by the 18th century cordwainers and cobblers were using pitched-base wax to coat th...
- Wed May 05, 2021 7:52 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: lorica squamata
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1804
Re: lorica squamata
Right, what Ernst said. The first sample looks like "locking scale", basically lamellar but instead of cords, the scales are fixed to each other with wire staples. Pretty much all Roman scale had the scales wired to each other in rows. The difference between regular scale armor and locking scale was...
- Fri Feb 26, 2021 7:30 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: what are these things
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2365
Re: what are these things
"Haute pieces", if I am not mistaken.
Matthew
Matthew
- Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:20 am
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: Sutton Hoo helmet
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1322
Re: Sutton Hoo helmet
Oh, how wonderful!! Really excellent presentation. In all my years, I'd never even heard that the creatures at the brow had TEETH! The bit about the foil behind the garnets was fascinating, too. Thank you for posting that!
Matthew
Matthew
- Sat Jan 02, 2021 9:02 am
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: Felt Armour
- Replies: 41
- Views: 29404
Re: Felt Armour
Pliny, Historia Naturalis 8.73 / 8.192 (1st century CE summarizing everything a Roman senator with no life could read in Greek or Latin) lanae et per se coactae vestem faciunt et, si addatur acetum, etiam ferro resistunt "And from wool rubbed against itself they make a garment and, if vinegar is ad...
- Thu Oct 29, 2020 6:37 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Glue for leather, linen, etc
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1456
Re: Glue for leather, linen, etc
I've always just used either regular wood glue or liquid hide glue for gluing linen or leather (or felt, etc.) to wood. I tend to glue leather to leather only to hold it in place for stitching, and for that I usually use Tacky Glue since it bonds quickly. Ancient Greek-era linen armor was either qui...
- Tue Sep 29, 2020 6:36 am
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: Lorica Segmentata find in Germany
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1653
Re: Lorica Segmentata find in Germany
One thing is for sure, the lorica laminata (segmentata, whatever) was cheaper to produce than chain shirts! Probably, but in a slave economy, how much did that matter? Plus the fact that soldiers were still paying for their own armor via payroll deductions, and we know that MANY of them wore mail r...
- Sun Aug 09, 2020 9:31 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: A Short Round Cloak with Embroidered Collar
- Replies: 31
- Views: 6292
Re: A Short Round Cloak with Embroidered Collar
*shoulder demon* There is mi-parti in the First Continuation of Chrétien de Troyes from the 1190s or so ... I've wondered about that! May have to look it up. Do you have any idea where the 14th century clothing people hang out these days? The Age of the Cotehardie FB group is mostly newbies with ba...
- Sat Aug 08, 2020 10:29 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: A Short Round Cloak with Embroidered Collar
- Replies: 31
- Views: 6292
Re: A Short Round Cloak with Embroidered Collar
I enjoy all your sewing projects! Even if I don't try to track all the details too closely--it's just not my strong era. Cool stuff, though, and too often neglected by us hardware junkies, ha! On the bottom hems with linings, I believe it was pretty common in the 18th century to not sew the lining a...
- Sat May 30, 2020 8:14 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Ancient Greek/Scythian Equipment.
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2228
Re: Ancient Greek/Scythian Equipment.
Mostly for the benefit of those who don't see me cheering on Facebook, I am cheering! And drooling. Not that I'm a *cavalry* guy, but it's still great stuff.
Matthew
Matthew
- Mon May 11, 2020 8:42 am
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: free e-book: Samurai 1550-1600 by Anthony J Bryant
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2757
Re: free e-book: Samurai 1550-1600 by Anthony J Bryant
I've got their blog bookmarked, comes up just fine. But they don't seem to have done the free ebook thing since "Week 4". Am I missing something?
Matthew
Matthew
- Sun Mar 08, 2020 8:56 am
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: How did a man at arms acquire his armour?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 860
Re: How did a man at arms acquire his armour?
He bought it! If he was wealthy enough, it would be custom-made and top of the line. I have heard of men sending a suit of clothes for a distant armorer to use as a fitting model, not sure if that's documented or not. Otherwise he could go to the local market and pick out what he liked from the armo...
- Tue Dec 10, 2019 9:24 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: Theophilius, Hilting Knives, and Modern Heat Treatments
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1648
Re: Theophilius, Hilting Knives, and Modern Heat Treatments
Well, that's a real good question, and I don't have a good answer. I'd have to go back and study the images I've got of original tangs, but too many of them are just line drawings. My guess would be that rivet holes in the tangs were punched/drifted, rather than drilled. They probably did that first...
- Mon Dec 09, 2019 9:27 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: Theophilius, Hilting Knives, and Modern Heat Treatments
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1648
Re: Theophilius, Hilting Knives, and Modern Heat Treatments
In my most recent spate of sword-making, it was very frustrating to make a perfectly-fitting set of hilt scales, and then have something shift during drilling. Finally it occurred to me to epoxy the parts to the tang, THEN drill the holes. All remained perfect! Mind you, that still doesn't guarantee...
- Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:55 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Tod and Co's Arrows vs. Armour Test
- Replies: 47
- Views: 26372
Re: Tod and Co's Arrows vs. Armour Test
That doesn't quite look like Indian-made mail to me, though I only have one piece of my own to compare to. The blue layer on the jupon looks like a nice tightly-woven wool.
What Dan said about scary.
Matthew
What Dan said about scary.
Matthew
- Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:25 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: The Pattern Cutting of Linen Trousers in Late Antiquity
- Replies: 3
- Views: 759
Re: The Pattern Cutting of Linen Trousers in Late Antiquity
Geez, carbon 14 dates to late 6th/early 7th century. O. M. G....
- Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:19 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: The Pattern Cutting of Linen Trousers in Late Antiquity
- Replies: 3
- Views: 759
Re: The Pattern Cutting of Linen Trousers in Late Antiquity
LINEN trousers?!? I'll certainly read the article, but I had only heard of wool, to this point. I'm blown away! Linen sounds more like they are braies, and I'd assume they were medieval rather than "late antiquity". BUT I haven't read it, yet!
THANK YOU!
Matthew
THANK YOU!
Matthew
- Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:13 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: "Chalcis" style bascinet
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1689
Re: "Chalcis" style bascinet
Wow, if that were an ancient helmet, I'd scream "FAKE!" Or Victorian repro. That's still my first instinct, but it's not my era, really.
Matthew
Matthew
- Sun Aug 11, 2019 8:09 am
- Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
- Topic: Names for Scabbard Parts
- Replies: 5
- Views: 926
Re: Names for Scabbard Parts
I understood "frog" to be the leather piece mounted on/hung from a belt or baldric, through which the scabbard passes. The fitting on the scabbard throat which goes through a slot on the frog to keep the scabbard from slipping through is (at least sometimes!) called a locket. Which certainly has imp...
- Thu Jun 06, 2019 8:35 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Scale Hauberk questions
- Replies: 6
- Views: 867
Re: Scale Hauberk questions
Oh, that's one of my favorite movies! I always loved Sir Ranulf's armor, too. Normally I warn strongly against using movies as inspiration, but there *are* clear depictions of men-at-arms in scale armor from the 13th century, so definitely go for it. I've also seen photos of a wonderful reconstructi...
- Wed Jun 05, 2019 8:40 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Scale Hauberk questions
- Replies: 6
- Views: 867
Re: Scale Hauberk questions
Putting any kind of ridge in the scale will absolutely make it stiffer and more rigid, allowing you to use thinner metal. Agreed that thinner is vastly better for weight, but I have no idea what sorts of standards or experience there is for SCA-legal scale armor. For *historical* armor I wouldn't go...
- Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:35 am
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: Short, sleeveless mail and when it was used in Europe
- Replies: 6
- Views: 965
Re: Short, sleeveless mail and when it was used in Europe
I mean "short" as in thigh to mid-thigh lenght, because hauberks seem to be almost knee-length. Ah, gotcha. Though, to me, "mid-thigh length" and "almost knee-length" sound about the same! :wink: Just sayin'. So the Romans also used mail with long sleeves in the 2nd century? I thought that started ...