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by Alex Baird
Fri Feb 26, 2010 6:37 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Caid Crown
Replies: 67
Views: 2035

laevus wrote:
ChristianVE wrote:Dark Apprentice! Dark Apprentice! Dark Apprentice!


Minor note that in the lists Conrad Breakring is also a Sir, but more directly: what is this Dark apprentice thing?


Also, Edward Oakenheart was asked to join the Chivalry at Unbelted. I don't know when his knighting will be.
by Alex Baird
Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:49 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Heavy Combat Questions
Replies: 15
Views: 708

I'm sure that some of the knowledgeable here can answer you concerning historical thicknesses, but the reason for a heavy SCA helmet is that the mass absorbs the force of impact before your skull and brains do. Not denting easily is a nice side benefit.
by Alex Baird
Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:52 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Leather gorget
Replies: 18
Views: 710

Re: Leather gorget

I did make a copy of this man's work, http://www.mrows.org/isles/gorget/gfigs.html#1 , credit fully due. The guy on that site is Don Angus Todde McDonald, of Caid. He's a great and friendly guy, who teaches occasional leatherworking classes down here. You might want to contact him directly, and see...
by Alex Baird
Fri Feb 05, 2010 2:39 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Duel Protocol with Consequences
Replies: 95
Views: 1793

Assuming you are talking rapier, you are mistaken. Per SCA Rapier handbook: vi. For heavy rapier and cut and thrust rapier, additional throat protection is required; it shall consist of rigid material, as noted above, covering the entire throat, and shall be backed by either puncture resistant mate...
by Alex Baird
Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:17 am
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Duel Protocol with Consequences
Replies: 95
Views: 1793

Was the collapsed trachea due to bad armour, or armour failure? I am not aware of a collapsed trachea injury in the SCA. There was a throat injury at Estrella some years ago that resulted in a bruised trachea and a hospital trip, due to the swelling. The guy was back on site the next day. I was pre...
by Alex Baird
Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:38 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Duel Protocol with Consequences
Replies: 95
Views: 1793

Uhh, last time I checked, SCA rapiers were not sharp. What risk to fencers have in our modern day sport besides something as strenuous as a pulled muscle or bruise? AFAIK, the standard protection is to be able to stop a broken blade for the core of the body. Not trying to be arguementative, but as ...
by Alex Baird
Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:15 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Duel Protocol with Consequences
Replies: 95
Views: 1793

Animal, you got any idea how little force it takes to put a sharp rapier through skin and muscle? According to a trauma doctor who studied this, skin tends to resist about 3-5# of pressure, indenting inward until pierced. It then springs back, with the underlaying tissue offering less resistance. Tr...
by Alex Baird
Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:43 am
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Duel Protocol with Consequences
Replies: 95
Views: 1793

I don't think many people will fight such a duel, if the stakes were to ruin your fun for a year. However, I see no problem with fighting a challenge with some forfeit of consequence at stake, somewhat like the ransoms in the COTT. I once fought (and lost) in a challenge where the forfeit was to wri...
by Alex Baird
Mon Jan 25, 2010 2:47 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Caid Unbelted
Replies: 23
Views: 784

I threw a few labels on. Please ignore my feeble spelling of Gaelic names. :wink:
by Alex Baird
Mon Jan 25, 2010 2:26 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Caid Unbelted
Replies: 23
Views: 784

Illa, here on the archive, was one of the final 3. The finalists each had one loss, and fought round-robin for the victory. I believe the field was 60 entrants this year. http://zenofjen.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=18415 The victor was a gentle from Starkhavn (Las Vegas area), whom I regret I do...
by Alex Baird
Sun Jan 24, 2010 3:49 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Check out this silk brocade I scored
Replies: 15
Views: 511

James:

If you ever get to L.A., you need to check out the downtown fabric district.
by Alex Baird
Thu Jan 21, 2010 2:00 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: My First Helm (pic heavy)
Replies: 78
Views: 3765

Latest report: partly sunny on Saturday, field has good drainage. Might be a bit muddy and soggy.

And, Sir Ciaran: the best way to keep warm is to be fighting. You poor Chiv will be Chivvering.
by Alex Baird
Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:56 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Lefties and Shields
Replies: 32
Views: 1201

Jestyr wrote:I'm surprised nobody has commented how incredibly evil this photo is. :-)


Downright sinister.
by Alex Baird
Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:50 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Rapier sword advice?
Replies: 35
Views: 539

personally the idea of using modern fencing foils for pre-17th C techniques is so patently absurd that I assumed that was some sort of strange misuse of a term rather than actual use of foil and epee... They are basically a holdover from when they were all that was commercially available. In Caid (...
by Alex Baird
Fri Jan 15, 2010 7:03 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: SCA Spear and Shield?
Replies: 36
Views: 981

The way I have understood it was that if you are grasping the spear with the same hand you are holding the shield, then you are CONTROLLING the spear and only HOLDING the shield. Making the shield passive armour at that point. I'd say you are controlling both. Let's look at the idea behind the rule...
by Alex Baird
Sun Jan 10, 2010 4:57 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: I want to learn more about Polypropylene swords!
Replies: 603
Views: 18986

Kinda like a shinai out of nylon? I remember back a decade or more ago that there were high end kendo shinais made from carbon fiber, for durability.
by Alex Baird
Wed Jan 06, 2010 4:11 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Is there such a thing as....
Replies: 34
Views: 1472

Sound like what you need is strapping tape that's clear with tan fibers. Apply that to a brown fibreglas shaft, and it would simulate a wood grain.

(actually, what's needed is what everyone here has already mentioned: dump the antiquated tape rule for fibreglas shafts.)
by Alex Baird
Sun Dec 27, 2009 8:46 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: x-post: Bay Area FP this week?
Replies: 3
Views: 65

I'm in the area from now 'til next Saturday.
by Alex Baird
Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:55 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: x-post: Bay Area FP this week?
Replies: 3
Views: 65

x-post: Bay Area FP this week?

I'll be up in the SF bay area this week. It looks like the BART practice in Orinda will be closest to where I'll be (Brentwood). Will it be held next Thurs. (New Year's Eve), during the holidays?

I also understand there is a Pleasant Hill practice occasionally on Wed.
by Alex Baird
Thu Dec 24, 2009 1:01 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Women in Armor: A project and request
Replies: 38
Views: 1404

Blaine de Navarre wrote:
IvanIS wrote:Sir Mari Alexander


I hadn't heard they knighted Mari - way cool!


Indeed!
by Alex Baird
Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:27 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Non-Laurels Only! Please post your work!
Replies: 609
Views: 39216

Sir Gaston:

Is there a seam up the back of those shoes, or are the uppers one piece?
by Alex Baird
Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:25 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: they do seem to be getting better at these sort of things...
Replies: 14
Views: 1203

Jestyr wrote: He's done 4 by my count (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator and Black Hawk Down).


Toss in "The Duellists", a smaller film, but very good.
by Alex Baird
Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:45 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Something Interesting or Controversial
Replies: 69
Views: 2113

Aaron wrote:There, is that enough to discuss with vigor? :twisted:


You missed the "Fourth Peerage".
by Alex Baird
Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:16 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: LH Photo of flexing sword
Replies: 23
Views: 1020

Richard de Scolay wrote:
What you are seeing is a result of the jpeg compression.


Yep. This is what you get when you either oversharpen a picture, or overcompress one. Probably sharpening in this case, since that tries to darken one side of contrasting "edges" and lighten the other.
by Alex Baird
Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:10 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: My First Helm (pic heavy)
Replies: 78
Views: 3765

Rana wrote:I swear on my hamster's grave I will not wear a ring belt with this (or anything else, for that matter)!


You aren't gonna wear anything else with this helmet? Won't that be a bit chilly for this time of year?
by Alex Baird
Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:06 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Netting around list fields
Replies: 233
Views: 3430

Baron Alejandro wrote:An ink drawing from Queen Elizabeth's Accession Day Tilts.


That's not for archery. It's because they haven't got lanyards. :twisted:
by Alex Baird
Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:31 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Fencing Equipment for Deployed SCA Soldiers?
Replies: 11
Views: 339

Baron Alcyoneus wrote:You fencing folks are apparently all suffering from "spear envy". ;)


Nah, just using simulators of appropriate historical length. For me, with point on the ground and the quillons about navel height, thats just about 41", so I use a 40" Del Tin.
by Alex Baird
Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:24 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Dagger fighting and Halfswording in my backyard.
Replies: 22
Views: 772

Duke Guillaume was running a similar experimental form here in Caid a few years ago, but I don't know the current status. The pommel and quillons had kong dog toys on them. Maybe someone in AEthelmearc might want to contact him and compare notes.
by Alex Baird
Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:16 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Cut and Thrust - Total BS or What?
Replies: 329
Views: 7432

Suzerain: As a former Kingdom level rapier marshal (KRM), the process for getting a blade on the "approved" list consists of basically getting a sample into the hands of the Society Marshal of Fence (currently, the aforementioned Sir Thomas Logan, a good guy). He will then test it for safe...
by Alex Baird
Sat Nov 28, 2009 3:54 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Rapier Questions: Defeating an opponet with greater range.
Replies: 16
Views: 373

Jon Barber wrote:
Alex - check the new Agrippa translation,


It's on my christmas list....
by Alex Baird
Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:10 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Rapier Questions: Defeating an opponet with greater range.
Replies: 16
Views: 373

One of the best ways to avoid getting hit, while still being able to hit your opponent is to assign the hypotenuse (long leg) of the triangle to your opponent's action. A common example is when your opponent tries to hit your leg, and you reply with a head shot. Imagine a triangle. Point A = Your sh...
by Alex Baird
Sat Nov 21, 2009 4:08 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: I want to hear thoughts on this person's rant
Replies: 115
Views: 3743

SCA combat rules are simply a set of agreed parameters for fighting in a relatively safe manner. One can use them with a mindset of winning every bout, with minimizing armor, using lightweight composites by preference, high traction shoes, and calling every shot to the limits allowed. Call it "...
by Alex Baird
Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:53 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: sca thrusting tips
Replies: 11
Views: 355

I made a little red suede leather cup that extends about 5" down the rattan.
by Alex Baird
Thu Nov 05, 2009 6:34 pm
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Accurate medieval fonts from safe source?
Replies: 10
Views: 354

As a side note, does anyone know of a current font creation software? I used to have "Fontographer", 12 years ago or so, but it won't run on my current OS, and Macromedia got eaten up by Adobe. I'd love to do some fonts for blocking out scrolls. I used to have a version of lower case celti...
by Alex Baird
Thu Nov 05, 2009 6:27 pm
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Accurate medieval fonts from safe source?
Replies: 10
Views: 354

Oh, the young people of today, with their nevvfangled glyphs...

Try this then:

http://www.urbanfonts.com/fonts/Bastarda-K.htm

Not quite as sweet, but it has a "w".