The Armour Archive

Josh W

The mailcoat I wear for my 15th-century Irish Gallowglass kit (when I don't feel like wearing the full plate) ties down the front. It's very nice.

Josh W

Those marks, Ron, (if I'm looking at the right marks, that is...) are actually a consequence of the plackart rubbing against the upper breastplate, creating a couple of spots that are shinier than the rest of the surface. The rust isn't nearly as bad in person as it appears in the photos. I have tak...

Josh W

Thanks for the compliments, guys. Yes, it is the one I was so noisy about a couple years ago. It was a long time in the making, and only just recently reached a point that I would consider it to be 'finished'. I'm also thankful that I can actually fit into that slender waist! I may not be able to do...

Josh W

So you don't like it as well, now that you can see it more clearly, Per? What exactly don't you like about it? I do have side-tassets, but I'm in the process of moving the straps for them so they hang a bit better. I know I need a lancerest. I just have to talk Patrick into doing one for me sometime...

Josh W

Tom did the tassets, and the original work on the breastplate, upper and lower.

Patrick modified the breastplate to fit me better, and did the entire back.

Josh W

*BUMP*

...so everybody can see the pretty new photos.

Josh W

Here is a photo my wife took of me at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival when we bumped into the Archive denizen known as Lord Thomas the Black. m Here's one a friend took of me and my wife, Ann Marie: m My harness is better than those on the jousters there. I couldn't walk ten feet without somebo...

Josh W

Just a couple of new, better photos:

http://www.mediumaevum.com/josh/bennydaggers2.jpg

http://www.mediumaevum.com/josh/bennysword2.jpg

http://www.mediumaevum.com/josh/bennysword3.jpg

Josh W

Take note, Wolf, that "teh" faulds *do* in fact align properly at the sides on the left (the side with the hinges). They look slightly out of line on the right side (with the straps) because: a) the internal leathers on which the faulds are mounted have stretched somewhat. and b) I am reaching up an...

Josh W

Those aren't greaves.

*These* are greaves:

http://www.thadenarmory.com/tempport/pa ... eave03.htm

Josh W

Here are two daggers and a bad photo of a long-sword that were made by my friend, Benaiah Anderson, who studies under well-known Cutler and Sword-Dresser Dennis Graves. I apologize for the low-quality photos; I will do better next time... a plain (but cool) rondel dagger and a fancier bone-hilted do...

Josh W

Here are some photos of my Patrick Thaden/Tom Justus cuirass. I promised Per Lillelund and a few others that I'd post some photos of the new backplate Patrick did for me a little while ago. The upper backplate is of 16ga and 18ga mild steel, and the lower back is 14ga. The whole cuirass weighs just ...

Josh W

I think anyone who thinks ancient Celts had dreadlocks is just suffering from "wishful thinking" brought on by the strange modern "neo-tribalism" movement. These are the same sorts of people who think they are somehow reviving ancient Rite of Passage practices by covering themselves with silly tatto...

Josh W

Sorry, I was just feeling a bit confrontational...

Josh W

Just out of idle curiosity here... ...what if fencers just started showing up and playing at Calontir events, totally ignoring the foot-stamping and bluster of the "Tribe's" Old Guard? Would they just rant and rave and whine ineffectually to the BoD or would they have some actual power to do somethi...

Josh W

Dude, you are the man.

You *almost* make me want to do 16th century.

Almost...

Josh W

If bodkins were hardened at all, it was likely with the same method used to harden armour. After five centuries, enough of the hardened casing is left on plenty of armours that we can measure it. I don't see how it would be any different with bodkins; the outer surface isn't going to deteriorate any...

Josh W

Evan (Siggy on the AA) forwarded this to me. Apparently he has been having a correspondence with certain people at the RA dealing with this very subject... "Dear Evan, As a metallurgist this is a question which interests me greatly. Some early studies were done by Peter Pratt and Peter Jones, involv...

Josh W

I like how the movie has been given the smack-down by the critics, yet media prom-queen Gore Vidal defends it as a good movie solely on the basis of its portrayal of homosexuality. So, in the bright, hopeful eyes of the enlightened social reformist intelligentsia, it is saved from mediocrity because...

Josh W

I'm intrigued by the size of the greaves on the later set of legs there. One always hears about how skinny the shins and calves usually are on armours, yet these look pretty beefy.

Josh W

Quoth BaronMal: "...I would eventually be sent this thread" Someone "sent" you this thread? Do you mean that someone notified you that somebopdy was badmouthing Pavel here? Seriously, I have no dog in this fight. I think I'd try SCA light weapons once or twice if we had it, but I damn sure wouldn't ...

Josh W

I've popped in the discussion forums on some of the modern maillers' websites a few times. It does indeed seem to be a totally different culture. Their terminology is different, too. Am I correct in assuming that this culture consists mostly of high-school kids?

Josh W

There's a slim possibility that I may soon be moving to Abilene, Texas.

Josh W

Why bother with ring arrangements that never existed in history?

Josh W

I read it every day, but I can't remember my password in order to post there, and I'm too lazy to re-register.

Just curious: Was the troll-rant on the Dagorhir board aimed at me?

Incidentally, while I am definitely more of a steel-plate enthusiast, I like the new Arador Forum.

Josh W

What happened to your "Troll" thread on the Dagorhir Discussion and Announcements board, Karen?

Josh W

I hate you guys.

Try as I might, I doubt I will ever approach that level of authenticity in either my clothes or harness.

Josh W

I'm sorry to interject here, as this has nothing to do with the topic at hand, but... Per, a long time ago, you posted some pics of an Italian 15th century cuirass you made. I really want to see them again. Can you post the url to them? I will get photos of my Patrick Thaden Mantova backplate up as ...

Josh W

Calontir doesn't have light-list combat because poor Pavel had a bad experience with some fencers at Pennsic one year. Since Pavel wields enormous influence in Calontir, being the "power behind the throne", you might say, his opinion that there should be no fencing here is given precedence over thos...

Josh W

Littlebother, it sounds like you are half-remembering an account given by Gerald of Wales, not something from Agincourt. In which case, it was mail that was penetrated, not plate, since Gerald wrote in the 12th century. In any case, many feel that Gerald is not to be trusted as a source, given his p...

Josh W

Or we could just sit around a wait patiently. God is bound to win his war with Pavel one of these days...

Josh W

I almost wish this jackass would show up and rant at us as only Matthew Cross can do...

Josh W

I'd gladly give it a try...

Josh W

Faith, I think 16ga sounds *extremely* heavy for a brignadine...

Josh W

That 14th century suit is interesting. Did they have any plates on the back?

Me & Lord Thomas the Black at the KC Renfaire

Some Weapon reproductions by a friend of mine

My Cuirass...with new, improved photos!