The Armour Archive

Josh W

From what I've read, the best preservations of Ancient Greek scientific and philosophical thought were through Arabic scholars, whose work was reintroduced to Europe by the Sephardi Jews after the reconquista. It's been a few years though (and I'm away from my books), so I've almost certainly forgo...

Josh W

I just got the large scale facsimile in the mail today, and you are correct, it is a pointy little series of lames - over a mail fauld. Now, whether it is a fauld of the cuirasse, or a strap on tasset, we can't know for sure, because his tabard covers the relevant bits. It is about the time we begi...

Josh W

Roll the edges and throw in some fluting and they'll be plenty stiff enough for SCA combat. They might deform under a particularly nasty swordstroke, but so will 16ga or anything heavier. 18ga will be fine. It's not difficult to pound out the occasional dent, and it's worth it in order to have armou...

Josh W

Were they ever made from anything other than antlers? It seems to me that real madus were flimsy and likely wouldn't stand up to the sort of abuse their SCA counterparts endure.

Josh W

I am not sure that is what you think it is Josh- the details don't show up very well in the British Library online scans. I have a Facsimile en route, and I will take aq look at it when it comes in, but I *think* that is a mail fauld, with a pointed hem. It'd be neat if it were a pointy-hemmed mail...

Josh W

Wow!

Everybody at your practices looks great! I wish our practices were so cool.

Josh W

The idea that the Church was responsible doesn't hold water. The Church was just about the only institution to survive the crumbling of the West. If the churchmen had been unskilled at administration, the Church would have died with the Empire. I've also never been able to swallow the whole "Th...

Josh W

I'm not sure how early they show up, but they hung around longer than I think is generally supposed, at least on certain harness intended for foot combat. One appears in the late 15th century Beauchamp Pageant in the scene with the poleaxe duel, probably most readily viewable on page 53 of Osprey's ...

Josh W

Josh....I am constantly amazed you can wear that beautiful armor in our summers around here....you are beucoup more man then me big guy! It isn't easy. I'd play more often if I had something list-legal other than the full plate. I have a lighter kit in the works for summer use. I hope to have it re...

Josh W

Well, here are a few recent ones. The kit still needs a lot of work. m m Jethro I think there was a post a few weeks ago asking if anyone knew you...cause someone was interested in your Sallet. Cant remember where in the forums it is though... That was me. Our mystery is now solved. Nice kit, Jethr...

Josh W

I gave up; some of the marshals in this kingdom are evil and want to fail your gaunts if you don't have street hockey gloves in them. Hold on, Gavin... When I said "I give up," all I meant was that I gave up on using fingered gauntlets in the SCA. I fight in a pair of Milanese-style two-l...

Josh W

One of the harnesses in Mantova has such greaves as I think you're describing. IIRC, it dates to the first decade of the 16th century.

Josh W

I gave up; some of the marshals in this kingdom are evil and want to fail your gaunts if you don't have street hockey gloves in them.

Josh W

Spiff! Thanks!

Josh W

I'd be there if I didn't have to work that day.

Poo.

Josh W

If you save this piece, and start over on the breastplate, you'll already have a good start on the backplate.

Josh W

Do you already have...

Standards of Living in the later Middle Ages?

http://www.amazon.com/Standards-Living- ... 909&sr=8-1

English Society in the Later Middle Ages?

http://www.amazon.com/English-Society-M ... 942&sr=1-1

Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel?

http://www.amazon.com/Cathedral-Forge-W ... 980&sr=1-1

None of them focus solely on what you want, but between the three of them, I think they cover the subject very adequately.

Josh W

Is he really attached to being Irish? Maybe you could talk him out of it. It's just that the Irish didn't have any cool toys at all for most of history.

Josh W

Very cool indeed, Patrick.

What event is it that you are planning on attending next month?

Josh W

I had agonized for a couple of days before addressing this, since I was (and still am) a bit worried about stirring up this old hornet's nest again, but here goes... First, I'd like to thank Gethin for his kind invitation. Second, I deeply regret that I can't make it. I really thought that I could s...

Josh W

Vitus von Atzinger wrote:Game over.

Elaborate.

Josh W

Landowner. Rents.

Josh W

When I made it to the quarterfinals at Valor Tourney one year.

Josh W

This is me and Lord Thomas the Black at the KC RenFair in 2004. He makes some excellent riveted mail. http://www.mediumaevum.com/josh/AA1.jpg This is me and Patrick Kelly at a Wichita RenFair last year. He has the most awesome Norman kit, and an incredible collection of spiffy weapons. m This is me ...

Josh W

I have the Ark in my garage, the one that I built 3 years ago for Estrella. Eventually it will be the Ark of the Covenent beer cooler, with dark beer from one seraphim and light beer from the other. I can't decide if this is the coolest thing ever or sacrilege most foul. I suppose it would depend o...

Josh W

Vladimir wrote:Early 11th century early enough?
my new kit
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee11 ... ropped.jpg

I love this kit! And I usually detest early-period stuff. But this one has such a martial look to it. Is that brass lamellar?

Josh W

One of these days, I will make it out to one of these...

Josh W

James, David, you guys look great.

I think my favorite 14th century kits I've seen amongst the 'mafiosi' are those of Doug Strong, Will McLean, and Peter Fuller.

Josh W

Chalk up another one interested in voyders, standard, and mail skirt.

Josh W

Thanks for the opinions, guys. More are welcome.

sha-ul wrote:samurai peascod?

Yup.

Peder wrote:Stick with your initial plan, you will get much more use out of it and it seems amazingly thought out.

I might. I'm not sure what you mean by "amazingly well thought out" though.

Josh W

I would love to see that c.1370 statue from Prague actually translated into steel!

I can't wait to see this project get underway, Russ!

I don't think I've ever seen the one from Kolosvar...

Josh W

Okay, so I recently acquired an unfinished breast and back from Rough From the Hammer and have been tinkering with it. I either want to use it for the basis of a lighter SCA kit, or turn it (along with various and sundry other spare/unfinished armour components now gathering rust on my back porch) i...

Josh W

I think it's turning out wonderfully, Joe. Once again, I can't wait to see it in the context of the rest of the harness!

Josh W

Very spiff! Adds to the authentic look of the piece. Any chance of some more views from different angles? I want to see more of this helm; it looks neat.

Josh W

The next time you're in town, Greyson, we'll polish your plate elements a bit better. I've gotten some new equipment.

What to do with a spare cuirass?