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by Derian le Breton
Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:46 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Medieval Winter Camp, immersion event, circa 1420
Replies: 45
Views: 1243

Leo Medii wrote:This is the kind of stuff I was hoping to find when I came to the SCA.


What's stopping you from making it happen? :D

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:37 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Brewer's Pitch and liquids OTHER than water...
Replies: 9
Views: 285

Æiric Ørvender wrote:Well I've just ordered some brewers pitch to try it out...
I wonder what the differences between it and bees wax...


It's pitch, not wax. :)

Pine tar is the primary ingredient in brewer's pitch.

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:35 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Brewer's Pitch and liquids OTHER than water...
Replies: 9
Views: 285

The acid content of lemonade ( made with real lemon juice, not the powdered crap ) should not be a problem? That would be the one I'd say concerns me the most.... I drink a LOT of lemonade in the summer.... We buy lemon buy the gallon sometimes.... I would track down the manufacturer and ask what t...
by Derian le Breton
Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:33 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: essentials for setting up a camp, for beginners
Replies: 66
Views: 2110

Oh no bunker at home, more like a brewery.... Well, I wouldn't recommend mixing alcohol and guns. The point is that taking individualism to the extreme that many survivalist folks here espouse will not serve you well at a camping event. Still it makes a LOT of sense to try to go Co-op for large eve...
by Derian le Breton
Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:45 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: essentials for setting up a camp, for beginners
Replies: 66
Views: 2110

I can't believe that am about to say this, but it is the archaeologist, not the political being speaking "it may take a village" to make this work safely and in a fun way.... It's OK. A little cooperation and community at an event does indeed make things much more enjoyable for everyone. ...
by Derian le Breton
Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:26 am
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: "Bruise Juice" works!
Replies: 26
Views: 947

A 30X "homeopathic" dilution is equivalent to the original volume diluted in a volume of water 15 times larger than the earth. Apparently they sell things up to 1500X dilution. Anything over ~100X results in a final concentration of 1 molecule of the "active ingredient" dissolved...
by Derian le Breton
Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:17 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Eliminating helmet ring
Replies: 32
Views: 1001

Dynamat. It's specifically designed to reduce this sort of resonant vibration.

If "getting used to it" means hearing loss, I'll pass.

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:45 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Brewer's Pitch and liquids OTHER than water...
Replies: 9
Views: 285

Wasn't brewer's pitch originally for lining barrels that housed beer? I wouldn't worry about alcohol in it too much.

Beer is typically slightly acidic. Beverages with similar pH should be fine. Lemonade might be a different matter.

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:12 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: I used to have:____, now I have a ____
Replies: 36
Views: 1285

I used to have a bowling ball. Now I have an engraver's ball for holding coin dies in a few different diameters.

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:11 am
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Picture of a scale sabaton
Replies: 19
Views: 1168

Instead of expired rabies tags one could just use steel...

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:07 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: essentials for setting up a camp, for beginners
Replies: 66
Views: 2110

Get or make an appropriate tent. Get or make a fly for extra shade/cover. Get or make some appropriate furniture. Get or make some appropriate cooking implements. Minimize what you need to hide to maintain an appropriate appearance. The line between "hide" and "eliminate" will be...
by Derian le Breton
Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:07 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Chest ive been working on (more pics finaly added)
Replies: 47
Views: 1526

Nice work!

What's QPT?

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Sat Jan 23, 2010 3:28 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Looking for a tool...
Replies: 14
Views: 497

I think I misunderstood, when you say a greek key, do you mean something like this: m , and not an actual key shape? If so, you could do a simple shape entirely with a single chisel. More complicated patterns could be accomplished with chisels of multiple lengths. If it were me I'd make a couple of ...
by Derian le Breton
Fri Jan 22, 2010 12:30 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Looking for a tool...
Replies: 14
Views: 497

Have you considered etching? It sounds like your planing a one shot deal. Any custom tool and die work will be a bit expencive. Ten minutes with a file is a whole lot cheaper than a specialized non-medieval etching setup... File work will result in a much crisper and cleaner final product too. -Der...
by Derian le Breton
Fri Jan 22, 2010 12:30 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Looking for a tool...
Replies: 14
Views: 497

A "Punch" makes a hole. A "stamp", makes a depression. You want a stamp. The terms are not that concrete. Many jewelers and moneyers use the term "punch" for a tool which makes an artful dent. A key is a very simple shape. Grab a piece of steel and some files and get t...
by Derian le Breton
Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:37 am
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: A Maya Barbute?
Replies: 16
Views: 603

Pigs in space in clay?

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Mon Jan 18, 2010 10:20 am
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Staffordshire Hoard
Replies: 12
Views: 357

Is there somthing new in this article? The hoard has been posted many times.

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:04 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Lets talk ransoms, folks! (Deed/CotT)
Replies: 45
Views: 1239

I really need to get a good strongbox and counting board I highly recommend a cloth one, with 10x12 squares (two pennies per square = 1 pound): <A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/derianlebreton/3240310366/"><IMG SRC="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3501/3240310366_3dffde88b6.jpg"></A> Plus it rol...
by Derian le Breton
Sun Jan 10, 2010 11:39 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: How to make a cloak? aka Holy crap it's cold
Replies: 18
Views: 554

As for lining, I'd avoid it, unless you're talking about a fur lining. If you use linen, and it's raining, the linen will wick up the water. Wool will keep you dryer, and will still keep you warm even if it's wet. If you really wanted it a different color on the inside for some reason, I'd line wit...
by Derian le Breton
Tue Jan 05, 2010 9:12 am
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: What's With the Tiny Skull?
Replies: 27
Views: 825

Donal Mac Ruiseart wrote:The Spanish, it seems, have long had a rather macabre sense of humour about death.


Attitudes towards death changed radically in Europe following the Black Death.

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:38 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Need some help with an article I'm writing.
Replies: 23
Views: 438

A good example is my recent failed expedition to HD to find some nails to use as rivets. None of the speed rivets I had were long enough, so I went to go find some nails. Looking at the wall of nails I had no idea which would work and ended up buying some roofing nails that I couldn't peen to save ...
by Derian le Breton
Mon Jan 04, 2010 11:20 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: What book would YOU want for Christmas?
Replies: 56
Views: 860

Yay, I got the farmhouse ales book (and have already read it cover to cover). :)

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Sun Jan 03, 2010 2:14 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Random cool picture
Replies: 23
Views: 1048

Every time I look I think the guys with guns are gonna win . "Besides their traditional arms, the Swiss Guard also has contemporary non-ceremonial small arms, like SIG P225 pistols, Heckler & Koch MP5A3 submachine guns and SIG SG 550 assault rifles at its disposal for security duties."...
by Derian le Breton
Fri Jan 01, 2010 1:36 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: How long does it usually take to hear back about your name?
Replies: 39
Views: 483

It's never 100%, but the process you went through generally results in a better outcome.

Furthermore, just because someone's been a herald for 20 years doesn't mean they will give good advice...

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:34 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: How long does it usually take to hear back about your name?
Replies: 39
Views: 483

Working with a herald who understands the way things work can virtually ensure your submission goes through. If they send a few emails, a submission can be essentially "pre-cleared" by the very same people who make the final decisions. There's always the possibility that someone will come ...
by Derian le Breton
Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:42 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Probably stupid anvil question...
Replies: 7
Views: 330

Seems like a fine idea. You'll probably want to arrange a way to secure it to the anvil (clamping might do the job). It'll bounce if you don't, and that'll be either annoying, unworkable, or both. :D

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:28 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: maille construction: varying wire thickness
Replies: 6
Views: 170

Reinforced collars are not unknown in Standards or "Bishop's Mantles" either: Check out <A HREF="http://www.clemusart.com/explore/work.asp?accNo=&keywordid-3=&keywordid-1=&startYear=&title=mantle&recordtype=2&department=12&endYear=&advsearch=y&searchText...
by Derian le Breton
Tue Dec 29, 2009 3:00 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Medieval Hieght??
Replies: 33
Views: 1234

Re: Medieval Hieght??

Has anyone else noticed that the armour in museums seems like its made for people who would be tall today??? Is it just me, or shouldn't it all be shorter than the modern average? It's not just you, the idea that medieval people were significantly shorter than modern people is a generally accepted ...
by Derian le Breton
Fri Dec 25, 2009 12:26 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: appropriate tabbard
Replies: 20
Views: 1093

This one from 1346 might fit the bill: http://www.themcs.org/armour/knights/20 ... 6%2024.JPG

Looks pretty roomy...

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:50 pm
Forum: Armour - I want to be a...
Topic: Early Transitional Knight, France, 1310-1330
Replies: 56
Views: 7252

I don't know about the specific source Chef is referencing, but if he's referring to what I think he is, the battle is commonly known as "the battle of the golden spurs."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Golden_Spurs
http://www.liebaart.org/gulden_e.htm

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:54 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Earrings in period
Replies: 32
Views: 695

Historical method casts its nets narrower, SCA culture casts its nets wide. "Know your audience." The original poster indicated that he was interested in a broad swath of history. Whether or not this has anything to do with SCA culture is irrelevant. Historians look at broad trends too; i...
by Derian le Breton
Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:51 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Smoking in the Modern Middle Ages (14th to 15 century)
Replies: 69
Views: 1698

chef de chambre wrote:But the source of the citation is "snuff and snuff boxes" - NOT the actual primary source information.


This is true. The interesting bit will come if someone is able to get a hold of that, and see if it references any primary sources.

-Derian.
by Derian le Breton
Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:08 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Smoking in the Modern Middle Ages (14th to 15 century)
Replies: 69
Views: 1698

I am examining the evidence based on its merit. THe alleged source quotes Jerez, then the author makes a reference to his arrest - no citation provided. There is no reference outside that single source, thus, its merit is limited or dubious. Incorrect. I assume you did not read the paper I posted (...
by Derian le Breton
Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:03 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Earrings in period
Replies: 32
Views: 695

Exactly. "The middle ages" includes the early middle ages, after all. And parts of the Byzantine empire were in Europe. Karen's site shows a pair of 12th century Byzantine or Byzantine-inspired earrings from Kiev. We know that a great deal of Byzantine silver ended up in Scandinavian hoard...
by Derian le Breton
Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:59 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Smoking in the Modern Middle Ages (14th to 15 century)
Replies: 69
Views: 1698

I read what you posted I would invite you to examine the sources, then. I have not looked at the 1935 piece myself, but it was cited in numerous papers as evidence supporting the claim of Jerez's persecution by the inquisition for smoking. As the sole source of citation for the claim, I am dismissi...

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