The Armour Archive

Otto

Oh, I'd make no assumptions as to how "all" bascinets were made. I've used more than one method myself and I would hazzard a guess that a number of different methods were used in period as well. I was thinking of trying it out as a possible alternative to welding two halves together and then trying ...

Otto

So... just how big a pain is cold raising? I'm thinking that a cold raised dome for bascinet purposes would go a long way in saving my from any welding errors as the dome wouldn't have any welds to make mistakes on. I'm thinking of this more from a production perspective than a personal use perspect...

Otto

So, if the pics work out OK, here's a picture of my current version of a norse styled helm for dress/costume purposes. This is NOT a replica helm, only a helm in the supposed style of the region/period.

Comments?

Otto

And a Merry Christmas to you and all on the Archive!

Otto

Large gorgets generally fit an 18 - 20 inch neck... they are adjustable up to a point. Knees, all I could say is that I can give it a try... send you a picture of the result... and if you like it, you buy it, otherwise, I keep it. Probably could have a set by the end of next week. Diameter of a larg...

Otto

just a reminder... everyone seems to be having sales this time of year. I thought I'd best get my bit in too.

Otto

Otto

Apprentices??? Someone to feed you pre-made parts???

Must be nice

Otto

I currently have a number of items "in stock" and ready for immediate shipping. I have pictures of all the items on my website. 1 shield boss 1 shield basket several gorgets in small, medium, and large sizes 1 medium gorget in stainless steel 1 large pair of spaulders in 14 ga. mild not a big sale o...

Otto

I recently purchased from Gundo: straight creasing stake curved creasing stake flat and rounded chisels made to go with the stakes. Today I had the opportunity to use the straight creasing stake and flat chisel while creasing the front of a barrel helm (14 ga. mild steel). I made a sqare hole in a f...

Otto

Of course, I'll offer my services...

On the cheap end, I've got an open-faced barrel helm for $85... or I've got the "celtic" helm for $200 on the high end.

I'd be able to get it to you before the end of the month as I'm not too busy just now.

Good Luck on your search!

Otto

Greetings

I have some nice, inexpensive helms and a very short wait currently... so I'll offer my services.

www.ottosarmoury.com

Otto

Awwww..... I'm blushing

Me nice?... must be the meds...

just look at all the pretty colors!

Otto

Thank you both for the kind words. I'm very pleased that the helm appears to meet your needs. Time estimates always seems to be my weak spot. It's not that I take all that long by armourer's standards, in fact, I'm pretty quick. My problem is that I make my estimates based on everything going along ...

Otto

It is largely the same site... just with some additional pictures and such. The only real difference is that now I pay for it myself and the website isn't pop-up hell. I figured my customers might appreciate that.

Otto

No worries Stonekeep! I appreciate the advice... and given time, perhaps I'll make the suggested change. I fear I'd be a horrible salesman as "soft-sell" and absolute honesty are the only way I've ever gone. I've always done the thing of "If they like it they'll buy it, if not, then they won't". I d...

Otto

Thank y'all kindly

I hope this will finally jump start the process.

Otto

The site is the quick reconstruction of my crashed and largely lost old site. I will be tossing in replacement pictures as I have new stock to take pictures of.

Sorry, that's the best pic I have until I make another of those little dress helms.

Otto

I have some inexpensive helms... some open-faced.

please check www.ottosarmoury.com

Otto

Thus far, I've had two recent transactions with Gundo for armouring tools. I've purchased a couple of creasing stakes, a repousse pot (what does one put in those anyway?), and a couple of chisels shaped for use with the creasing stakes. The construction of the items appears to be uniformly very stur...

Otto

Well, I'll offer my services as one of the cheaper folks... turn around time, you'd have to let me know

www.ottosarmoury.com

Otto

Now you can view many of the offerings of Otto's Armoury at www.ottosarmoury.com

I'm soooooooo happy!

Otto

It needs a bit of tweaking, but you can now enjoy many of my offerings at www.ottosarmoury.com

I'm sooooooo happy!

Otto

Previously, I've used a normal "always dark" welding mask. Kind of a pain in the butt making sure your hand stays in the right spot while flipping the mask down to begin welding. Today, I made my first use of an auto-darkening lense mask. It was just SO COOL! I could leave the mask down and see just...

Otto

Good luck with the auction. The helm appears to be in good shape. It's easily worth the $100 starting bid... especially since my base price for a new one is $200.

At that price, it's an excellent starter helm.

Otto

Might sound stupid, but weren't norman helms conical spangenhelms? (at least that's what I think I recall from period illustrations)

I was thinking that the solid conical version of the norman helm was more of an SCA-ism.

(I could be wrong... wouldn't be the first time)

Otto

Glad to hear that all is well again!

Otto

I'll take you up on that. The bank's closed until Monday, but if you e-mail me your address to: sbvast@yahoo.com I'll get a money order out to you.

Thanks!

Otto

Well, I do stainless spangenhelms in the $300 range.

Otto's Armoury... I've had a number of pics of my work up here recently. It'd probably be about a 1 month wait though. (maybe less)

Otto

Would it be possible to get the two chisels and a pair of the creasing stakes (1 normal and 1 curved like what you had in the auction)? if so, how much total for the two creasing stakes and the two chisels?

Otto

Thank you kindly...

It's always nice to be appreciated.

Otto

Glad to hear that it stood the test of time so well

Any problems with it during that time? Anything I should work to improve?

I've sent so many of those helms out into the world and I hear back/see them so rarely.

Otto

Yeah, I'd just about guarantee that's one of mine... to answer your question, it's 14 gauge mild steel. Though I see an unfortunate level of surface rust, it does appear to still be in good condition. I'd be curious to know how much use and what level of use it's gone through. Otto's Helms... takes ...

Otto

OK, I'll ask... so what's the purpose of this truly bizarre conglomeration of metal?

It looks like the middle ages equivalent of a cell phone... with a camera... and a clock radio... and a VCR... and a microwave oven... etc. etc.

That thing is just too damn busy for words.

Otto

Got an answer from that note to Siobhan that you finally wrote?

Cold Raising?

Norse Styled Dress/Costume helm

In Stock--- at Otto's Armoury

Review of Gundo's medium creasing stake

Gundo brand armouring tools

I finally have my website!

I finally have a website!

Auto-Darkening welding mask