The Armour Archive

Otto

Nifty stuff!

Otto

So, which tool is more likely to cause injury to the user (in that carpal tunnel type way)... the jigsaw or the hammer.

I am beginning to suspect the jigsaw actually holds more danger for me as a full time armourer than the hammer.

Anyone know for sure?

Otto

Very Nice!

Can't say as it's an exacting historical copy or anything... but it has a clean, almost modern look.

nice helm in it's own right.

Otto

You mean you actually dish it like steel? with a hammer?... perhaps a leather mattlet?

Otto

They're pretty good!

The only thing I'd do differently (and it's a matter of personal taste) is I'd have the same point on the bottom of the shoulder cop as you do on all the lames.

Otto

Beautiful work! I'd suggest one small change if you do another of those in the future. Regarding the inner vertical metal plates which sandwich the leather panels in... if the bottom of those plates flared out like the outer vertical metal bands, you wouldn't have that sligh gapping of the leather p...

Otto

I'm just double-checking myself here, before I actually attach the piece in question to a helm I'm working on. Am I correct in my recollection that on at least "some" norse styled spangenhelms, the dome either comes to a pointed peak or a small pointed cap is attached at the peak of the dome? The on...

Otto

Very nice!

Otto

So, how long is the leaf-blade?

Otto

I do most of my armoury work in mild steel... so I wondered if it'd be a plus or a minus to coat the interior of pieces to keep them clean.

Otto

So, is it a good idea to lay down a coat of say... light gray paint on the interior of mild steel armour to keep it clean and rust free... or is that something that puts people off?

Otto

Okee Dokee.. both helms are now listed on eBay. So, if you were interested in them, look there and you might get a decent bargain.

Happy Days!

Otto

Last

Otto

Well, the prices on this thread are a bit of a discount. New orders are a bit more.

Otto

Thanks for the offer, but at this time, trades aren't something I can do.

Otto

If no interest, I'll toss them on eBay tomorrow night.

At least let me know if you think I'm overpricing them!

Otto

I could throw together an open faced barrel helm to fit you for $75... but I imagine someone out there can hook you up with something used and rusty for less.

Otto

I thought I'd throw these helms out for sale on here as a first shot before tossing them on ebay. Let me know if you think they're overpriced or anything. These helms are both for SCA heavy fighting use. The one pictured is of 14 ga. stainless steel with some brass decoration on the nasal. The helm ...

Otto

Ingvar, what sort of brasswork:? Oh, I'm sorry DID I do the brasswork? Well, of course. I want to get a tabletop scrolling saw so I can do the fine work a little more cleanly... but I did what I could with my jigsaw. The whole center bar or spacer bar as I've always called it, I can't take credit fo...

Otto

Actually, if you pad it juuuuust right, your eyes end up in the space just below the eyebrows and above the first bar... a spot which give good vision. Padded poorly, and you're looking at a bar. That particular design, I came up with all on my own copying a drawing (artistic concept) of the period....

Otto

Yes, the riveted bars do indeed differentiate it from a proper historical model (of course, any bars would)... over time I'm likely to experiment more with welded/blackened "pretty" bargrills. The current example is simply a good sturdy proven way to get the job done... and when I started armouring,...

Otto

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Mild is sooooooooo much easier to work with than stainless. I just finished a stainless spangenhelm... 14 ga. stainless, stainless 3/16th rivets, the whole bit. I did a few hours work on a mild spangenhelm today... after working the stainless, the mild is l...

Otto

The bars pass through drilled holes. It provides an additional support point, and it also ties the entire grill together.

Not welded at all.

The bars are chromed, so I don't think you'd want to weld them.

Otto

No comments at all?

Good, bad, indifferent?

Something I could improve on the design?

Otto

So, as long as the pictures work (wish they were of better quality) Here's the first helm I've turned out in a couple of years. As I go to being a full time armourer, it's a new beginning for Otto's Armoury. The helm is 14 ga. stainless.

Comments?

Otto

I've always thought yurts look wonderfully sturdy and all... but don't you end up with alot of material to transport due to the inner wooden structure? Also, how big a pain is it to set up? I can normally set up for merchanting in less than an hour. Yurts look like you'd be spending a few hours on t...

Otto

PM sent

Otto

Yah... that's one thing to learn for shoore! No matter how big the hurry you're in, some things just take time and you can't rush them.

Trying to force armour leads to crappy results.

Otto

Glad to see I'm not alone!

Otto

So... do any of you other folks here (many of us accomplished armourers in our own right) look at the pictures other folks post... frequently with labels like "My First Whatsis" and think to yourselves... I SUCK! Is it possible that it's just easier to see the beauty in someone else's work than in y...

Otto

What's a "super tool"?

Otto

I vote "cool door-stop"... but if you can figure out something more useful... go for it!

Otto

Blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaankenshieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllld!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Otto

You're skills haven't deteriorated... they never really do.

Perhaps all you need is a bit of "doing" to polish them up again?

Otto

Quite nice and all...

One thing only that I'd change... there are many sharp corners on the metal pieces. They are likely to catch and damage whatever fabric items they come in contact with.

The jigsaw or the hammer?

Norse styled helm

Painting the inside of mild steel armour?

A couple of helms for sale

Stainless vs. mild

From Otto's Armoury

Armour Envy!