The Armour Archive

Otto

I wonder if there'd be much market for such things at events?... I would imagine not much in the winter... but maybe summer events?... or you could custom make them at the event... a dozen arrows doesn't take too long.

Otto

So, what is a normal price for a dozen basic wooden target arrows these days? (the type normally used in the SCA)

Otto

I'll drop you an e-mail

Otto

Sorry Kerrick... but unless a previously arranged sale falls through, they are all sold.

Otto

Mike, yes I can accept Paypal.

Shipping to the UK appears to be about $15
I have 10 arming caps remaining which would be $50

so, the total bill if you want all the remaining arming caps would be $65 (US dollars)

e-mail me at sbvast@yahoo.com if you want them.

Otto

Anyone have an acoustic guitar that they'd want to trade for some sort of simple armour?

I'm not looking for a $500 type thing... something more in the basic/cheap nature.

Otto

Sorry I'm so slow getting back... I'm not on-line much on the weekends. The coif and both gorgets appear to be taken. If I find the time and desire to make some more, I'll post pics and do a little auction. As for the arming caps I have on hand... the sizing seems to go as follows: I have a 24.25 in...

Otto

The one gorget I have left is for an 18-20 inch neck....

As for the arming caps, I'll see if I can't get a list of approx. sizes and colors.

Otto

No, the stuff I'm selling is left-overs of my merchanting days... I don't know if we'll ever go down that road again.

Otto

Another note... my wife has a dozen arming caps of various sizes and colors for $5 each. They are a cotton shell with 2 layers of cotton batting inside.

Otto

Update:

The coif and one of the gorgets is gone...

That still leaves a single large gorget (sized to fit an 18-20 inch neck) at $15

Otto

From Otto's Armoury I'm no longer a professional armourer, and I find myself with a few left-overs that I don't really need. 2 Large mild steel gorgets of the 2 piece design, 15 ga. $15 each (they were normally $30) and a beautiful stainless/with copper edging coif (contact me if interested) just cl...

Otto

A nice piece of work! A question... were the rivit heads flattened in period or is it just the way you made that one? I'd heard that a truly properly constructed helm of generally that time period would have counter-sunk rivet heads with the projecting remainder filed down to even with the body of t...

Otto

That article was a sad/pathetic joke... they act like the guy is out back assembling Uzi's for local street gangs... and then the neighbors reactions of "Oh NO!!! EVIL MAN!!!" it's just pitiful. I loved the neighbor comment of "They should take those knives away from him and arrest him"... Yeah, sur...

Otto

Just my $.02 Remember that there are 2 levels to planishing... 1) that which smoothes out any dishing/shaping irregularities and 2) the really light planishing which takes the now properly shaped surface and erases the work marks... this phase is by far the longer of the two. After the second bit of...

Otto

I always loved combat archery... and might just try it again this summer. The only arrows I've ever used for it were golf-tube/tennis ball types. To me, it boggles the mind that shafted arrows are allowed on the field. If the arrow-head comes off through any circumstance at all, the shafted arrow be...

Otto

I'm considering the charcoal grill since I don't want too much heat... and I don't know how long the little propane bottle would run before running out... not too long, I think. I'll just have to fire up the grill, toss a small piece of aluminum in the coals and watch it. I've done very little hot w...

Otto

I wonder... could I acheive this result by using my charcoal grill? Just set the piece in for a minute to let it heat... take it out and do some hammering... then set it back in to reheat. Now, assuming that such a method is workable... is there anything special I need to know... like anything speci...

Otto

I never do with the steel... and it works fine... never had it tear yet.

Otto

I have some lovely (fairly heavy gauge) aluminum that I'm likely to make into a buckler for SCA fencing. The design I will be using will include dishing the center for the installation of a center-grip.... much like a norse-style shield. So, what's the opinion??? can I sucessfully dish a 7 inch diam...

Otto

I think you did a fine job, especially for a first attempt. You'll see improvement with experience... so, no worries.

Keep up the good work!

Otto

If I recall correctly... isn't bamboo hollow?

Rattan is solid through and through.

They are similar in appearance, but NOT for SCA purposes.

Otto

I had considered doing such a thing before but scrapped the idea... but I will at least say why. The helms I make are mainly for SCA heavy combat use and I feared for the safety/appearance of the leather after some use... I felt the leather would get scuffed/torn and end up looking awful within a mo...

Otto

A jigsaw will do a 90 degree curve over about... maybe an inch in 14 ga. steel... you can tighten that somewhat if you really need to. That was my biggest gripe with the beverly shear... I found it pretty good for straight or mildly curved cuts... but many of my pattens have too many sharper curves ...

Otto

Beverly Shear: fun toy... but over-rated, over-priced piece 'a poopie

I do all my cutting with my $100 jigsaw and it's lasted for years now.

http://members.tripod.com/sbvast

Otto's Armoury

Otto

Since I'm the maker of the helm in question, my reply might not be worth much... but, though not the most historically accurate, a bargrill barrel helm is an inexpensive way to try SCA heavy fighting. They are quite comfortable (I've worn my own works many times)... and I normally charge $100 for a ...

Otto

I will sell gorgets at $25 each... I have a couple large gorgets in stock just now. Check my site and see if they are the type you need. They are done in mild steel.

http://members.tripod.com/sbvast

Otto

No stress at all Tarquin... I frequently do stuff like that at events. I make some money... and generally have a good time running the table. If I make a trade, usually it's something I'll sell later. Besides that, I was rather alot of ill at the time and was quite happy to get the last helm off the...

Otto

Tarquin, actually, I did post an opinion on your maille-work in the post that I made (unfortunately selling the item, but that is NO reflection on the quality of workmanship... only that I don't really need a coif) I thought the coif in question was VERY well done. I tried it on later and it sat qui...

Otto

Sorry, no pic (haven't figured those out since when I used to have AOL) Anyway, at ValDay, I traded a nice gentle one of my crusader helms for a really nice coif which I have no use for... but it seemed to make him happy, so it was cool by me as I wanted to leave anyway. So anyway, I have this lovel...

Otto

Well, I'm cheap... I'll usually give discounts (depending on what you want) and most times I'm fairly fast. Check my site and see if I have what you need.

http://members.tripod.com/sbvast

Otto's Armoury

Otto

I always order my rivets (of all types) on-line at rjleahy.com Other than that, I've gotten sickle rivets from a local farm supply store (TSC)... it's a chain store, so there might be one in your area. Why would one make their own rivets?... authenticity? Seems like WAY too much work when you can bu...

Otto

I do simple barrel helms for $100... eyeslot or bargrill.

Otto

I don't think I have the VERY cheapest... but I can do an open-faced barrel helm for $85...

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Evil Denizen #999
Otto's Armoury
http://www.members.tripod.com/SBvast

Otto

Well, you could get one of my "celtic" helms in 14 ga. stainless for $300... if you're into the earlier period thing.

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Evil Denizen #999
Otto's Armoury
http://www.members.tripod.com/SBvast

Price of a dozen target arrows?

Trade for an acoustic guitar?

2 Large Gorget & stainless coif for sale

Limits of dishing aluminum?

Stainless/Copper edged Coif for sale