The Armour Archive

Ironbadger

I figured they would be rare- But so far, I have found zero evidence that they existed at all. Swords were almost always double edged, and theres plenty of dug up bronze dagger blades that prove double edged daggers were in use in ancient times. I figure double edged daggers must have existed in at ...

Ironbadger

I have been thinking about making splint kits, since I can find small bits of aircraft aluminum and scrap stainless locally. However, I have absolutely no measurements or patterns to work from. What sizes/shapes/pattern would work best? I tend to assume I'd be dishing them lengthwise very slightly- ...

Ironbadger

What kind of dimensions are you looking for when you say splints?

Length? Width at upper end? and at lower?

I have thought about making splints for sale, but I have no guidelines at all to work from.

-Badger-

Ironbadger

Thanks. I used to have links for leather armor and helms back when I was in Dagorhir- but most of them no longer work. This helm is for sale, if you or anyone you know is interested. -Badger- Pretty sure Torvaldr was the one I was thinking about, but that's pretty sweet Iron. Anything else out there?

Ironbadger

I must say that Team USA seems to be learning fast.

I'm very impressed...
And I wish I was there SO badly!

-Badger-

Ironbadger

Something like this?

Ironbadger

Same here.
Theres a definite bronze tone to the color as it appears on my monitor.

-Badger-

Ironbadger

Very nice, Llew.

-Badger-

Ironbadger

Thank you for that, Robert! Thats a genuinely beautiful pieces of work. It just may inspire me...though not in gold, of course! :D I have a pic of a dug seax with a largish, narrow "Mushroom"-shaped pommel still in place that I'm turning over in my head at the moment. No idea where it was dug up- Th...

Ironbadger

Since my searches only seem to turn up the wrong thing- I'll ask if anyone knows of any examples of sword hilted daggers from the viking era? ("Sword hilted" being defined as straight, double edged blade with a sword styled pommel and guard.) I'm feeling an itch to make something of the sort...But I...

Ironbadger

Theres nothing wrong with trying to get a feel for what the market will bear. I would charge in the $80 to $150 range for work such as you are offering- Up to $200 for the more decorated pieces. (I generally don't do much decoration on what I sell, because I won't get enough of a price to justify th...

Ironbadger

Leaf springs are pretty decent, but I've never used coil springs from a car.

I think I'd pass because of the amount of work it'd take to straighten it first.

-Badger-

Ironbadger

Yep, thats exactly what it is- A video showing the articulation of a Polish hussar breastplate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=ULoL45r2AEPkE&v=5eLgzcAKmW4&feature=endscreen I was really happy to find this- Puzzling out the articulation on these breastplates has been a bit of an obsession with me ...

Ironbadger

Sounds to me like we have our own form of competitive sport- Lame stacking! Forget timed cup stacking...Our version is actually useful for something! :D -Badger- And if you're a manly man like me you can stack all 10 horizontal plates of a kussnasch coat of plates and bend them all at once so that n...

Ironbadger

Thanks Theo. Unfortunately, the image gets larger- But too fuzzy for me to see anything. I'll hope for a bigger image, and/or seeing it from different angles before I form any opinions on whether its salvageable. (It likely isn't.. But theres always a possibility.) Jonathan- Any idea what alloy its ...

Ironbadger

I don't suppose I could ask for a larger pic of this?

My eyes aren't what they used to be, and I can't really see anything in the existing image.

Thanks.

-Badger-

Ironbadger

In theory, yes. But with the flea market attitude that makes it so hard to sell one for a decent price in the first place, someone looking to buy a used one is likely to try to demand a huge discount, or they won't be interested. -Badger- What I keep thinking of is, if good looking youth combat helm...

Ironbadger

Anyone know of a source for small/cheap sheet metal rollers? I am looking for a way to make lames for spalders and the like easier and more consistent. (IE- looking to get away from bending them over a pipe if its possible...) I might not buy one after all, but I want to know if anyone else has foun...

Ironbadger

I looked into making youth combat helmets in aluminum a while back. The biggest problem I found was that parents seem to have a mental price cap of around $50 to $100 for a youth helmet. I couldn't even buy a cheap pakistan made decorator and modify it for the price range they were talking, let alon...

Ironbadger

Thank you, Wade! I have been unable to find photos of the inside of a Almain collar, and I was begining to think I would never find any. From the photos, it appears they are pretty much vertical slots, and around a half inch long, or a bit less. Now at least, I have something solid to go by. Theres ...

Ironbadger

I am curious. How are the lames hung? The Higgins collection has a few that indicate the fronts were generally one long leather with all the rear lames using slotted rivets. (Are the rivet slots angled, or straight? If straight, horizontal or vertical to the lame orientation?) No center lame leather...

Ironbadger

Well, I've found some brass drawer pulls in a lion headed design at various times.
(Furniture findings..I think I found most of the ones I have in a specialty furniture restoration shop?)

-Badger-

Ironbadger

Most new fighters go through the mismatched stage, and some stay with it for years because it works. For SCA field use, I'm much more tolerant of "creative" kit than some folks. I tend to take the attitude that if it works and you are comfortable in it, its good enough. I like my own kit to be as go...

Ironbadger

I see a fair number of the center tasset you are describing on 14th century harness in pics and the like. It seems to me to be a buckle on accessory for foot combat. I suspect that like all small accessory pieces, it was a good idea that proved a bit inconvenient.. Since it would be a pain if you ha...

Ironbadger

The biggest problem with second hand and cheap, is that maybe 80% of list legal helms you might find used will be vikings to crusader period, or maybe bascinets. Spun tops, spangs, maybe a great helm or two- You might get lucky, but roman-ish helms actually fall into the realm of specialty kit that ...

Ironbadger

I have mighty badger paws.....

I take something like an extra large glove.
(Yes, I know they sold...I'm just tossing in my comments from the peanut gallery.

)

-Badger-

Ironbadger

I would certainly be interested if I could manage the cash, since I need one of these- but I can't right now.

-Badger-

Ironbadger

Andy, just for curiosity's sake- how do you curve a shield blank? I do not have access to rolling equipment, and wondered if you do it by hand in some manner? I remember 20 years ago seeing an armourer who got curves by careful hammering along marked vertical lines about an inch apart on the back si...

Ironbadger

Well, I managed to pound some scrap pieces of the same alloy in .090 into a basket hilt last year.... But I'll never try to do THAT again! (Well, I cheated....Its a three piece riveted basket..) While I'm quite confident that its tough enough to last a long time, I can't be bothered to finish it. Th...

Ironbadger

I did a trade a short time ago with Frank over at Viking leather, of a pair of his 14th century strapped ankle boots for an antler hilted seax, then another for a bunch of period brass buckles for a small belt seax. Frank's communication was top notch, and he shipped everything promptly. He even upg...

Ironbadger

I'm noticing also that the details like the fleur points maintain perfect spacing and proportions around the curves. If the strips had been made straight and curved to fit, I'd expect to see the points squishing together. Instead, they are perfectly shaped and proportioned as they make radical bends...

Ironbadger

I managed to score a full 4X4 sheet of 6061, T6, in .080 thickness. I got it for scrap price...$51 for the whole thing. Now I am torn as to what style of armor I shall make for myself out of it. 12 gauge is a bit thick for most armor...And since its hardened aluminum, it'll be a bear to shape and di...

Ironbadger

Two layers of canvas seems to be the consensus for a durable and comfortable CoP. You can cover one layer of canvas with a layer of decorative cloth such as upholstery velvet easily, and theres upholstery fabrics in plenty to choose from. I actually found a cotton or cotton blend upholstery brocade ...

Ironbadger

It looks a bit like a cast piece or pieces?

I hope it was cast...That looks like a ton of work to do by hand cutting and filing!

-Badger-

Ironbadger

I've been making knives forever,and I use a cheap ass bench grinder, flap wheels, and cratex wheels for smoothing out bevels and prepping for polish. Its a matter of practice- but I can get flat bevels out of the crappy tools I have. So in truth, you don't need expensive tools to get decent results....

Re: Sword hilted daggers in the viking era?

Splints for kits- what kind, what size are needed/desired?

Re: WTB splints

Re: Leather Helm?

Re: Follow the Battle of Nations Team

Re: Leather Helm?

Re: belt plaques made

Re: Fencing helm experiment FS!

Re: Sword hilted daggers in the viking era?

Sword hilted daggers in the viking era?

Re: Opinions/feedback: pricing for eating/feast knives?

Re: Truck spring as source for smithing material?

Polish hussar breastplate articulation video

Re: Small/cheap sheet metal roller?

Re: Beware of Hellfire Forge

Re: Beware of Hellfire Forge

Re: Boffer Helmet Designs for Children?

Small/cheap sheet metal roller?

Re: Boffer Helmet Designs for Children?

Re: Almain collar

Re: Almain collar

Re: Roman or Greek Lion Head War Belt $125

Re: Made a "Brigandine" for a New Fighter

Re: did they ever make.....

Re: WTB Helm for 24" Head

Re: Auction : Darkheart Armory Spring Steel Stealth Gauntlet

Re: Halberds Pipe Stake $80

Re: Small Heater Shield $60

Re: 4X4 sheet of 6061, got cheap....What to make?

Review of Viking leather for trade deal

Re: Source Of Brass Trim Like This?

4X4 sheet of 6061, got cheap....What to make?

Re: Alternatives to Leather for C.O.P.

Re: Source Of Brass Trim Like This?

Re: Making knives: a little advice, please?