The Armour Archive

Bob H

I play by the rules at hand. If it's just a local event or demo where I know everyone, I've asked my opponent if he would agree to count legs as a kill. I don't bring it up elsewhere because I don't want to cause a ripple in the Force. I like counted blows better, if you keep the count at five or le...

Bob H

I was following one of Egfroth's links and found this wonderful site: <a href="http://www.romanarmy.com/cms/">RomanArmy.com</a> and through that, this paper: <a href="http://www.porphyra.it/Supplemento4.pdf">A PrÃ´tospatharios, Magistros, and Strategos Autokrator of 11th cent. : the equipment of Geo...

Bob H

And on the subject can anyway recommend some good reading (websites or books) on the Norman Conquest/Battle of Hastings? Thanks again. Try David Howarth's "1066: The Year of the Conquest". <a href="http://www.amazon.com/1066-Year-Conquest-David-Howarth/dp/0140058508/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF...

Bob H

Baron Alejandro wrote:Bob, can I kick this up to Medieval combat?

I'd be grateful. I tried to start it there, but polls aren't allowed on that forum.

Bob H

Now, I'm not trying to start a grassroots movement or stir crap, it's just that I've heard a lot of Archivers complain about it from time to time. The talk about the wear and tear on legwear in the hidden armour thread made me curious about what others think. Like all polls, I probably left off some...

Bob H

Konstantin the Red wrote:Or just a "mount" -- sort of the embryo of landscape heraldry. It would amount to a variant of the "base."

Ah, that was it. Thank you!

Bob H

There'd be more fun in sending an official-looking email from the Federal Police of Elbonia advising them that the helmet is a National Treasure that was recently stolen from the Elbonian People's Museum, and that they should expect contact shortly from Interpol and the World Court War Crimes Divisi...

Bob H

I've recently seen a description of a charge that represented a meadow or field, it's in base, the upper edge randomly feathered to represent grass or weeds. I can't for the life of me remember the term for it and haven't been able to dig it out from online sources (I gave my books to the shire when...

Bob H

Did anybody says Couscous. Very easy, 1 for 1 volume with boiling water, covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and voila! Use chicken stock instead of plain water for taste. I like to add some onions, dried raisins and curry powder. Lots of possible possibilities. Pad And in that vein, <a href="...

Bob H

I fought with a set of the single-sword fittings for a couple of years. Be sure when you install them that the tang on the crosshilt is solidly against the rattan, cut a thin wedge of rattan if necessary, but don't just build it up with tape. My tang broke off because I didn't forsee that, but other...

Bob H

Klaus the Red wrote:You could also look at period fabrics for some nice animal patterns. Here's a place to start- http://www.kostym.cz/ .

Wow, thanks for that link! That really needs to be parked someplace permant on the main Archive site links section.

Bob H

Sorry, this isn't a good picture but it's the only one I could find. The matched polehammers I made are at the right of the picture. http://saintolafs.netfirms.com/gallery_files/PrePas.jpg I think I made them of 1 3/4" skin-on rattan, and shaved the sides down to 1 3/8" or so. Even with mi...

Bob H

I'd have to give them straight 5.0's. I had some difficulties getting a helmet that fit my punkin head, and they absolutely jumped through hoops to sort it out. That was just the helmet, though, the sizing on the spring knees and elbows they made were absolutely perfect. I'll order from Stonekeep ag...

Bob H

There is a <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=r9gfY--ZVYgC&pg=RA1-PA142&lpg=RA1-PA142&dq=steatite+icon+theodore+stratelates&source=bl&ots=UXloowxcrL&sig=ua_m7yRWS7f2S82O5eOzcfWSdeU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result#PRA1-PA143,M1">steatit...

Bob H

Audax, There's another thing you can do for now - snipe. I know that a lot of people don't like that style, but when you're playing hurt it can be that or nothing. When I went back to fighting after losing most of a lung to cancer, I simply didn't have the wind to stay in people's faces and trade bl...

Bob H

Tool a few simple lines that are reminiscent of forearm musculature and dye them black or brown. Keep it understated yet with the Hellenic flair. this is a really cool idea... if you could tool it to look like the arm, then somehow keep the natural flesh tone of the leather so that it would in fact...

Bob H

There is a <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=r9gfY--ZVYgC&pg=RA1-PA142&lpg=RA1-PA142&dq=steatite+icon+theodore+stratelates&source=bl&ots=UXloowxcrL&sig=ua_m7yRWS7f2S82O5eOzcfWSdeU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result#PRA1-PA143,M1">steatite...

Bob H

Welcome! In Atlantia, only fools and gods go without cuisses. Ah, that was exactly one of the questions I meant to ask, but didn't. I have a set of your favorite knees en route, any suggestions on cuisses that work with them well? In Atlantia, you can stand directly "on top" of your legge...

Bob H

I've found the <a href="http://www.pbw.kcl.ac.uk/">Prosopography of the Byzantine World</a>, could anyone recommend some other sources for the mid-11thC?

Bob H

Last bump, the auction ends at midnight tonight 01-11-09.

For perspective, I paid $105.33 a couple of months ago for it and it still is "as new", less the tags.

Bob H

I'd be interested in fluted stainless plates. Right now I'm making my first "banded" lamellar out of kydex and leather, and when I'm satisfied with it I want to make another using stainless. Fluted plates out of 20 gauge 410 would be ideal. I'd want one of the patterns with a single hole a...

Bob H

James B. wrote:Hey Bob

If you ever want to make your way up to a northern VA event and need a place to crash give me a buzz.

Some day, maybe. Thank you very much, I deeply appreciate the offer.

Bob H

I used goose wing feathers to make the few pens I've used, which makes them around 6-7" long. I found that I'm too heavy-handed to use them well, I like a lead pencil better for what little scratching I need to do on paper. Learning to handle a quill pen while holding up a pair of those scissor...

Bob H

Welcome to our fair kingdom. I hope you have a grand time. _________________ Brian Killian - Atlantia "It all boils down to loyalty" bkillian Archive Member Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 273 Location: Augusta GA Atlantia has captured Georgia ? The war must be going well.

Bob H

Bob, I started in the Blacksburg group, the Barony of Black Diamond. In the past it was considered the lightest hitting part of Atlantia. That may have changed since there is now an active knight not only living there but is the current Baron. Anyway, I went to a Meridian event and found the calibr...

Bob H

Thanks for all the replies so far! It sounds like I'm going to enjoy Atlantia. I very much understand "when in Rome, do as the Romans do", that's why I started this thread. I'm in the process of getting armour together, which is why I mentioned calibration. I don't want to armour so heavil...

Bob H

I'm returning to the SCA after some years away, but I've since then moved from Meridies to Atlantia (I'm in the extreme southwest corner - Grundy VA, which has no group. I hope to remedy that, but first things first.). Initially I thought I'd just drive back to Meridies (it's closer), but I realize ...

Bob H

Remember the object is to be able to be picked out across the field. Yes, it is, but achieving that is problematic these days, since most of the simple patterns have already been registered. Now and then someone gets lucky and finds one that's been missed, but most end up with a shield that looks l...

Bob H

Your kit is pretty nice, Olaf. Others have covered the helm and gauntlets, and those are the major things I see that are somewhat off - but it's really difficult to do either well and stay within the rules and the need for personal safety. You might want to go with a brighter color on the breeches, ...

Bob H

Are you sure charred tinder is period? Sorry, couldn't help it. Absolutely. In fact, the whole of the town of Hedeby/Haithabu was once entirely charred tinder/timber. The archaelogists presiding over the dig, Drs. Stumbleoverit and Guessalot have surmised that the town existed principly as a center...

Bob H

i saw one on ebay in 14g that was (if its to be belived anyway) 50ish lbs. or so. so i ask :is this about right for a 14 gauge steel hauberk? cause if i do wind up making one i would like to know how much it would weigh in 14 gauge. i dont really think it would double the weight by just going 2 gau...

Bob H

(I could learn, but I am too busy (and lazy)). Aaarggh! Saying "I'm too lazy" while asking for advice is the "kiss of death" here. A lot of people (I'm one of them) will dig through books for hours to try to answer questions, and they aren't happy with the "too lazy" r...

Bob H

How is your freedom of movement in your armour? When I started I made my own armour, and it restricted my arm movement especially in the shoulder. I got hit in the head a lot. After looking at some other kits, I fixed the armour so that I could get full rotation of arm and shoulder and instantly my ...

Bob H

I didn't get to fight in it. I did re-enact

the bit from the video where you place the pad someplace bony (I used the back of my hand) and whack it with something. I'd rate it about like a layer of 8-9 oz. leather over hex pads, but that's just my guess.

Bob H

Try these links: <a href="http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=46922">I WTB a Varangian Guardsman</a> <a href="http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=43984">I WTB a Byzantine Cavalry Officer</a> <a href="http://warriorsofhistory.com/pages/diomedes-sebastianus.html">...

Byzantine armour monograph

POLL: SCA kneefighting opinions

Heraldry question

Re: other bits

Byzantine name resources?

SCA: I'm now in Atlantia, what do I need to know? (long)

Re: what about 14 gauge?