The Armour Archive

Bob H

Standard answer - start here: http://www.geocities.com/historyoftents/index.html

Bob H

Wool, linen, and some pieces of real silk damask/brocade for the Vikings to cut up for trim.

Bob H

What are some modernities that are common in your group that you'd like to see replaced with something historical? It's a good opportunity to help them achieve a more accurate look. Things you could finish and take away: A simple gathered leather pouch A hood A belt of proper width and length Things...

Bob H

Here's some hats, at least:
http://www.vikinggirlsworkshop.com/index.html

Bob H

Andrew Young wrote:or the key differences between celtic knotwork vs. viking knotwork....

Celtic knotwork's
mostly round
In later works
The Cross abounds

Viking's beasts
and lots of angles
Except for Urnes
for it's all tangles

Bob H

Jesse, thank you very much not only for the great job you've done, but more especially for all the help you've given here.

I have one question - what did you base the shape and style of the cloak on?

Bob H

I'll chime in with another "Welcome back, Norman!"

You've been missed.

Bob H

The problem with lining something stretchy like a heavy soft wool with a thin, more rigid cloth like a wool twill or linen is that the wool will tend to "bag" in the middle if only the edges are sewn. Garments like doublets get around this by having many seams - no single piece of it is la...

Bob H

Here's a group of fabric suppliers that mostly cater to the 18thC reenactor community. A lot of the fabrics would work fine for Viking Age, and they should know which colors resemble the results of madder, woad, weld, etc. Bear in mind that wool takes dye extremely well, even dark colors, but linen ...

Bob H

The thing that pushed me from the sports aspect into a concentration on authenticity was a chance encounter with a Civil War reenactor. I was on my way home from fighter practice and stopped at the One Stop for a sixpack, and just as I was going in, the CW guy was coming out. When he walked out of t...

Bob H

You might also look at things from a different perspective. In today's society we identify heavily with our trade or profession - "I'm a teacher" or "I'm an engineer". As a 9thC Icelander, you might identify yourself more by who you are and where you live, rather than what you ar...

Bob H

RecklessAgony wrote:Im done

Please don't give up, there are people here with infinite patience and as long as you stay committed you'll get help refining your impression/persona.

Bob H

As for the similarity, I dont think it is accidental. Some scholars believe that christians brought back the idea from the holy land, others that christians introduced them to the Muslims. I personally find it interesting that 2 religions with such a colorful and often controversial history are so ...

Bob H

Uhh it's an auction. ie whoever wants to pay the most gets em. Bob no need to weigh for shipping till after the auction. I know roughly what it'll be. BTW Bob did I make you a pair of sabatons about a hundred years ago? Yep, sure did. When I had to quit fighting I sold them to Ned (Edward atte Flyn...

Bob H

www.siegelofca.com , good folks, and purchases over $75 ship free.

Bob H

Mad Matt wrote:Can I persuade you to ship to canada. At cost of course.

Absolutely! I can weigh them and we'll do a best guess at shipping, if it turns out to be less I'll send you the difference.

Bob H

http://tinyurl.com/yylz6h

Shitloads of Osprey's finest! Too much aggravation to eBay each one of them, so they're going on auction as a collection.

Bob H

Talon, Try this one: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0850523125/qid=1127015656/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-5978692-3892922?v=glance&s=books&n=507846">One Million Mercenaries by John McCormack</a> IIRC, it goes from around the 14thC through the Vatican Guard, but there's...

Bob H

The shape is consistent with a snapsack.

Bob H

Justin, In the SCA, "gambeson" is often used for any padded under-armour garment, and I'm not certain what you're trying to make. When I say gambeson, I'm talking about a heavily padded, somewhat shapeless garment to wear alone or under mail, most common in the 13thC (and perhaps the 12th as well). ...

Bob H

Try Carolina Calicoes at:

http://www.carolinacalicoes.com/

The web site only has a tiny sampling of their stock, since it changes constantly. Call them and have a chat, they more than likely have just what you need and their prices are good.

Bob H

Thomas Powers wrote:My wife is a spinster and so a joy to travel with coming home from Germany I had to pack both a spinning wheel and stricks of flax she had picked up at the fleamarkets there...

Thomas

I really hope she isn't. I think you might have meant "spinner".

Bob H

My father is Irish, Scottish, and Cherokee. The Cherokee part of our heritage seems to have taken over when it comes to coloring. The most flattering shade I have ever colored my hair is jet black,which is one shade darker than its natural color. I actually can dye my hair this color and not look l...

Bob H

If you're properly hydrated, dealing with heat is 99% attitude. If you let your mind go on and on about being miserable, you will be. If you psyche yourself into thinking "this isn't so bad, and gives me an advantage over the guys who are whining", you'll be fine.

Bob H

Good protective white harness seldom breathes anyway, so I doubt you'd notice a thin, breatheable tunic over it - but you've already ruled that out. I'd suggest something that is stylistically similar to the rest of the harness, though not necessarily correct for the exact period/persona. Another op...

Bob H

elden wrote:I made these because my research into dark age socks came to a frustrating dead end.

Maybe something in one of these places will prove useful:

http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~capriest/

http://www.stringpage.com/

Bob H

Parlan,

Mine does that now and then while in storage, I just crank up a hairdryer on high and go over it as I twist and turn it (mostly bottom side up). It's slow, but it works for me.

If you need more pitch, Jas. Townsend has it:
http://jas-townsend.com/index.php?cPath=26

Bob H

Saverio wrote:I was going to wear the leather tunic for protection, but I won't let this stop me. I'll just wear 4 or 5 satchels to cover vital areas .

Should work, as long as you remember to fill them with bound manuscripts.

Bob H

I was going to comment on that, but it just raises the SCA vs Historically Accurate arguments. I did consider that aspect of my answer. However, I came to the conclusion that, at least for me, accuracy refers to what was historically done. Acceptibility is another matter, and is the criteria most o...

Bob H

Would it be accurate historically? I've never seen it done on late 13th-14thC armours - which doesn't mean it was never done, but that I think it wasn't common. Will it work? Depends on what you choose for lacing. I spent several years fighting (SCA) in Byzantine styled hardened leather lammelar, th...

Bob H

Have a look in the first paragraph after the introduction at m . The only thing is - what did the word "blanket" mean in the 15th century? The same as it does now, or something different? It obviously comes from the French word "blanc" = white, but more than that I do not know. In the 17thC and per...

Bob H

Actually I have a left foot that has been broken several times by being stepped on by a 1700 lb draft horse, in addition to a "misstep" while hiking over rough rocks that broke my big toe. I ride properly, with heels down, but the problem persists even while wearing Acme cattle drovers. Bascot, You...

Bob H

Why do so many people seem to think that being a little more focused, and (gasp!) professional is automatically not only less "fun", but the exact opposite of "fun"? In other words, the erroneous belief that you can't seriously talk about history within a little bit of structure without half the pe...

Bob H

Try Wooded Hamlet:

http://woodedhamlet.com/

Bob H

I wouldn't exclude SCA discussions without excluding living history and reenactment discussions as well. When we bring the arbitrary rules most groups have into the discussion, we dilute it. "What is the correct X for 1325 Scotland" quickly devolves into "how can I disguise Y so it looks like the co...

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