The Armour Archive

Egfroth

Mmmmm, shiny . . . Very pretty. Now, are you going to decorate it? Decoration was an integral part of making anything in the middle ages. Maybe some nice engraving on the nasal and/or the browband? Mmmm . . . ------------------ Egfroth "I can hear the word money from a distance of fifty miles, if th...

Egfroth

See http://members.ozemail.com.au/~chrisandpeter/shield/shield.html - the Ballateare shield at least seems to have had a leather facing. ------------------ Egfroth "I can hear the word money from a distance of fifty miles, if the wind's in the right direction" Major Dennis Bloodnok, Queen's Forty-Th...

Egfroth

I forgot to add the formula which applies to the armour being heavy - it's our old friend, Newton's Second Law - F=mA (force = mass x acceleration). For a given force, the higher the mass, the less the force is able to accelerate the body - ie get it to move. This is all good basic Newton's 3 laws s...

Egfroth

Mystery chick, where do you live? I'm in Victoria (a bit out of Melbourne), but we have other guys all across Oz. I think your project has great merit. If you like, you could probably persuade someone to let you hit their armour - or even wear it while they hit you (if you're game). The suggestions ...

Egfroth

Oh, hardly "Egfroth TM" - call it "Gjermundbu TM" or "Benty Grange TM". I didn't invent the thing - somebody much more capable did a long time ago. All I did was find out that they did - from already available info - and tell youse guys. ------------------ Egfroth "I can hear the word money from a d...

Egfroth

Looking good.BTW, I think you might have a case for bluing your frame - if you haven't already started rivetting - but that might just be because I'd like to see it like that. Not really any historical justification for (or against) it. If you put decorations on it, the nasal would probably be the b...

Egfroth

Interesting question. The problem with the BT is the random way they seem to use colours - it makes it a little hard to rely on colours of anything. The earliest pic I know of that I believe is reliable, showing coloured helms is early 12th century - a pic of King David (with soldiers) from the Bibl...

Egfroth

The ten fopot rule - for what? The polish? I think a 6" rule would be quie adequate for such as this. I doubt very much that anything in the 11th century had a "mirror" finish. Yours should be fine. ------------------ Egfroth "I can hear the word money from a distance of fifty miles, if the wind's i...

Egfroth

Lacheadon, Yep, I saw Craig's sallet. It was purdy. Being that it's not something I get very into (too much else going on), I didn't take much notice of whether or not it had a ridge. But the pics on this Forum of armour from Leeds shows quite a few sallets joined with a central ridge. If it's good ...

Egfroth

I wish you every success. It would be a valuable addition to a library. What's your particular interest? ------------------ Egfroth "I can hear the word money from a distance of fifty miles, if the wind's in the right direction" Major Dennis Bloodnok, Queen's Forty-Third Deserters (retd.) see my web...

Egfroth

It is theoretically possible to raise a sallet out of a single piece, and I expect ther are people on this forum who have done so, or are capable of it. It's beyond my own poor capbilities, and I wouldn't recommend it for a newbie, unless you're prepared to waste quite a lot of metal in failed attem...

Egfroth

Yes, according to this website, "There is a readable English translation, long out of print, by Arthur Laurier (1966)" Fascinating website, by the way. ------------------ Egfroth "I can hear the word money from a distance of fifty miles, if the wind's in the right direction" Major Dennis Bloodnok, Q...

Egfroth

I must say, a mirror gloss is very impressive - if you really can see your face in it. I've only ever taken the trouble to get one helmet that shiny, but it looked extra cool. On the other hand, the "satin" finish is more likely to be accurate for the time. A hammered finish is right out! . But yes,...

Egfroth

Lubricant, can you get to a library? I would highly recommend Sir Stephen Runciman's "History of the Crusades". It won't tell you about arms and armour, but will give a LOT of info about what happened and why, and an insight into Richard's character. What "1066 and All That" would call "A Good King,...

Egfroth

Ah, but it takes attention away from your face . . . (oops, did I write that or just think it?). Seriously, though, yes, it still seems too big. Do you have access to pics of near contemporary helmets such as the helmet of Wenceslaus or the Moravian "nasalhelm"? They give a pretty good indication of...

Egfroth

Yep, leg-bindings - they go by various different names depending on what language you spoke - Old Norse, Old English or whatever - none of which I can remember at this time of night. Modern name garters . . . Often held up at the top by ornate little bronze hooks. They have to be made of something s...

Egfroth

The trouble is, a wealthy Irishman in this period was probably an Anglo-Norman . . .and his surname would probably have started with Fitz . . . ------------------ Egfroth "I can hear the word money from a distance of fifty miles, if the wind's in the right direction" Major Dennis Bloodnok, Queen's F...

Egfroth

Yep, that's me . If you read the text, you'll see the event you referred to even cracks a mention . . . god! My wasted youth comes back to haunt me. ------------------ Egfroth "I can hear the word money from a distance of fifty miles, if the wind's in the right direction" Major Dennis Bloodnok, Quee...

Egfroth

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. I really worry about you guys sometimes . . . ------------------ Egfroth "I can hear the word money from a distance of fifty miles, if the wind's in the right direction" Major Dennis Bloodnok, Queen's Forty-Third Deserters (retd.) see my webpage at www.geocities.com/egfrot...

Egfroth

I agree with Anders about the shape of the top of the helm, and I'd suggest the nasal be a little narrower. Otherwise fine, and considerably better than many I saw on the field at Hastings last time. Next thing, once you've got the helmet perfect, is the rest of the outfit. I take it you have a mail...

Egfroth

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Xander: The curator of the museum has sent me out some information on the Lough henny Barbute helm: The lower edge of the helm is perforated by several pairs of hoes . . . <...

Egfroth

It's a simple hemispherical cervellie're in the Muse'e de l'Arme'e in Paris. They sent me a photo. It's pretty boring, though. One piece, no distinguishing features. ------------------ Egfroth "I can hear the word money from a distance of fifty miles, if the wind's in the right direction" Major Denn...

Egfroth

Problem is - there aren't any . . .There are NO English or Norman helmets available from the era between 750AD and 1200 AD, and in fact the only one I know of from 1200 is French, not Norman. The best we can do is use educated guesswork to extrapolate from what information we do have. The Bayeux Tap...

Egfroth

Nope, that softens the metal. It's annealing. The only thing I can think of that'll do it is to work harden the rings, but I can't think of a practical way to do it in bulk. Also work hardening tends to make the metal - especially copper and its alloys - brittle. ------------------ Egfroth "I can he...

Egfroth

You might try getting in touch with the monastery of Las Huelgas, near Burgos. They have actual garments dating back to about 1200 - but might have others that are earlier. I've got a few scattered bits and pieces of pictures, but nothing really substantial. Most of the illustrations I've seen are f...

Egfroth

Here are two views of a "Great Polish" helm held in the Royal Armouries, London. When I contacted them the helm was in the Tower of London, but may now have been shifetd to Leeds. As far as I know, its provenance is East European. Look at http://www.angelfire.com/empire/egfroth/TempRoyArmHelm1.jpg a...

Egfroth

Also, it would be impossible to loot the corpses by pulling the hauberks off over the heads as shown here (though this picture also shows the warriors naked under the armour - gak! Do we accept both aspects of this depiction as accurate, or neither, or do we get selective, based upon what we regard ...

Egfroth

Here is the Gniezdow helm info I have - it's at http://www.angelfire.com/empire/egfroth/TempGniezd.jpg and my reconstruction at http://www.geocities.com/egfrothos/RusHelm.html - there is also more from the same source, as follows: http://www.angelfire.com/empire/egfroth/TempChernayaHelm.jpg , http:/...

Egfroth

Which Osprey book are you referring to? I have a pic of a "Great Polish" helm and reconstruction in their "The Age of Charlemagne" book (p30); it doesn't mention where the original is from, but it's in the Archaeological Museum at Poznan and looks very much like the helm from Giecz, which is at the ...

Egfroth

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Brodir: Thanks Egfroth, those don't look at all like the torses we're seeing on modern re-enactors, and the Regia Anglorum e-list has offered up no explanations. I think I'm...

Egfroth

Brodir (and others) - the helmets with "torses" are at http://www.angelfire.com/empire/egfroth/TurbanHelms.jpg - they're from the "Apocalisse di San Savero" - supposedly from the 9th century, but I don't believe it - if only because of the kite shields. I photocopies this in black & white, then colo...

Egfroth

There iS an ardaga in the Tower of London. I too a photo of it - it's made of thick leather. I'll see if I can find and scan the photo and put it up on the Net for you. ------------------ Egfroth "I can hear the word money from a distance of fifty miles, if the wind's in the right direction" Major D...

Egfroth

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Michael B: . . . .the four-segment helm of which a photograph appears on p.6 of Osprey's Norman Knight 950-1204 AD (Gravett, C; 1993). The caption states that: "This segmented ...

Egfroth

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Michael B: There is, however, a helm (photograph in the Osprey "Norman Knight" book) made from four overlapping plates ...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> These are common in E...

Egfroth

Can I suggest that the nasal looks suspiciously like a later addition? That may affect the dating . . . ------------------ Egfroth "I can hear the word money from a distance of fifty miles, if the wind's in the right direction" Major Dennis Bloodnok, Queen's Forty-Third Deserters (retd.) see my webp...