The Armour Archive

Egfroth

OK. I'm planning to stay in York, arriving on the 17th and leaving on the 20th. I'm hoping to walk from York to Stamford Bridge while I'm there (I think the whole Tadcaster-Stamford Bridge walk - which is what the Englisc army did and THEN fought a battle - is a bit beyond my current level of fitnes...

Egfroth

I'm in the same boat. Have to finish the gauntlets, find my "shorty" braccas and pectoral cross (I was SURE I put them in a safe place!) and worst of all make a chape and throat for the scabbard - from scratch, without any welding equipment - aaaaargh! Oh, and work out and complete the scabbard susp...

Egfroth

If it's brass it should be ok. I was a little concerned that it was copper, and as far as I know that just wasn't used for such things at the time. My gilding skills are pretty bad, so you might end up with a nasal that didn't look as good as before. I'll have the stuff with me - decide on the day -...

Egfroth

I just like the idea of the church-going public unknowingly being p*ssed on from a great height . . . .

Egfroth

VERY nice, Halvgrim! Is that nasal copper? Would you like it gilded? I'm bringing along my spare gold leaf to touch up any gilding that needs repair on my own kit. I'd be surprised if there wasn't enough spare top do your nasal. (BTW just to let you know - it's not real gold leaf - too expensive - b...

Egfroth

Arriving Thursday; there'll be a get-together of my hearth-troop at the admin tent at 12 noon. But maybe the archivers could arrange to get together some time? Perhaps leave contact info at the admin tent, or a message as to when and where we could all get together? There WILL be a short ceremony on...

Egfroth

In fact it was commonly accepted as well. The idea that people in the Middle Ages believed the earth was flat was first mooted by Washington Irving in the 19th century, and was intended contemptuously. Look at the contemporary records and accounts and you'll find people generally accepted that the w...

Egfroth

And lets not mention what happened with the jousting . . .

Egfroth

I'm sure I've seen a small three dimensional one carved in stone, used as an amulet. I'd have to chase it up, though. I'll see what I can find. Well, here are a couple: <a href="http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.gotmus.i.se/1engelska/bildstenar/bilder/bild_smiss_nar_a1.jpg&imgrefu...

Egfroth

Certainly, there are representations of warriors on the Bayeux Tapestry that show them with aventails that could be taken as leather - see m - it's pretty uncertain WHAT they were. However, mail would be preferred. Leather aventails can look *really* bad, in my experience. If you aren't sure, I'd re...

Egfroth

Flittie, email me off-list (my email address is in my profile) with your street address and I'll send you a sample.

Egfroth

The length of the nasal seems ok, but I'd say the eyebrows are rather too big. I'd say make them a bit shorter, and perhaps half as wide at the centre, tapering to the ends.

The helmet's a nice shape.

I'd like to see a photo when it's done.

Egfroth

Calico is the cheapest cotton fabric available - see http://www.apparelsearch.com/Definition ... fabric.htm . I use it to test clothing patterns before I commit my good fabric. And then I'm likely to throw it away.

I'm sure there must be a US equivalent.

Egfroth

Damn! It's better than mine!!!

Egfroth

I'd agree. First few decades of the 14th century . . .

Egfroth

Well, correct though that observation is, I hadn't noticed it till you pointed it out. In the grand scheme of things, I don't believe it's going to stand out as a glaring error (particularly in the light of some of the stuff that is likely to be permitted on the field, if Hastings 2000 is anything t...

Egfroth

To be honest, Halv, the amount of decoration you're already putting on the helmet should be more than adequate to mark you out as a fairly wealthy Huscarl. I don't know that you need any more.

You're going to look pretty damned cool on the field!

Egfroth

No problem, then. That was the only thing I had a question about. That's a very impressive outfit. It'd be great to see everybody at Hastings up to that standard.

Egfroth

Jesse. A very good presentation. Two comments only. The sleeves of the tunic seem a TINY bit short. Any chance of extending them (perhaps put braid on the cuffs to hide the extension?) - or are they just pulled up a bit by having the hauberk over them? The other thing - that sky blue looks a little ...

Egfroth

What's your cord made of? Some types really don't like staying tied (the slippery ones). Also, there's a bit of a skill to tying a slip-reef (that's the name of the knot). Practise a bit and see if it doesn't get better. You need to pull the inner loop (the one around the foot) fairly tight to get i...

Egfroth

Um, yeah. What you said - whatever that was . . .

Egfroth

Sorry, I didn't realise you were talking about "civvies". I'll have to do a bit of looking around, to see if I have anything.

But I expect soft costume and the surcoats over armour would have been pretty much in line with each other.

I'll get back in touch when I've found out a bit more.

Egfroth

Maybe the patterns here will give you some inspiration?

Egfroth

That's a little wierd. It's all the same on my screen.

Egfroth

That's a little wierd. It's all the same on my screen.

Egfroth

It appears that men at arms in general were still wearing the long surcoat.

I have attached some pics from the period.

What social status are you representing? "Man at arms" covers a multitude of sins . . .

Egfroth

Hey! Nothing a-historical about a mullet. Have a look at Harold Godwinson here!

Egfroth

To be honest, we have very little reliable information. Helmets from the Migration Period of the 5th and 6th centuries often had a little conical top into which all the bands were rivetted, and there is one extant helmet (from Bulgaria) which could be as late as the 14th century made in a similar wa...

Egfroth

Robert P. Norwalt wrote:Hosen are just pants with a REALLY big fly.

Yep - but at the back as well?

Egfroth

Well, here's the completed helmet.

Egfroth

Well, I hope it's worth the wait. Here's the completed helmet.

Egfroth

SyrTheo, are you on the Hastings 2006 discussion list? You can access it at m There's been quite a bit of discussion on costume on the H2006 forum of late. You might pick up a few things by looking at them, and the Authenticity Officers are members. Also, there are costume requirements at m Whether ...

Egfroth

Nice bling, Halv!

Egfroth

Ancient Greek representations of the Phrygians show them wearing trousers.

Egfroth

There's nothing worn under my armour. On the contrary, it's all in perfect working order . . .