The Armour Archive

wcallen

Murdock can you tell me where i can get pattern from Valerius please? I don't know where the "Valerius" patterns went after the shop was moved last. I assume Valerius (Aaron Toman) still has them. I didn't take them with me when I left (I was the other half of the pair). Honestly, since then I have...

wcallen

Paper is a lot cheaper than steel. And the work put into it is a LOT cheaper than the work put into changing the steel to the right shape. Make several. Play around. I think I was at least on MK III before I cut steel for my kid's waistcoat (in many ways a similar concept), maybe MK IV or more. Note...

wcallen

We will see what happens when you make the paper for the sides, but my guess is that you have brought the line in the center a lot closer to the final helmet skull and you have pushed the line that will be formed between the sides of the top and the side pieces a farther away from the final form a l...

wcallen

In general, the way you pattern for a "can" construction is to design the pieces such that the paper (then metal) live on the outside of the piece, but as close to the desired final shape as possible. That minimizes the amount of mushing the metal in you need to do. There are some subtle details tha...

wcallen

Just under 2 weeks to go. I have some of my new items on the list, and items Clang wanted. I expect that there will be some general discussions about breast and backplates and fit for them. Probably some pauldron fit discussions. More rambling discussions about "engraved" lines in armour... What els...

wcallen

Wait just a sec. You are in Milwaukee? Really? Have you found a way to talk to Aaron Toman (Valerius in the local SCA)? Murdock was there too. Probably some other people. If you haven't checked in with the SCA there, it is probably worth checking enough to find these people. Talbot (Doug Strong) is ...

wcallen

Jacksonville NC? We should find a way for you to play with some real armour. We aren't right next door, but it isn't all that far away. I only have a few original pieces that could help get a feel for things. It is always hard to tell things from a picture, perspective, distortion, and sagging T-shi...

wcallen

I'm with James. That is a nice example of another style of etching. The other piece that demonstrates "etching" is etched, but it isn't actually 16th c. armour. That is a modern copy. Other styles of etching: http://www.allenantiques.com/images/A-220-front.jpg http://www.allenantiques.com/images/A-1...

wcallen

I have generally been happy with what I have received from Zack White: http://www.zackwhite.com/Leather-Hides-Skins_c_263.html It is convenient for me that they are just down the road, so I can pick and choose in person. They sell all sorts of things in addition to hides. Tools, supplies, and then ...

wcallen

We are getting closer to time for the event. Tom B. is flying in, so I will be picking him up on Friday and getting him back to the airport on Sunday. Clang has asked for (and received) some additions to the pieces on the list. At some point we will get down to the details of things. In general I li...

wcallen

I have generally been happy with what I have received from Zack White: http://www.zackwhite.com/Leather-Hides-Skins_c_263.html It is convenient for me that they are just down the road, so I can pick and choose in person. They sell all sorts of things in addition to hides. Tools, supplies, and then o...

wcallen

None of these are exactly what you are trying to make, but some of the odd angles may help get the feel for things. There is some real variation in shapes, but here is an image of a very late 15th or early 16th c. 2 piece breastplate that includes a side picture: http://www.allenantiques.com/A-193.h...

wcallen

Everything will go way more wonky when you have the upper backplate in the mix. Get all of the parts to a point where you can try to fit them, or you are sort of wasting time. How much dish the upper needs depends a lot on the actual shaping you have in all of the other plates and your shape. A litt...

wcallen

As someone who won't be attending, so my vote doesn't count...

The 24th would mean that we have get-togethers on both sides of the country at the same time. Kind of fun.

I expect a reasonable person would schedule it so that people could see the reserve collection.

Wade

wcallen

Thanks for the update Mac. I will hope my copy shows up sometime.... I would very much like to see and read it (actually reading an armour book isn't normally a very useful experience, this one should be). I want to see Jeff's drawings that overshadow yours. Yours are always clean and clear. There s...

wcallen

Aaron and I used a shot put stake for several years. It did flatten but we moved around a little so it wasn't to bad. It was a solid shotput, not something hollow. I think the right thing to use would be rock crushing media (mill balls). We got some of those years ago and they were really cool. hard...

wcallen

I don't have 5160 lying around, but I find 1050 to be pretty springy. I would probably just form the thing and then harden/temper it with a torch to get what I wanted. I have lots of that lying around (well, lots in terms of the amount needed to make a single 1" spring)...

Wade

wcallen

I think that re-enactment could be more than SCA, or cheaper. A lot of good interpretations of lower end military kit doesn't need to include as much armour as SCA tends to have. At least steel stuff. Helmet and a breastplate. Then all of the soft stuff to go with it. (a weapon would be nice). A lot...

wcallen

I am not sure this will turn into something that is all that useful in a general sense since you allow people to build parts that they can and you aren't limiting the amount of time allocated to the project. For example, I have never come close to spending $2000 to make one of my kid's halloween cos...

wcallen

I think that we done cast buckles, strap ends and mounts would sell, but only if they were pretty cheap. Mac does great stuff in pewter. That is really good for civilian wear. Some people do reasonable cast brass/bronze which is better for armour, but much of (definitely not all) of the buckles on a...

wcallen

I gave up and paid the full price. It is really annoying, but the book is worth it. We get used to some pretty cheap resources these days. I had thought about just buying some copies and having them sent/picked up by some nice friendly local person who lives in London and then getting them to mail t...

wcallen

You have some answers above. And they hint at the real question that should be asked: What piece are you looking at that you assume was "engraved"? When was it made? What does the "engraving" look like? At that point, it will likely be possible to either tell you how it was done, or tell you that it...

wcallen

A lot of work is done cold. Or, when hot as a spot heat pretty far away on one side of the piece. In either case, I either use a glove or just hold the metal by hand. It works very well. If you are working on a piece that will get hot where you need to hold on to it, then the vice-grip idea is reaso...

wcallen

Many of mine don't have much play at all. Some are easier to test ( like the ones that hold gauntlet thumbs on), others are harder (inset vambrace). But they really are pretty good. Most (I will never say all) vambraces either have one larger, but inset hinge that secures to the inside, or 2 smaller...

wcallen

I added some pieces. Some new, some old. They all have examples of the "engraved" lines. Different styles.

http://www.allenantiques.com/2015StudySession.html

Wade

wcallen

Wade, I'm revisiting that idea of how to chase lines along max flutes, etc. If you could include a couple of representative fluted pieces for some minute study, that would be great. Will do. The German breastplate on the list has some of the most aggressive "engraved" lines. They aren't Max, but th...

wcallen

No email for me. boo. They definitely cleared my charge a while ago.
If anyone actually sees a book, post so that I can yell at them if I need to.

Wade

wcallen

It will be good to have you Tom.

Now we just need to see what everyone wants to play with. I do like to have a "framework" defined before the event. As previous attendees can attest, it rarely ends up being the only things we play with. Discussion does what it does, and other pieces come out.

Wade

wcallen

It is a good group Tom, I expect you would have fun here, and we would have fun with you. No pressure... but if you can find a way to sneak it in, go for it.

Wade

wcallen

I don't think you own the only house formerly owned by a meatball. I know for sure both of mine in NC have some really nutty wiring, and I suspect the same of our house in KY. I think once you get to a house that has had several owners, the change in "normal" practices and the fact that some percent...

wcallen

Up to date list: Wade Ibrahim A-Hakim Zanetto Grettir Tom Justus John Cope Jeremy.G Jeremy Jennings (local)? Iain (John's Squire) Vermillion Gruber? Clang Possible local - Brett King (the person who brought the Max helmet a few years ago) That's a pretty good group. 2 tables would handle that. Big e...

wcallen

Clang, I would be happy to have you. Come on down.

On a different note, Asheville may be sort of a middle point for several of us. Some time other than this event, maybe we will have to descend on Gruber.

Wade

wcallen

They do need horses. But what they have is really good. A nice cohesive look. some of the armour isn't as high quality as the rest, but it still looks good together. Tom - since you know some of the guys (at least on the web) do you have any idea how much of the armour is tempered, or how hard they ...

wcallen

Does anyone have pics of a sallet welded up in this manner? I'd love to see a sallet-shaped can formed up with as few pieces as possible/logical/convenient... One page back, you get Mac's elegant drawings. I did a cheap one, it is sitting in the room where we will be playing with armour in about a ...

wcallen

I still live in the past.... ( I guess not unreasonable for people interested in armour).

125# Hay Budden - $75
150# Hay Budden - I think about $100.
New 160# Kolswa - I think it was about $400.
And I attended the Lynch sale.

So I can't complain.

Wade

Re: What patterns do people want to see in a pattern archive

Re: Jeremy's harness build.

Re: Jeremy's harness build.

Re: Jeremy's harness build.

Re: Study Session 2015

Re: A young guy with a dream: Apprenticeship

Re: Need some help on a breast/back

Re: Engraving Plate Armor

Re: Leather Wholesale Companies

Re: Study Session 2015

Re: Leather Wholesale Companies

Re: Need some help on a breast/back

Re: Need some help on a breast/back

Re: Calgary Armour Meetup - October 24 weekend

Re: Armour of the English Knight 1400-50: PRE-ORDER IS OPEN!

Re: Ball Stake materials

Re: Making a tiny leaf spring

Re: Most Historical (and Impressive) Panoply for $2,500?

Re: Most Historical (and Impressive) Panoply for $2,000?

Re: A question on bronze casting for sale

Re: Wallace collection book WITH digital catalogue

Re: Engraving Plate Armor

Re: Armouring- How the hell do I hold it?

Re: Hinge Wiggle

Re: Study Session 2015

Re: Study Session 2015

Re: Armour of the English Knight 1400-50: PRE-ORDER IS OPEN!

Re: Study Session 2015

Re: Study Session 2015

Re: Dusting off the cobwebs

Re: Study Session 2015

Re: Study Session 2015

Re: Photos of Italian tournament

Re: Bascinet prototype and "can" or "house" construction

Re: Peddinghaus anvils for cheap -today only-