The Armour Archive

Gaston de Clermont

I got a PM inquiry about the length of these. The two longer splints in each set are 17.4cm long and the shorter ones are 15.9cm long. It's possible to make these guys work as splints for your shins if that length is about right for you.

Gaston de Clermont

Going once for $75 to the Norse beast in New Hampshire...

Gaston de Clermont

When the bids flatten off I'll do a going once, going twice, sold thingie like Stonekeep does.

Gaston de Clermont

I forgot to include any mention of shipping in the initial note. My fault, and I don't want to screw anyone over, so shipping is included. If you a number (I'm assuming US dollars), that's all you pay to get it to show up at your door.

Gaston de Clermont

I'm doing a limited run of 410 steel vambrace splints for auction. They'd work well riveted to either the inside or outside of a simple leather vambrace. 410 is a "stainless" spring steel. My kitchen knives are made of the same alloy, and I've never seen them rust. The sabatons I made in t...

Gaston de Clermont

I don't know what his faceplate would have looked like, but there are some great details of a crown on a bascinet on Edward's effigy:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisjohnb ... 122767710/

Gaston de Clermont

That man can coup like crazy. He's a heck of a luthier too. Great clip.
Another one of Neil- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF5UM0EK ... re=related
You can see him using some of the remote controls he's developed to add strings to the song while he's playing. It appears to be a modern innovation. They're pleasant, and he uses them to good effect.

Gaston de Clermont

I enjoyed wandering the swamp a little too much. Thanks for saving my hat. I love that hat. The Combat of the 30 the next day was a lot of fun, but brutal. My advice- don't fight in that one hung over.

Gaston de Clermont

I had a sheet steel joint in the middle of the poles on my old Panther pavilion they worked OK, but always seemed a bit hokey.

Gaston de Clermont

Ugh. I bought a Minnesinger HG about 11 years ago. It looked good in the picture, but the keys, tangents, wheel and ornate insets are all plastic. It was so painful to listen to I had to wear ear protection just to tune it. I had it for all of 3 days before sending it back. Fortunately Lark In the M...

Gaston de Clermont

I peen my sabaton rivets on the outside, which is in line with what Mac suggested. They all on the edge of the plates, so it wouldn't be super hard to peen them from the inside if you had to. Seriously, Mac is like a prophet of the good news of armour. I've never gone wrong following his advice.

Gaston de Clermont

Thanks Mons! I'd like your gurdy too. Folks speak of Helmut with reverence, so I'd love to hear what you can to on such an instrument. Maybe we can jam some time? You can find sheet music for the Cantiga 139 I have up on you tube here: m I think it's in the 2nd Medieval book. All the books and CDs t...

Gaston de Clermont

I agree with a lot of what Mons said. The on line gurdy groups are quite helpful. Neil Brook has a great reputation, and he's personally helped me out in improving my playing. He tends to innovate some, so you may have to double check that he's making you a model that's consistent with medieval gurd...

Gaston de Clermont

Keegan just dresses like me and has about the same build. Tegan is my biological cousin, and we look so much alike that family members have mistaken us for each other.

Gaston de Clermont

How does salvage of a wreck like this typically work? Who owns it, and who pays to raise it?

Gaston de Clermont

IIRC, from the commander's meetings the headcounts on the armoured field were roughly 650 for the Mid and 800 for the East.

Gaston de Clermont

Gregor did the brass work himself.

Gaston de Clermont

Tegan already has a gorgeous bald head. Keegan might look good bald too.

Gaston de Clermont

Thin steel is remarkably soft when it's red hot. It can slump from its own weight. It can be deformed from the pressure and temperature differential from the tongs you grab it with, and from the force of the quenchant when it's plunged in. So if it's not braced or supported by adjacent pieces it's l...

Gaston de Clermont

If you'd like to ship your pieces down to me with return postage and a little beer money, I'll heat treat and temper them for you. I can even toss them in the acid bath to get the worst of the forge scale off. You can see some of my work with 410 on my blog:
http://burgundianhours.blogspot.com/sea ... 20treating

Gaston de Clermont

Sextus and I took a swing at making a manica in spring steel a couple years ago. Despite relatively simple curves and lines they're deceptively difficult to get fully functional and protective. I don't mean to discourage your endeavor- in fact if you can form it, I'd be happy to fire it for you for ...

Gaston de Clermont

KFM- There are a number of Amtgard cross overs in Austin who are doing quite well. You might know Clalibus, Helene, and Kansuke (Spearweasel/Andy). There are definitely differences between the fighting styles, but a lot of the skills translate OK.

Gaston de Clermont

I'd go with the angle grinder too. But take my advice on it with a grain of salt as I'm a little obsessed with them.

Gaston de Clermont

Noe- I didn't know she owed you anything. PM me what you're due and I'll chase after this.

Gaston de Clermont

I bought a pair a couple years ago, and they didn't have the loop James describes. I doubt Ice has full control over some of the details of the manufacturing. Mine were quite large- about twice the size I needed them to be. So unless you're a exceptionally big guy yourself, expect to do a fair amoun...

Gaston de Clermont

That's fair. How about the pin closure? Is it like the pin of a hinge?
Considering all the juicy info you're bringing to the table, it's absurd to beat yourself up about a funky file pointer.

Gaston de Clermont

This link will work better for folks who aren't using Wade's computer: m Wade- I'm really curious about that vambrace. Do you have any pictures that show the leather hinge and pin setup you described? Is there evidence to show that is how it was used during its working life? Here I've been thinking ...

Gaston de Clermont

Yeah, I figure you don't get extra credit for armouring in the dark. Having a single point of light can be helpful for seeing exactly what's going on when you're planishing a crease, but otherwise bright light is your friend. A soft-ish handle might let you cover the digit tips without losing much c...

Gaston de Clermont

They're still looking great. I like the thumb nail detail. I might shorten the plate on the pad of the thumb a touch. Some of that is personal preference. I like having more leather in contact with the weapon rather than steel, since I feel more in control. I fight mostly pole arm with a slightly de...

Gaston de Clermont

Take him up on it Audax! Sounds like fun! He's the real deal. It's all his fault that I'm 14th century mafia now. Seconded. He's the reason I'm involved in the SCA. Invited me to my first event...that very muddy and rainy Crown event you linked the vid of, Audax. More than a bit of an inspiration, ...

Gaston de Clermont

Well, you seem to not be having any fun. You are doing it wrong. Yes, quite right. It is all my own fault. My bad for making a comment. I will now go suck it up. We're going to change that, starting tonight. You come over, we make armour, we sweat like Jabba over the Sarlac pit, you help me drain m...

Gaston de Clermont

Honestly, I got some neat little nuggets when I first started too, and it really set the hook on my addiction. More low level awards would help this. Giving personal largess would help. Sir Gaston, Im not sure if you will remember, but 3/4 years back when I was a new fighter just getting started, I...

Gaston de Clermont

Max- Can you open up the permissions on your files? I'm interested in your work, but when I try to download anything from the SCA marketing site it's forbidden.

Gaston de Clermont

I'll steal William's analogy to further my point- We can still offer fishing in the local pond with a simple rod and reel, and have deep sea expeditions. Maybe you ride on someone else's boat for a while and chip in for bait and beer while you're learning to captain your own ship. Most captains/knig...

Gaston de Clermont

Luca- I love the way you put that. I can see a need for essentially split classes of competition. New folks can play the regular game as we have it, and experienced folks get to enjoy the deeper pool of things like the Combat of the 30, and side sword. The serious games in the deep end are motivatio...

Re: Spring steel vambrace splint auction

Re: Spring steel vambrace splint auction

Re: Spring steel vambrace splint auction

Re: Spring steel vambrace splint auction

Spring steel vambrace splint auction

Re: Coronets on Hounskull/Pigface Bascinets

Re: Hurdy Gurdys

Re: What was your favorite Pennsic moment?

Re: Two part center pole for my pavilion.

Re: Hurdy Gurdys

Re: peening rivets in a very tight space.

Re: Hurdy Gurdys

Re: Hurdy Gurdys

Re: FS:Clang Klappvisier(SOLD), Arms, Legs. Pending.

Re: 'New Vasa' shipwreck found on Baltic seabed

Re: The Official Unofficial Pennsic Update tread... (OUPU)

Re: Duke Gregor's helmet.

Re: FS:Clang Klappvisier, Arms, Legs.

Re: Heat-treating spring stainless

Re: Heat-treating spring stainless

Re: Does anyone have a manica pattern, or make them?

Re: SCA at an evolutionary cross-roads (A discussion)

Re: Best stock-removal tool for iron/steel?

Re: Audax and my order

Re: Mail chauses

Re: Elbows with rerebraces/vambraces?

Re: Elbows with rerebraces/vambraces?

Re: Some new tools, and a new project - hourglass gauntlets

Re: Some new tools, and a new project - hourglass gauntlets

Re: SCA at an evolutionary cross-roads (A discussion)

Re: SCA at an evolutionary cross-roads (A discussion)

Re: SCA at an evolutionary cross-roads (A discussion)

Re: SCA at an evolutionary cross-roads (A discussion)

Re: SCA at an evolutionary cross-roads (A discussion)

Re: SCA at an evolutionary cross-roads (A discussion)