The Armour Archive

James B.

I never used one, I have never seen anything that indicates that girdles were beveled on the edge, or shoes, or purses, or any other extant leather item. A knife or skiving tool however is needed for many of those items.

James B.

What is it about snake oil salesmen at ren faires. There seems to be a crappy sword maker at each faire explaining how their sword fashioned from a crowbar has some magical properties.

James B.

Everyone keeps recommending carpooling and getting smaller vehicles, which is all very good advice. However, everyone realizes then that you have to lower your standards for what you bring with you, right? You can't pile 4 squires and their associated gear in a sedan that gets 37 MPG and still have...

James B.

There is someone in the SCA in this area that does Russian and they have a Russian book on this find and I was flipping through some stuff recently and that is how I knew the date on the draw string purse. Now I would love to know the date on the purse with the applique on it in that link you posted...

James B.

Randall the question is what were they allowed to hunt and what were the limitations. Clearly deer was hunted at some level because we have deer skin leather items. My point remains what was common and for what level? Was deer a common place food source? If so then why are deer bones lacking in so m...

James B.

A question came to mind about the Basel tent, is the whole thing two layers or just the top? It is clear in the graydragon photos it is a two layer top at the eaves: m m Also it is reinforced with another layer at the leather grommets and the top most areas has at least another layer on it looking a...

James B.

I sat through a lecture on medieval hunting theists a few months ago and all three books the lecturer used basically said deer were protected and the lower class was free to hunt animals like rabbits. I think Americans are too hung up on frontiersmen culture, in Europe men were not free to roam the ...

James B.

Most of the Novgorod leather finds are dated 12th-13th century, most are 13th. I am almost positive that bag is 13th c in date when I saw it in someone's documentation for some Novgorod leather goods.

James B.

Just FYI linen is a much stronger material than cotton; I suspect you are having a care issue. Linen is a long fiber, about 6 feet, and cotton is a short fiber about 3 inches at max. Fabric rips easiest at the point where fibers join. I have used the same linen surcoat for at least five Pennsics. 1)...

James B.

The food. I would love to see people eating the correct food every once in a while. At Pennsic last year we filleted out Salt Cod and I butchered down a side of venison and that was all that it took each day to get over the guys dressed like pirates. Correct food for what situation? I eat medieval ...

James B.

Hastings in 2006 - More of a reenactment than free form combat but it was the most real anything has ever felt for me reenacting. Close to 3000 men in proper clothing and armor facing off; much like a large Pennsic battle but with better equipment and a narrow focus. Too see volleys of arrows loosed...

James B.

Billy and Charlie is where I got all my pewter from, cups, bowls, spoons, trencher, candle holders, and salt cellars. They does not have bowls listed but they normally have them at Pennsic, you could PM Mac or email them. m Edric the Potter makes amazing pottery from historical use. His web page see...

James B.

Ok guys maybe you have heard of the triangle of doing business, fast, cheap, and quality; you only ever get two. Westland has cheap prices and good quality products and his time estimate is always off. I made a large order and it was two months later than he said it would be but I got it and everyth...

James B.

I have used raw cotton for seven or more years now and I have never had an over heating issue from it. It is dirt cheap too, I paid 90 cents a pound for it; a giant bale will make several liners and arming cotes for 12-15 dollars.

James B.

It's expensive, but imo if you really really want to do something like Pennsic you can find other things to cut out on in order to afford it. I don't think the average person is going to much care if they spend $40-$60 extra for gas to go to Pennsic or Gulf Wars when they already have so much inves...

James B.

Destichado wrote:Oh god, Angelsword?

This guy is the Blankenshield of the sword world.

I was thinking the same thing. What is sad is people buy this stuff.

James B.

This thread makes me have to squint do to all the pictured awesome that saddle is.

James B.

Fantastic replica, looks like you got the details right.

James B.

That bikini style is seen in 15th-16th century art often; there is even an extant pair from the 15th century found in Germany: m I often see that design in art with men wearing joined hosen, likely they are best for preventing bunching with hosen. If you are doing later 16th century there are severa...

James B.

chef de chambre wrote:Huke. It is a huke, in Franco-Burgundian parlance of the 1420's-1440's. Joan of Arc had one in cloth of gold, she wore over her armour when she was captured.

Huke was the name I was looking for.

James B.

Italians often are depicted with over garments that are giant rectangles and often belted just in the front, could be the same garment if it is not just a giant open sleeve.

You also see pilgrims with a similar garment over their gown.

James B.

He also just had a heart attack and was in the hospital. Damn it all they were the best source from leather I knew of and had items others don't carry.

James B.

Here is what I have gathered from many posts and personal observation. Italian maille used round wire with flattened areas for the rivet (dome head) the entire time from the Roman era until maille was no longer used for military use. There are many Italian shirts with round wire in museums. Some are...

James B.

Side laces are also drawn on many of the figures in the Romance of Alexander.

James B.

The person may have dies in 1237 but when was the effigy created? Also we are looking at a Victorian etching of the original, what does the original look like?

James B.

Galfrid atte grene wrote:Hi Jan, daggers are pretty rare on 13th century effigies. Here is one from Spain though: Don Bernaldo Guillen de Entenza (1237)

No luck finding any on my cursory search of miniatures.

I don't think that date on the effigy is right, the greaves, helmet, and scale foot covering screams 1337.

James B.

Maeryk wrote:It's the same damned spandex the jocks used to beat up the metalheads for wearing.. it just has a better ad campaign now.

Define "metalheads"; the people I knew wore jeans and black t-shirt. Also didn't have jocks bothering the metal heads in my school.

James B.

Dragon_Argent wrote:Question for James B. What about UNDER the armour??? An arming doublet? Buff leather jerkin??? I have seen evidence for both but can't work out what is typical...

Good question, I know of examples of both. I would say it is personal preference and nothing uniform.

James B.

Tibbie, one thing about 16th century fashion is you do see people going sans 3rd layer especially working class folks. Also you have sleeveless jerkins so your arms don't need a third layer.

James B.

James, The tent (s?) from Graz have leather grommets on a flange above the valence. The tent in Basel has a flange in lieu of a valence. Both (all) of these tents are 17th C. and do not appear to have had a frame at the shoulder. The Graz tent that toured with the exhibition *did* have internal tie...

James B.

In some circumstances, however, lightweight wool may be just as inaccurate as linen. Wouldn't gowns, cloaks, and other outer garments have been made of heavy, dense wool? Is there evidence of lightweight twill being used for any tunics or outer garments? Wouldn't it have been used for hosen or for ...

James B.

I did an experiment at Pennsic this year, which was very hot and very muggy. Highs were in the mid-90s, I believe, with high humidity. I wore lightweight wool dresses (gabardine/tropical weight wool), and 5.3oz linen dresses, to see if there was any appreciable difference in the heat. Both dresses ...

James B.

Ok... I'm going to go back a week on this reply. Again going to my example of hosen, would you say that a rich guy who owned 350 pairs of wool hose and one pair of linen hose over time wore wool or linen more commonly. If you are using rule #3 which material should you chose? Wool. I think that in ...

James B.

Mac

I have to say I like it, if I ever get around to making my own tent (long term plan) I may in fact steal your idea and cross it with the leather tabs on the eaves on the Basel tent.

James B.

Now they just need really cool bifurcated gloves