The Armour Archive

Fearghus Macildubh

I'm about halfway through "Making a Living in the Middle Ages"and one thing that shines through is the huge number of people who were between unfree serfs and the great aristocrats. Farmers, tradesmen, mercahnts, hunters and fishermen living in various stages of wealth, having duties to the crown an...

Fearghus Macildubh

The whole "I'm a pirate, (mercenary, barbarian, viking, pict etc) and don't have to behave chivalrously of honourably" stchtick really gets my goat.

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Slainte,
Fearghus
How long will we fight? We will fight until Hell freezes over; then we fight on the ice.
Fearghus' Homepage

Fearghus Macildubh

Pitch or pine tar might work. Especialy after you water hardened the leather.

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Slainte,
Fearghus
How long will we fight? We will fight until Hell freezes over; then we fight on the ice.
Fearghus' Homepage

Fearghus Macildubh

A gallery. Hanging shields a la Ivanhoe. Matched weapons provided by the tourney company, done up well. Heralds and fanfares would be nice A marshall with a baton to call the match over. ------------------ Slainte, Fearghus How long will we fight? We will fight until Hell freezes over; then we fight...

Fearghus Macildubh

Eurocentric suit: Visored sugarloaf helm in stainless. Metal reinforced cuir-boilli arms and legs in the Italian fashion, with animal head spaulders Scale sabatons Linen mid thigh gambeson Welded stainless mail hauberk Silk cyclas surcote Brass scale cuiriass simple mitten gauntlets in stainless ---...

Fearghus Macildubh

Even if I get a piece of a shot coming in, when it hits hard enough, it's good. In my bascinet, some shots will glance off, if they hit high when my head is tilted to the side. If the shot still has good thump, I take it, because them's the rules of the game. I've even taken shots off my shieldrim. ...

Fearghus Macildubh

Still, it was a 14 gauge helm, which is thicker than the period average. On horseback, the mass of the rider, horse and armour are concentrated on the point of the lance and hit at speed. I've no problems with a lance pierceing a helm. ------------------ Slainte, Fearghus How long will we fight? We ...

Fearghus Macildubh

I went there 2 years ago for summer vacation. Very fun, in a theme park way. The closer the sections got to the modern era the better they were. The 18th century Vendeen village was great. The soapmaker was this cool Welsh gent, married to a French reenactor. In his off time he hosted schoolchildren...

Fearghus Macildubh

I might not agree with all of his conclusions, but it is a damn fine article.

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Slainte,
Fearghus
How long will we fight? We will fight until Hell freezes over; then we fight on the ice.
Fearghus' Homepage

Fearghus Macildubh

Animal, If you fight in central asian armour, a madu is an appropriate weapon. I recently sucumbed to peer pressure and stopped using my basket hilted spear and changed it for an axe with a buttspike. It functions about the same, but doesn't protect against the forearm wrap as well. Anyhow, I fully ...

Fearghus Macildubh

I can't speak for the rest of Europe, but in Germany and France the vast majority of castles I've vistited built after mid-12th century have narrow winding stairs. According the the guides at Burg Eltz, it's a space saving measure. The stairwell is more a less a tube around 4-5 feet in diameter. Ver...

Fearghus Macildubh

The Klosterheim monestary in Bavaria, near Regensburg, has been producing beer since 1050. The Klosterbrau dark beer is, they claim, largly made the same way as it was in the middle ages. It's a dark malty brew, with a sweet finish. It's unhopped, but bubbly. Most of the Belgian monastic beers I've ...

Fearghus Macildubh

Let me interject here. I like Japanese armour, I like Central Asian armour, I like Persian armour, I like European armour. I just like armour. I see a well made harness, no matter the culture, and I'm happy. Plastic? Covered or done well and I'm happy. I even like well done fantasy armour. I don't l...

Fearghus Macildubh

Back in 95 I was in the finals of the Snowball Tourney at Estrella. Our line folded back at a right angle, I formed the corner. I was fighting spear, back when 9 footers could have buttspikes. I gig the fighter in front of me and out of the corner of my eye I see a bunch of guys with leaves and belt...

Fearghus Macildubh

Fearghus like hit thing with stick I'm in the SCA because it is a combat sport. I get a huge rush out of fighting. I don't crave the "period rush" like other folks might. My imagination is rich enough to fill those details in. I'd say I'm a "rustic" fighter. Slainte, Fearghus ------------------ How ...

Fearghus Macildubh

It's one thing to trap someone's spear between your weapon and shield, or arm and body. It's another to try and break someone's toys. I've had it happen to me, pissed me off to no end. I't s a game, and winning matters, but not that much. Show some sportmanship. Slainte, Fearghus ------------------ ...

Fearghus Macildubh

I wouldn't call them a wimp, but I would let them know that I thought it was light. Especially if I had poor technique. I'd rather be hit harder than lighter, removing all doubt from wether I'd been bested or not. Slainte, Fearghus ------------------ How long will we fight? We will fight until Hell ...

Fearghus Macildubh

I'd agree that cuisses should have the splints on the inside. All the effigies (sp) I've seen pictures of show that the lower leg and arm had external splints and the upper leg just shows rivets, one can assume that there's splints under the leather. Well, let me express one caveat, I think there's ...

Fearghus Macildubh

If it wasn't a fine leather breastplate (serving no real purpose other than to look regal) I'd say the clasps closed a chiton like garment. Of course, I've go no evidence and the chiton was more of a woman's garment in that part of the world. Slainte, Fearghus ------------------ How long will we fig...

Fearghus Macildubh

Thanks! I'm stationed overseas and the base library has slim pickin's on medieval topics. They don't do ILL either. Since my German is pure converstaional matters like menus, directions and football, the local library's out as well. When and if I get stationed in England, then it's on! Anyhow, thank...

Fearghus Macildubh

Greetings all, I've got tons of books on medieval military subjects, but very little on life in general. I've got the Gies "Life in a medieval ...." series and the Writer's Guide to Rennaissance England. What else do you folks recomend. Preferably in English. I can muddle my way through French as we...

Fearghus Macildubh

If you wanted to make a buff coat or hide shirt for a Norse or Saxon persona, I think it would basically follow the Norse pattern for a coat. Iâ€™d use heavy suede or real elk or deer hide. It would also serve the same function as the buff coat during the ECW. Your shield would be your main protecti...

Fearghus Macildubh

A Hun brother from Alaska showed me flail they had made years ago. It had a chain made of braided rope and head made out of a squishy foam softball. The rope chain was thick enough so it wouldn't encircle the wrist. Slainte, Fearghus ------------------ How long will we fight? We will fight until Hel...

Fearghus Macildubh

Hmmm, if it were up to me....there would be a big sign just inside the event gate "There is no such thing as personna here, your actions reflect directly on you. The purpose of this gathering is to test our skill against and learn from worthy opponents, doing so in an enjoyable manner." The time fra...

Fearghus Macildubh

In a tournement or melee, definately #1. Practice I'll often do #2 w/newbies, just because some of our guys get so excited they forget to say good or fall over Slainte, Fearghus ------------------ How long will we fight? We will fight until Hell freezes over; then we fight on the ice. Fearghus' Home...

Fearghus Macildubh

Aethstan, I sort of agree with the Osprey writer. IIRC the leather wasn't described as hardened, so it is sort of a "buff coat" of heavy leather. The shape was to ape a tribune's or legate's cuirass, lending an air of prestige the Saxon king depeicted. The Germanic warrior book alludes to something ...

Fearghus Macildubh

WOW! And my co-workers think I'm nuts for getting hit with sticks! I'm impressed. I don't hink I could ever do it, but I'd love to see it live.
Slainte,
Fearghus

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How long will we fight? We will fight until Hell freezes over; then we fight on the ice.
Fearghus' Homepage

Fearghus Macildubh

Orchestral stuff for pre-tournement: The various Imperial themes by John Williams Holst: The planets, especialy Mars Orff: Carmina Burana Basil Poledourus(?): Conan and Terminator scores Last of the Mohicans Modern stuff for pre-melee: Pantera: F**king Hostile Metallica:Creeping Death AC/DC: Problem...

Fearghus Macildubh

Spear heavy units are the uber melee unit in the SCA for one reason, they bring victory. I agree that with the a little practice and training, any shield unit can tear up a spear heavy unit, but it seems that only the war oriented groups teach those tactics. I'm only a fair to middlin' spear jock an...

Fearghus Macildubh

To quote Keanu Reeves, "Pain heals, chicks dig scars, but glory gained on the field lasts forever." 'Course he was talking about football, but the sentiment covers what I do perfectly. It doesn't matter if I win or lose, but that I fought. Winning is good, but it's like nuts on a hot fudge sundae, t...

Fearghus Macildubh

Sounds like most German transitional armour. The splints would only be for the limbs, torso armour would be a coat of plates, topped off with a bascinet or great helm or war hat depending on the station of the wearer. All of it would be worn over mail. Slainte, Fearghus ------------------ How long w...

Fearghus Macildubh

Greetings all, After a wonderful weekend de-stressing at Drachenwald's Nibelungen Krieg, fighting a resurection battle in a real live castle on a real bridge over a real moat. I'm sitting here thinking about what a footsoldier from the early 14th century would have carried for a shield. My monster h...

Fearghus Macildubh

Could they be using cane instead? When I was on vacation in Provence last month, all the canals had cane growing around them. It looked strong enough be made into a lance. The leaves grew out of the top of the stalk so it wasn't bamboo. Slainte, Fearghus ------------------ How long will we fight? We...

Fearghus Macildubh

Well, it is a great bascinet

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How long will we fight? We will fight until Hell freezes over; then we fight on the ice.
Fearghus' Homepage

Fearghus Macildubh

As a fan of both European transitional armour and Japanese armour, DON'T DO IT! If you like Japanese armour, make a full set and wear it, regardless of personna off the field. In the 14th century, Japan was a hazy place beyond China to those learned Europeans who even knew a bit about geography. AFA...

Books on medieval life???

Pavises, mantlets, tablucco and the like