The Armour Archive

Adriano

Thanks, guys! I know a lot of the guys who post here have been through stuff like this. I'm looking at this as a challenge: not just to get back to normal walking, but to really get in shape. Compared to surgery and PT, just losing weight doesn't seem that hard. A year from now, I intend to be more ...

Adriano

Hi; maybe this would be a better fit in Off Topics, but I thought there'd be a better chance of some of the guys I fight with seeing it here. Just got back from a trip to the U.K. Great trip; friendly people, good food, excellent lagers, ales, stouts and bitters. Visited two great castles, Conwy and...

Adriano

Maybe Meridies is a bit insular. I know when I've gone to Pennsic, the Meridian contingent on the field was much smaller than the group fielded by many a principality or even barony I saw. Of course, it's not our war, but I'd love to see the whole Meridian army there someday, or a majority of it; th...

Adriano

Never fight angry. I hope if anybody ever thinks I'm not calling good blows, they'll talk to me about it before cranking up to tree-felling force. Try verbal communication first when possible -- then nonverbal if you have to.

Adriano

Lord Artos -- I was part of Nant-y-Derwyddon for its first eight years, and go up to Thor's Mountain when I get a chance; we probably know some of the same people. I can understand if you don't want to get involved with the official kingdom marshallate hierarchy; all I can tell you is that Sir Artos...

Adriano

Lord Artos, well met. This is an interesting topic you've used to introduce yourself. Sideline kibbutzing has always been around; fortunately it has no official force. Also, your opponent doesn't get to call shots for you; if he tries to tell you, instead of asking you, whether the blow you just rec...

Adriano

I'm the schmuck on the left, in the hauberk and ugly helm here . Besides charmless, depressing ugliness, there are two great things about this helm: 1) Cheapness. Cost me $65 back in 1990; I've had fifteen years use out of it (so far). 2) Indestructibility. I don't know what the gauge is, but nobody...

Adriano

I wear a belt with laces (I used sturdy athletic shoelaces) that I tie through grommets on the cuisses. Steel poleyn pointed to the cuisses, and separate greaves. I also wear a knee-length gambeson, so a leg blow hits two layers. Very comfortable; easy to walk.

Adriano

When I opened this thread, I should have made it clear (for those who don't know Artos) that he's a good guy, and wouldn't make such a ruling on a whim. Next time I see him at fighter practice I'll ask him about it.

Adriano

I just got the October Popular Chivalry (the monthly Meridian newsletter). Right off, I turned to the missive from our Kingdom Earl Marshall, Sir Artos Ancilus. The relevant paragraph: Now, this goes into effect immediately! Kong(R) brand dog chew toys are expressly forbidden for use in the construc...

Adriano

Never actually concussed; these stories make me happy I've got a heavy, indestructible helmet and good padding (as well as a hard head). I did drop once when hit on the back of the neck where there was a gap in my leather gorget (long ago, when I was stupid enough to fight with inadequate equipment)...

Adriano

Posted by Jester: I think that we *are* obligated to obey every rule. Yeah, but. . . okay, I don't have much of an argument against that. You're right; as an authorized SCA fighter, I've made an agreement to abide by a certain set of rules. I really can't get around that just because I don't feel l...

Adriano

jester , I entirely respect your position -- I just philosophically don't agree with the lanyard rule. Of course, you could make the case that a fighter is obligated to obey every rule whether the marshals say anything or not. In this case, it was a rule I knew I was breaking. Theoretically, the pu...

Adriano

The lanyard rule must be one of the least-enforced rules in Meridies. I was at Red Tower earlier today, with no lanyards on my swords; don't remember seeing anybody with a lanyard. God knows I'm not going to speak up during inspection and say, "Should I put a lanyard on that?" Fun event, by the way;...

Adriano

I went to evening fighter practice tonight, and had my mace break just below the head. I can't help thinking, "If only I had used more baby oil..." But that's the Devil talking. Blaine -- great example, and one of those times when something that seems instinctively right for a real fight is unfortun...

Adriano

At fighter practice the other day, we were talking with an enthusiastic newby fighter about turning a stick of rattan into a good SCA weapon. I mentioned that I've always let the rattan soak up some baby oil before I tape it up, in an attempt to keep the fibers from drying out too much. Our marshall...

Adriano

Chuck -- I should have added that, although I wear just mail over a gambeson: a) it's a fairly thick gambeson; and b) I'm a big fat guy with a pretty solid torso. I wouldn't advise it for a skinny guy. Also, I don't know if it's legal in your kingdom.

Adriano

Not exactly a weapon, but I remember there was somebody in Meridies who had a severed human head (pretty sure it wasn't a real one) referred to as "Ancestor". He'd give some kind of warcry and throw Ancestor out in the lists before laying on. Anybody know who that is?

Adriano

I wear a 14-gauge, 3/8" ID galvanized haubergeon, weighing about 30 pounds. I've been wearing just a gambeson under it, and a tabard over it; I've found the protection quite adequate. Extra-thick padding in the shoulders of the gambeson. A bit heavy, but easy to move in, and a breeze goes right thro...

Adriano

So, if you do want to use olive oil on your mail, what's a safe way to store it? Not in contact with fabric, obviously -- maybe in a metal bucket or something?

Adriano

Damn, you guys make me feel like a lazy sod! I've seen both punching bags and tackling dummies used as pells. Also two or three old tires hanging from a tree limb (the tires hanging like a tire swing, but in a stack of three). William -- I'm no expert, but daily stretching is a great idea to improve...

Adriano

J.H. Christ & Associates. "One of the statements that he made is that, 'I got 1,000 years of power. Come and get me,'" said Deputy Chief Chris Jahnke, of the Royal Oak Police Department. "And they looked down and he has this metal chain (and a) mesh guard (or) vest on, along with these leather gaunt...

Adriano

Arm harness is one of those tricky areas; you want both mobility and protection. I haven't tried bazubands, but I know they're popular in Meridies (easy to take off between battles in hot weather). The nice ones look great. I wanted the look of elbow cops and vambrace pointed to long gambeson sleeve...

Adriano

I hope you'll be very happy together. (I don't even know how to weld, and I want one of those things!)

Adriano

Finally got to try out the skin-tight UA teeshirt at practice. Definitely improved my comfort; I got tired, but not overheated, and when I took off the gambeson, I felt cooler with the teeshirt on than I would have bare-chested.

Think I'll get the shorts, too.

Adriano

I've got just one thing to add -- I think cutting technique makes a difference. My hauberk is your standard SCA 14 gauge galvanized, with a 3/8" ID. I used to cut the links with heavy-duty wire cutters, which pinch the ends of the wire. It seemed to me that when links would open up, it was because t...

Adriano

But you were hit in your arm, your kidneys? Well, (a week ago now) I took a solid rib shot, a gut stab with a spear, and a perhaps excessively forceful blow to the left upper arm; the last is the only one that produced a bruise. Looking back over almost a quarter century of SCA fighting, I don't th...

Adriano

Just went out and bought my first UnderArmor garment; the HeatGear tee. Normally I get a XXL tee shirt because I like them a bit loose, but I got the XL, which fits like a second skin. I literally felt cooler within seconds of putting the shirt on. Can't wait to try it out at fighter practice tomorr...

Adriano

Milady, you're an awe-inspiring sight. Nice helmet, too.

Adriano

My hauberk is 3/8" ID, 14 gauge galvanized; this seems like almost an SCA standard. Weighs about 28 pounds. This weekend I met a guy who had made his hauberk with the same ID, but using 12 gauge aluminum. The fatter wire looked good, and he said he'd hardly lost a ring in fighting. Weighed only 15 p...

Adriano

I don't know about the other SCA kingdoms, but the Meridian Marshall's Handbook says: The kidney area, the short ribs, and the lower spine shall be covered with a minimum of heavy leather worn over one-quarter inch (6mm) of closed cell foam or equivalent padding. (Note: Some leather weight-lifting b...

Adriano

Earlier today, when I was getting inspected to fight at the Arts of War event, I told the inspecting marshall that I had a kidney belt on over my hauberk, and he mentioned that technically, I could pass without it because of the mail. This got me to thinking: did I really need the kidney belt (a thi...

Adriano

Had a good time! (Actually the event is still going on, with stuff planned for Sunday, but I had to come home.) Did a lot of fighting, got heat exhaustion. Met a nice archer lady and she shot me in the face.

I must report that King Maximillian damn near overturned a porta-john during a melee.

Adriano

Whether it's single fighting or melees, I do love the mano a mano ("hand to hand"). It's a tough call, but if I had to pick one I'd go with melees/wars (SCA). Individual bouts I can get at fighter practice -- although a tournament does bring a different level of intensity to the experience. But ther...

Adriano

Just bumping, in case anybody else might be interested in this event this weekend.

Out of Commission for the Year

Kong(R) mace heads outlawed in Meridies

(SCA) Rules you didn't know you were breaking

Gambeson and hauberk