The Armour Archive

T. Finkas

There are plenty of illustrations of 15th century dismounted archers clad in thigh-high boots and fighting a-foot, and not a horse in view. That's all I needed to justify wearing riding boots in combat---as an archer. Where's my horse? Uh...over there behind those trees.

Cheers,
Tim

T. Finkas

Wow, that looks like a great first piece! I wish the photos were a bit clearer---they make me wonder if justice to your work is being done. I like how shallow the bottom skirt is in the back and how steep the angle is from chin to nape, it looks very true to the actual illustrations IMHO. Most armou...

T. Finkas

But did you make them?

T. Finkas

Those are wonderful bracer-like thingees. Very handsome! The Wood Elves are going to be very cross you made off with them <running and ducking>. But seriously, ML, are these part of an ensemble where you are obstensibly trying to be historical for the SCA? Or are they part of a Ren-Fest or LARP cost...

T. Finkas

Animal: Your harness is coming along nicely! Bravo! ---------------- To the List: Latest developments in my quest towards a Scythian Impression--- Today I ordered an "Old Scythian" bow from Grozer, custom made to be no more than 30# at 28" draw so I can use it with fiberglass-shafted blunts in SCA c...

T. Finkas

The two guys in the second picture don't seem to be wearing anything that looks at all like an SCA kidney belt. The top picture looks like a 19th century engraving or something, and besides...wouldn't that item around his waist be made of metal, not leather like most SCA kidney belts? And the figur...

T. Finkas

I like it. If it were cheaper I'd buy it and move the visor up an inch or so.

T. Finkas

Some very well-thought replies thus far. I hope my friend is pleased. I like sharing what I know about something. However, the pressure to be dead-on accurate is sometimes more stress than I can manage. I typically sprinkle my offerings with a liberal amount of caveats such as "might have", "seems t...

T. Finkas

Steve, Good point. I will reserve any further comments to the separate thread I have already started. I will not address any further challenges or comments here in Torvaldr's thread. Although I did not start the derailment of this thread, I DID contribute to it. For that I appologize. Torvaldr, I ap...

T. Finkas

Stephan, Good points. IMHO, the issue of whether the armour feels/functions/fits as historical armour did is effectively trumped for the early period of the SCA by safety issues. Participants who wish to portray early period warriors must compromise some authenticity in favor of safety in some aspec...

T. Finkas

Wow, that's some pretty stuff, Gregory. Did you paint the bow or did it come that way? It's gorgeous!

Cheers,
Tim

T. Finkas

Gavin, I hear your criticism and accept it. Please understand that the sort of frank expression as you have seen from me here, I generally reserve for HERE on the Archive. And I do not hide behind a screen name. This forum seems appropriate for such frankness, or am I off on my assessment? I appolog...

T. Finkas

I agree with plastic's desirability as hidden armour. I'd rather use plastic because it is more durable and more easily maintained than leather when in a situation where it's likely to be regularly soaked in sweat. In my current kit, I wear a gambeson as torso armour. In order to meet the SCA rule o...

T. Finkas

So maybe derisive comments are the way to go? "Conan called...he wants his belt back" "Hey Kevin Costner...what's with the leather cuffs?" "You must be a very good archer...you are wearing a bracer on BOTH forearms" "What's with the weight belt...you just get back from the health club?" right. I'm ...

T. Finkas

This sort of thing isn't limited to the SCA. Many viking/Frankish LH / re-enactment groups around here also have many folk sporting a pair of leather bracers as forearm protection. I've had to explain to a couple of friends how they're basically modern safety gear, just like the leather-reinforced ...

T. Finkas

It seems like a moronic made-up fashion that too few people seem to question in the SCA. I mean, c'mon...how absolutely absurd are these things? I ask you. This is exactly the kind of remark that gets you nowhere. Constructive criticism blends compliment and critique without ever resorting to name ...

T. Finkas

Great article. That's what I based my repro on:

It's slightly wider by period standards at one inch.

Cheers,
Tim

T. Finkas

Hi folks, a friend of mine asked me to post this for him: Question: If people have knowledge, do they have a duty to share it? If so, why? -------------- Please note, this has nothing to do with me, so I won't even venture my opinion here lest I color the waters at the start. My friend is in the aca...

T. Finkas

Greetings to all my Steppe Brothers (and sisters), I am getting a bunch of copies of German articles on Scythians from Giano sometime in the near future. Once I get them translated I will make them available to whoever wants them. I am already in the process of growing my hair and beard back out for...

T. Finkas

Hehe. I am going to back off for now---I relinquish my dibs.

T. Finkas

I have been there. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/finkas/Vanity.jpg There is nothing quite like taking your boat out on her maiden voyage, rowing till your hands are bloody---and not caring a whit. The stress just rolls off! By Gots, am I envious! Cheers to you!!! Tim

T. Finkas

Ashcraft-Baker's "Sallet" might fill the bill. They are very economically priced: [img]http://www.ashcraftbaker.com/sallet%201.jpg[/img] $125 www.ashcraftbaker.com -------------- Or even cheaper from Therion Arms at $90 [img]http://therionarms.com/reenact/thumb_opera228.jpg[/img] m -------------- Or...

T. Finkas

...Leather vambraces are one thing... What areas and cultures are leather vambraces appropriate for? I know they appear in late medieval/early renaissance tournament harness. Is there any evidence for them being used in other contexts? Don't offer what you "think" you know, tell me where there is s...

T. Finkas

So maybe derisive comments are the way to go?

"Conan called...he wants his belt back"

"Hey Kevin Costner...what's with the leather cuffs?"

"You must be a very good archer...you are wearing a bracer on BOTH forearms"

"What's with the weight belt...you just get back from the health club?"

T. Finkas

PM sent

T. Finkas

Of course, I was referring to the omnipresent SCA/Ren Faire PAIR of bracers. Does this occur in ANYTHING other than movies featuring Conan or Robin Hood? http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/scrapbook/Lasgalen/hr_Bracers2.jpg Archer's bracers are another matter entirely. They were not worn in that fo...

T. Finkas

Ultra Wide Belts (aka Kidney belts, Weightlifter Belts), Leather Bracers/Cuffs/Vambraces*, and other SCA-isms? Okay folks. If you believe in these items as historically accurate elements, let's see the evidence. I love to learn new things! However...if these things are just monkey-see-monkey-do SCA-...

T. Finkas

... Bazuband type hardened leather arms (yes I know basubands are not period for my persona, but it is close enough to plain leather bracers and keeps my elbows safe and happy)... I am confused. Are you implying that leather bracers are documentable? AFAIK not even archers were wearing leather brac...

T. Finkas

I do NOT want to slam Torvalder. Perhaps he is just a craftsman trying to make some money by making items that people want. However, if this is for the SCA, the buyer is extremely misguided if he thinks this belt has a place in a medieval Norse harness. It might be useful as hidden armor, yet it is ...

T. Finkas

Are you re-enacting Germany in the 1920's?

Sorry---FOUND in the 1920's. My bad.

T. Finkas

[quote="Alcyoneus"]I haven't watched it in awhile, but this is the armor used in Arthur, isn't i? If not (I don't remember if he had the 'wrap'), it was based on it...quote] I didn't think so when I saw it. IIRC it looked like a mix of medieval, period Roman, and fantasy elements with scal...

T. Finkas

You got it, Gregory. I will try and make the stuff Giano sends me available to interested folks here in the US. Maybe someday we'll have a Scythian encampment at Pennsic!

Cheers,
Tim

T. Finkas

Alcy,

I will be happy to share whatever Giano is able to provide to me.

Tim

T. Finkas

Unless the US version of that book is significantly different from the German one, the description of how to make the armour is in there. It is not a 'how-to' guide, but dimensions, shapes, numbers and conmnetions of all scales are given. It is in the chapter by Aleksandr Minshulin about the Gladko...

T. Finkas

Dan,

I love the indented grooves you put into the top of the hand. That would have been the choice for mine as well but since mine have a piece of high density polyethelene sandwiched between the two layers of the back of the hand, such nice details were not practical.

Cheers,
Tim

Re: Plastic

Duty to Share Knowledge???

Ultra Wide Belts, Leather Bracers, and other SCA-isms?