The Armour Archive

Ernst

Those in the picture look like they laced closed at the back of the leg. Most mail chausses which I have seen in sources dated to before c. 1240 are laced across the back of the leg. Villard de Honnecourt's examples are done in such a manner. I suspect the cross-hatch is simply another method for s...

Ernst

I know wool chausses/hose were cut on the bias to give more stretch and cling. When I saw this miniature, I thought, "Hanging the mail on the diagonal would explain the picture." I can't think of any reason why this would be done, especially on laced-back chausses, but Matthew Amt noted to...

Ernst

Perhaps you should have some standard sub-sets, like (n) for nasaled examples?

http://www.thehaca.com/Manuals/i33/port ... arly13.JPG

The same probably goes for (f) for fluted/faceted examples.

Ernst

Mac, We've discussed the Phrygian examples over the years, and there is always debate concerning their accuracy or basis in historical examples. Velislav Picture Bible, NK XXIII.C.124 f.15r, c. 1340: Abraham m Romance of Alexander, MS Bodl. 264 folios 231v, 236r, 255r, c.1400 m m m Folio 236r (secon...

Ernst

I have seen three additional forms represented in miniatures: 1. Phrygian points--I've seen these in at least one Czech Bible and the the c. 1400 section of the Bodleian Romance of Alexander. 2. Riveted fronts--Seemingly this is an early to mid-14th century thing. 3.Great bascinet transitions--I thi...

Ernst

A mixing of two events, perhaps? The U.S. Navy did use modern mail with overlapped rings for the purpose, as Vik notes, these are surplus items. The British did chop up mail for the lower half of tank masks in the Great War of 1914-1918.

Ernst

There is a surviving Roman scale fragment where the scales are sewn to a linen twill. Some of the late Polish scale armors are riveted to elk hide. The biggest problem with rivets in my view is redundancy of systems. If you have two rivets per scale, and one rivet fails, you have a loose knife edge ...

Ernst

Seperate gorgets can be seen beneath mail in several figures in the Maciejowski Bible where coifs have been thrown back. There is mention at the Battle of Bouvines of an attempt to remove a noblman's pair of baleen to stab him in the neck. If gorgets of whalebone persisted into the 14th century, I d...

Ernst

Armas is best translated 'arms'. It is a bias by the tranlator to presume this to mean armor, though it is one limited translation. There are a number of accounts in Garcilaso de la Vega, el Inca's, La Florida del Inca of arrow wounds. Although I'm not particularly fond of the Varner & Varner t...

Ernst

A Potuguese knight who accompanied the entrada of Hernando de Soto some years later gives one good explanation. See the online account of the "Gentleman of Elves" (Hidalgo de Yelves to the Castillians) about p. 26: m Arrows with points of fish bone, stone, or other attached tips usually sa...

Ernst

I've never seen evidence for padding on Indo-Persian examples. I doubt having mail driven into your face causes as much damage as a saber cut.

Ernst

There's a mid-14th century French effigy which shows the elbow seam replaced with a circular pattern. Think of a slit in the sleeve filled with a mini-coif top. I've built one butted example in that manner which worked well enough. I prefer the elbow to be not directly at the rear of the sleeve, but...

Ernst

Schmitthenner wrote:I found this a while back and apologize if it has already been addressed.
I couldn't find anything here on the Archive.
http://gladius.revistas.csic.es/index.p ... File/21/22

Check this same forum about two weeks ago for the "conquistadors & maille" thread.

Ernst

Illuminations are nice, but here is a helmet from a little later then the period the originator was looking for that is painted (the cross is not brasswork, it's painted on). Now the question remains, is it the original paint job or something done later to make it look spiffy on someone's mantle? I...

Ernst

Perhaps one of the ranks of horsemen in the woodcuts from the Triumph of Maximilian?

Ernst

Thanks earnest. I've been reviewing the whole issue of leather-covered plate. The example noted by Randall Storey in his thesis notes that in 1344 royal clerks purchased 44 bascinets for 16d each, and payed to have them covered in white leather for 10d each. Clearly, men were ready to pay substantia...

Ernst

On my templar surcoat, I have the cross on the front over my left breast. Is there any support for any cross on the back. I have one but was thinking of removing it if its not accurate. Oh and I have a transitional great helm on the bench to tweak the helm accuracy. I've never seen any call or visu...

Ernst

You might want to check out the thread concerning painting helmets on the Historical Recreation forum. Earnest Caruthers believes the best choice is an oil based lacquer with pigment, based on Theophilus. If he's correct, a high-gloss would be more "period".

Ernst

Since I don't own a cheap Dover reprint of Theophilus's writings on diverse arts, I am left with a question. Does the monk begin with something akin to, "To make oil paint, do these things" or, does he suggest, "To make a paint suitable for painting on panel or to illustrate books&quo...

Ernst

I am not certain that the evidence points toward oil-based paints for the period requested by Drogo, 1280-1320. The 1322 regulation cited by ffoulkes forbids the covering of helmets as done previously. Randall Storey has documentation of covering helmets with white leather. (IIRC the cost of coverin...

Ernst

I don't want to get into an Earnest v. Ernst. There's no need. A site search will show previous discussions. The subject of painted armor has come up numerous times before on the board in various forums and the final conclusion is always one of qualifiers. Images are representations. We know that he...

Ernst

For those who own the booklet, a comparison photograph may be found in Osprey's MAA #155, The Knights of Christ , Terrence Wise, 1984, p.33: "Effigy of Frey Martin Vasquez de Arce of the Order of Santiago, killed before Grenada in 1486. From his tomb in the cathedral at Siguenza. Note the mantl...

Ernst

Perhaps some of Coronado's men were equipped with scale armor? Astounding!

http://gladius.revistas.csic.es/index.p ... load/21/22

Ernst

They are very often seen in eastern europe but also quite frequently in 'germanic' scenes. Scale aventail/camails are very common well into the 15th century for soldiers on foot in germanic contexts. Yep-this I remember. But what about earlier, do you recall a topfhelm with a scale avantail? Thanks...

Ernst

Here's an incised brass showing two fellows using swallow-tail garters:

http://www.mbs-brasses.co.uk/page257.html

I suppose that counts as a really small belt?

Ernst

To further the point, early American football helmets had no face mask, i.e. bar grills. It was not long after the introduction of that equipment that severe penalties for grabbing the face mask were introduced to avoid serious neck injuries.

Ernst

Sir Griswold's sergeant's helmet seems to have a slight flare to the top too.

The pellet with the poison's in the flagon with the dragon. The chalice from the palace has the brew that is true.

Ernst

An earlier heaume in Harley 3244 has a flared top.

http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminated ... %20f.%2028

Ernst

http://diglit.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/digl ... 1/071v.jpg

Konrad's Rolandslied shows the early T-nasal face mask.

http://templars.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/becket1.jpg

Some have suggested fitzUrse's chin guard would have supported a mask/visor.

Ernst

Fernando de la Cerda's funerary jupon might offer some guidance, although it dates to about 75 years earlier.

http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~Marc-Ca ... ress4.html

Ernst

Yes, olsk does rock.

I wasn't trying to be rude or curt in my response; I simply have been pressed for time myself, and was unable to provide further time for research. Please let us know what you may find of note, Graham.

Ernst

modus faciendi duellum coram rege

Google will at least provide other references, and some copies of 18th century texts discussing the laws under Richard II.

Ernst

Perhaps for the same reason modern armies don't put bar grills on helmets?

Ernst

24 or 32 tooth per inch with oil gives a very clean cut. Take your time, let the saw do the cutting, don't push it unless you want to break the blade, and wear hearing protection.

Ernst

Of course there is that pesky reference provided by Charles ffoulkes from the Armourers Company of London, 1322: That is to saie that an Akton and Gambezon covered with sendall or of cloth of Silke be stuffed with new clothe of cotten... Plain white aketons were filled with old linen and cotton (loo...

"Bias-cut" mail chausses?

Re: Scale Medieval European Armour?

Re: TEMPLAR SURCOATS

Re: modus faciendi duellum