The Armour Archive

Kilkenny

Respectfully, you're missing the point. What I've done (and all I've done) is confirm that the tannins themselves aren't doing anything b/c of the heat. If all you want is end product, then this discussion is irrelevant to you. Feel free to disregard. However, for those who actually want to underst...

Kilkenny

After some experimentation i must ask, will the end result of Bake hardened leather have any flexibility left to it or will it be stiff as wood? In my experience the surface feels hard, tapping it will sound like you're tapping on wood, but it will definitely have some flexibility and some spring t...

Kilkenny

That part's old-hat, Kel, but what does "in the presence of" mean? Chemically speaking, that's pseudoscience. But I'll hold on and see what you can dredge up. mutter. It's not scientific to dismiss information due to the form of presentation. Kel's telling you that it takes three things to harden l...

Kilkenny

Satin sheen tends to be best on things that won't flex, so the scabbard, probably yes, the belt, would not recommend. Leather balm is great stuff, but not really a sealant, so much as a conditioner and polish. Neutral shoe polish, same story really. You're applying a paste wax and buffing it in. Thi...

Kilkenny

I understand you and I felt I needed to correct a statement that has been made by more than a few folks lately that suggests that when tired we are more likely to cause an injury to someone else where the reality is that the more tired you are the more likely it is that you will be injured. :wink: ...

Kilkenny

There are techniques that are inherently destructive to our bodies. Learn to recognize and avoid using them. There are exercises that focus on strengthening parts that our sport is very demanding on - learn to recognize and utilize them ;) And there are crappy things that happen whether or not we ar...

Kilkenny

I know that this is your game and I should not bother, but on the base of what, do you think that hitting hard is period? mm.. dunno. Maybe archaeological evidence, such as the Wisby remains? Could be mistaken, but I think some of those bodies and their gear show evidence of having been hit with so...

Kilkenny

This week makes 35 years fighting in the SCA for me. I’ve had one bone in my hand broken by a blow, torn both ACL’s, probably a few concussions, and could not count the bruises. If a good shot misses armor it should leave a bruise more often than not. I’ve been hit by 2 inch tips many times over th...

Kilkenny

The only product that I know for sure is food safe is salad bowl sealant. I use it to coat the insides of drinking horns after I subject them to a rigorous cleaning. It probably wouldn't seal the leather seams of a jack, but perhaps it could be used over the top of Envirotex, if that's used on the ...

Kilkenny

I use the same method that Vitus does, though Between hardening and waxing, I apply tooling and oil-based dyes. THEN I apply the wax coat which starts with warm beeswax, but the final coating is a combination of beeswax and neatsfoot oil that I rendered into a paste. This gives the final coat a nic...

Kilkenny

Seriously, there is no SCA regulatory basis for not permitting a hardened leather shield boss. Personally, I wouldn't use any boss without wearing adequate hand protection inside it. If the hand protection you are wearing would be legal behind a standard strapped shield, then no marshal has any busi...

Kilkenny

I use the same method that Vitus does, though Between hardening and waxing, I apply tooling and oil-based dyes. THEN I apply the wax coat which starts with warm beeswax, but the final coating is a combination of beeswax and neatsfoot oil that I rendered into a paste. This gives the final coat a nic...

Kilkenny

Daggrim, Thank you for the advice, you give me an idea. As i was wondering about the hardening of the leather on it's ability to form. Cariadoc's essay on water hardening says that the leather loses it's stretch and hardens within a few minutes after removing from he water. This makes sense if it i...

Kilkenny

With wax hardening, shape with water, dry in a low setting in the oven. Make sure that the leather is bone dry, then wax harden. I don't use anything other than dipping into a vat. The wax should be hot, but not smoking. Be patient when warming this up, as parafin is a combustable gas ( and stinks)...

Kilkenny

"If noone gets hurt, we arent doing it right" If someone gets hurt (more than a bruise/bite) someone's doing it wrong. If it's the armor then shame on the builder/wearer. If it's the guy swinging the stick, then they need to work their head problems out somewhere else. That brightline distinction s...

Kilkenny

I know that this is your game and I should not bother, but on the base of what, do you think that hitting hard is period? mm.. dunno. Maybe archaeological evidence, such as the Wisby remains? Could be mistaken, but I think some of those bodies and their gear show evidence of having been hit with so...

Kilkenny

Read Duke Paul's stuff. Slow work without a pell, lots of exercises to do. Good training guide, good advice, good habits to develop. You could wind up benefiting from not having a pell

Kilkenny

Why is a rule change for looks a bad thing? woodgrain fiberglass spear shafts look better than whippy rattan, and the 2 inch tips certainly help me pull on my suspenders of disbelief when I fight. Interesting. That statement is so completely loaded with personal opinion stated as fact that it just ...

Kilkenny

My concern with hardening these pieces is just that the cuisses, vambraces, and rerebraces all wrap at least most of the way if not the entire way around the limb. If they were totally hardened, putting them on and taking them off would be difficult. I am assuming this based on my limited experienc...

Kilkenny

i don't have a anvil at the moment more a of a piece of steel on concrete and my uncle(family friend) sell art and does estate sales and i asked about a anvil and that ineed good steel one. size doesn't matter it will go in my workshop and he will get it for me at no cost or very cheaply what anvil...

Kilkenny

You do realize that the part of the armour that is being discussed is completely obscured by the elbow cops in the effigy you referenced, right ? ;) Certainly. Got any evidence of anyone wearing bazubands under cops? ;) Sure, you posted the link. Neither of us can prove what is under the elbow cops...

Kilkenny

And here's an interesting link I just found on the thread "14th Century Seinsheim armor questions?" over in Historical Research. Effigy of Günther von Schwarzburg, died 1349. Check out the arm defenses. Looks almost identical. http://effigiesandbrasses.com/monuments/gunther_von_schwarzburg_a/image/...

Kilkenny

Effingham wrote:Something I'm interested by, and no one has mentioned, is the apparent "heart-shape" to the top of the vambrace -- like it is shy of actually covering or pointing to the elbow.

I find that an interesting design.

It's what makes many of us think of bazubands when we look at these pieces.

Kilkenny

Russ Mitchell wrote:Then again, flip it around. Say they're both thrusting swords. Gladius and Rapier, side by side. Don't that just also blow the hypothesis right out of the water?

I absolutely agree that it does. Which was part of why I commented

Kilkenny

Hi, I am looking for a period source (fechtbuch, preferably) that shows slashing being done at close quarters with a long sword - does anyone know of a good source for that? I am reviewing a book where the author states that slashing requires more space than stabbing, and so slashing swords are nec...

Kilkenny

I am a fan of foam neoprene. Higher density than typical open cell, softer than typical close cell. Works really well, imo.

Kilkenny

Tod wrote:
AvM wrote:Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion
Which book is this from?

Kilkenny

As James said, they are chrome tanned. If they are a light color, you can darken them with mink oil. And most leather will accept black. You'll need to strip them first. Just use rubbing alcohol to take off any sealing finish and polish. Let them dry and use a modern black dye. Seal with modern bla...

Kilkenny

In case anyone cares, I was told by Envirotex that their product is not rated food safe for this sort of contact. Their description is for indirect food contact - counters and the like. LePrevo in England used to sell a food safe black pitch of which I still have a bit left. They tell me their supp...

Kilkenny

I noticed that your self-made carving knife is pencil length. I recommend trying a short version, about the length of modern swivel knives, that you can put your index finger over (like in the saddle on a swivel knife). I had a friend make me a couple on that pattern a few years ago and one of them ...

Kilkenny

Andrew Sterner wrote:What about salad bowl sealant? Is that acceptable to use, and if so, what restrictions should be in place to prevent poisoning/damaging the jack.

Pretty sure it just won't do the job on leather. It is not really a sealer in the way that leather needs to be sealed.

Kilkenny

Your Grace, Who drinks hot stuff from a leather jack??? it is like trying to have a shot of tequila from a cafe au lait bowl! The pricing sounds quite reasonable. btw. I like how the Brits seem to have taken to the "Tudor" jacks, which are also used by in Two Towers. http://img403.imageshack.us/img...

Kilkenny

They won't in themselves have the positive balancing effect of the metal ones, though. I'd sooner use that leather to build heavy-leather demigaunts to shove inside a welded-bar hand-cage. Konstantin, did I miss where the OP asked for recommendations on how to use his leather? I thought I saw a que...

Kilkenny

I wonder why simply lining a jack with well rubbed beeswax is not sufficient to make the leather and seams waterproof. By the way, what would be a fair price to pay for a 1 Pint jack? I may consider getting one for events. Thanks! Glaukos Edited: I found this template online: m and this one m and t...

Kilkenny

Ancient history I had a pair of them for fighting two sword. Took loads of hits, blocked lots of thrusts. Wore them with lacrosse gloves. Would not recommend using them with street hockey gloves and anything less would just be dumb, imo.

Untreated sole leather.

Re: Experiment this Weekend: Carta Boili

Re: Hardening leather: the finer points (not remaking the wh

Re: Experiment this Weekend: Carta Boili

Re: protecting painted leather

Re: If noone gets hurt, we arent doing it right

Re: Long term wear and tear...

Re: If noone gets hurt, we arent doing it right

Re: If noone gets hurt, we arent doing it right

Re: How do you make a Leather Jack (mug)?

Re: Hardening leather: the finer points (not remaking the wh

Re: shield boss material, Leather?

Re: Hardening leather: the finer points (not remaking the wh

Re: Hardening leather: the finer points (not remaking the wh

Re: Hardening leather: the finer points (not remaking the wh

Re: If noone gets hurt, we arent doing it right

Re: If noone gets hurt, we arent doing it right

Re: pelling with no pell

Re: If noone gets hurt, we arent doing it right

Re: How would unhardened tooling stand up in SCA

Re: field armor of king Henry VII of England

Re: Leather vambraces found in Estonia AND Lithuania!

Re: Leather vambraces found in Estonia AND Lithuania!

Re: Leather vambraces found in Estonia AND Lithuania!

Re: sources for slashing at close quarters

Re: sources for slashing at close quarters

Re: Helmet padding study

Re: Leather tunics and/or arming caps. No such thing?

Re: Boot dyeing

Re: How do you make a Leather Jack (mug)?

Re: Making 14th cent. leather greaves

Re: How do you make a Leather Jack (mug)?

Re: How do you make a Leather Jack (mug)?

Re: leather sword basket?

Re: How do you make a Leather Jack (mug)?

Re: leather sword basket?