The Armour Archive

Kilkenny

This seems to me an inversion of the way things were in former ages--the torso is one of the first places that SCA fighters will skimp on armour in order to save weight, while it was one of the first places a historical warrior would have wanted armour. Weird. Why do you think they did it that way?...

Kilkenny

Random idea.. but what about shaping around a wax form. After drying it could be melted out at a low temp and possibly help seal it from the inside as well? With a split mold you could just recast and keep going. The thing is, you want to sew the pieces together and then form them, not try to form ...

Kilkenny

First, as has been mentioned already, some torso protection is mandated under the rules. You should read the rules that specify exactly what armour is required for the kingdom you live in before you go any further with your planning. After you've read the rules, if you need clarification on anything...

Kilkenny

It's a pain in the ass to cure properly so that it is safe. But, if you follow the instructions, it is actually food safe. Ahh but truely 'safe' for prolonged use? All these 'mold' food grade silicon products I've checked on have told me flat out NOT to use them in bottles or jacks where the foor i...

Kilkenny

Vitus, The vambraces in the chest are another (earlier) find. In our excitement about the Estonian find, everyone has forgotten about them.... m Here is where we discussed the find http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=136976&hilit=vambraces+leather+chest Mac ah.. right...

Kilkenny

But etched splints would be wrong. Armor isn't etched until almost 1500. But it is probably quicker than engraving! Not historically accurate is not the same thing as "wrong" I don't try to make forgeries. I try to make pieces inspired by historical examples. Not replica. Besides, I can d...

Kilkenny

JB, I actually disagree about the black and blue thing. With the right gear on, I rarely get a bruise or even a serious mark. Now when I armor down some, I will get a bit bruised up, but in Atlantian Tank mode? Nah, nothing really. The armoring level of the combattants will also play a serious role...

Kilkenny

*crossposting from the 2" spear tips thread. * This does not exist in the SCA. The SCA says "this minimum", so people that want minimum do, and people that don't want minimums wear more, and everybody has a different definition of what constitutes "good", so you get the var...

Kilkenny

most of the food-safe urethane and silicon are not really 'safe' for prolonged use. I've contacted at least 60 producers of these food-safe products about using them in leather bottels and castrels and every one of then do NOT recommend using their products in this fashion. They've told me their pr...

Kilkenny

Awesome find, but, like Gavin, I've now got more questions than answers. I wouldn't say I have more questions than answers I've got the biggest question answered - splinted lea splints other is NOT just a theoretical interpretation of artistic representations anymore. We have surviving examples. No...

Kilkenny

Sand is a fairly common choice, but there's a reason many of us try to avoid it - tends to stick to damp leather and be a pain to get out of all the crevices at the seams. Some thoughts on how it was really done in period run toward wooden blocks assembled as 3d puzzles inside the leather. It's an ...

Kilkenny

Is that because of the kits or the people wearing them? The Russians and Ukranians basically invented this game, so it follows they would be pretty good at it. Cheers, I think it's safe to say it's a combination of both. Even if I'm equal with the guy across from me on the field skill-wise, add 20 ...

Kilkenny

I use sand to pack my bottles. You can get pretty fine sand from a toy store that sells it for sand boxes for under 5 dollars. Uric Sand is a fairly common choice, but there's a reason many of us try to avoid it - tends to stick to damp leather and be a pain to get out of all the crevices at the se...

Kilkenny

James B. wrote:What I mean is that I wondered the same things about the straps, the elbow, ect

gotcha. sorry for the snark.

Really great finds, loads of fun!

Kilkenny

I have used plastic bags from the grocery with some success. It's also possible to get the form started by just blowing into the mouth of the bottle. I suspect with the proper setup they can be done entirely by inflating with air.. I would not think the air would stretch it as much as other methods...

Kilkenny

You and I are looking at the same details. Really? I hadn't figured that out. I thought you had a supersecret decoder ring that was letting you see in some ultra high detail uv spectrum or something. James - of course we're looking at the same picture, with the same information. You're just willing...

Kilkenny

Brian certainly has valid points. I would note, however, that there's nothing wrong with conditioned response. You just need to be sure that you aren't standing there against a live opponent waiting for a little light to blink before you hit them Here's an example of how the conditioned response fit...

Kilkenny

How long do you think those pressure sensitive lights would last considering what we would be doing to them? I think you're conflating two separate things - the lights, which you do not hit, and the pressure sensors, which you do hit. Appropriate pressure sensors ought to stand up well, and you oug...

Kilkenny

If you look at the linked PDF the photo is larger and you can blow it up in a PDF. And I still can't see sufficient detail to let me draw a firm conclusion about the splinting pattern I am curious about many things shown in these. Like; the elbow shape which is extremely reminiscent of bazubands; t...

Kilkenny

I have used plastic bags from the grocery with some success. It's also possible to get the form started by just blowing into the mouth of the bottle. I suspect with the proper setup they can be done entirely by inflating with air..

Kilkenny

Quoting Steve here, from a long and involved thread that goes much further into the whole subject of historical basis for fighting with two equal length swords: I can provide only extensive material on two sword Godinho, and it is "not ready for prime time" as far as a translation is conce...

Kilkenny

MJBlazek wrote:What Kingdom?

I have one on mine. I'm in the East.

Ditto. I have made good use of it and seen others do so as well.

Kilkenny

James and Alcyoneus

You're both drawing more conclusions from the photos than I am comfortable with. It's entirely possible that you're both correct, but I can't see enough in the photo provided to reach a conclusion one way or another.

Kilkenny

I am distinctly not ambidextrous, but made it a point long ago to get both hands to the point where they could each do whatever was needed. I believe Steve Hick is preparing a presentation on one of the period manuals addressing the use of two long swords. I know he posted something about it in one ...

Kilkenny

The training tool is interesting and the addition of the pressure sensors that will let you track the time between the light going off and you hitting the target will make for some interesting data. And it doesn't hurt that you can effectively turn pell work into a game in which you can keep score O...

Kilkenny

Interesting, Kel. It's not so much that I think Townsend has it wrong as that I don't think they have it right for renaissance era jacks or the leather bottels found over a larger geographic and temporal range. I doubt I'm ever going to come across an equivalent to "On Diverse Arts" for th...

Kilkenny

And the race starts for the first AA armorer to make a set for the CoTT where they would be close enough to pass... Did a set for Stephen of Forth Castle a while back. Honestly, there have been a good number of very similar pieces made by modern armourers based on the imagery available. It's nice t...

Kilkenny

The difference between Wisby and Towton was the armour (from Blood Red Roses book on Towton). The sallet and capel-de-fer are easy to toss off the head, making the now unarmoured head a good target. The Wisby find had mail covering their heads, and one head had mail still on the head. The theory wa...

Kilkenny

Jas townsend is about the only source I know for brewers pitch... unless you want to collect and strain your own. Old pine trees that are trimmed regularly will from balls of the stuff where they get damaged by trimmers or have had low limbs removed. aahh. Yeah, that stuff. As near as I can tell fr...

Kilkenny

Heat brewers pitch and add wax about half by weight. Pour and swirl around then pour out excess let cool if it looks solid check for leaks. If it leaks let dry then add another coat. Buff on warm bees wax to seal the outside. Biggest problem I've found with brewer's pitch is finding the stuff It's ...

Kilkenny

It isn't illegal. The shot doesn't count. Since you can't prove that someone wasn't aiming there it falls into a separate category. g- The stated intent of the OP involved feinting at an illegal target. That is illegal. Don't have to prove anything, since the OP phrased the question the way he did....

Kilkenny

10-12 oz would have to be hardened. 14-16 oz could be worn without any hardening. Actually, no. 11 oz. is sufficient without treatment, according to the rules. But, 16 ga. (.065?) mild steel is legal for a helm, too. There are places I consider 11 oz leather quite sufficient, and places where I wou...

Kilkenny

Reading some accounts of battlefield conditions at the time of the battle. October 25, 1415 One of the apparent eye witnesses notes the usual that the weather had been foul and raining. Also then writes that "the field was freshly plowed and planted with corn". Would it have been corn or ...

Kilkenny

LOL, Danish and German are close enough that I can usually get a clue about the subject matter. Google translate is my friend after that. Provided I know enough about the subject to fill in the syntax snafus I tend to do okay and in this case I do know the subject pretty well. Occasionally I have t...

Kilkenny

I would just wonder how an opponent would "know" you were swinging for their lower leg rather than their thigh? Especially if you are purposefully missing. I honestly can't even imagine the "shot" Not sure what you are asking here. I can certainly tell where my opponent's shots ...

Re: (SCA) Body armor needed?

Re: Leather workers

Re: (SCA) Body armor needed?

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

Re: Leather vambraces found in Estonia AND Lithuania!

Re: Leather vambraces found in Estonia AND Lithuania!

Re: SCA Heavy Combat's Inherent Problem

Re: SCA Heavy Combat's Inherent Problem

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

Re: Leather vambraces found in Estonia AND Lithuania!

Re: Leather workers

Re: SCA and Battle of Nations

Re: Leather workers

Re: Leather vambraces found in Estonia AND Lithuania!

Re: Leather workers

Re: Leather vambraces found in Estonia AND Lithuania!

Re: Shot speed training / Training device

Re: Shot speed training / Training device

Re: Leather vambraces found in Estonia AND Lithuania!

Re: Leather workers

Re: Florentine videos

Re: thrusty on mace?

Re: Leather vambraces found in Estonia AND Lithuania!

Re: Florentine videos

Re: Shot speed training / Training device

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

Re: Leather vambraces found in Estonia AND Lithuania!

Re: SCA-Throwing at the lower leg

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

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

Re: SCA-Throwing at the lower leg

Re: What counts as "heavy leather" for SCA rules?

Re: Fall weather conditions in France Angincourt timeframe

Re: Leather vambraces found in Estonia

Re: SCA-Throwing at the lower leg