The Armour Archive

Chris Gilman

Do you have any more information on the helm?
Where was it found?
When?
Is it in a museum or private collection?
What shape are the plates?
How big are the plates?
Is there any other details, such as holes, surface decoration, gilding?

Chris Gilman

Is there a source for high quality dead steel?

Any idea how the term "live steel" got started? I mean, steel isn't alive or dead is it?

Chris Gilman

Anyone have a pic of the dig knife? Is this link showing up to everyone? Here is a link to some info on the original. m It seems a number of people have asked for info and I posted this link in my first post. Is it like a friction folder? Also in my first post. [quote]The blade Ã¢â‚¬Å“snapsÃ¢â‚¬Â

Chris Gilman

Sir Gaston In the upper left photo no blade protrusion from slab ends. How do you get the blade to lock in place with this configuration compared to the friction lock over the dual pin system of the original? Cedri Good Journeys It works the same as the original. The blade is at the other end, incl...

Chris Gilman

Alcyoneus wrote:Are both ends sharp?

Yes, very

Chris Gilman

Just completed a Viking age folding knife.
Here is a link to some info on the original.
http://www.mathomhouse.com/regia/refere ... knife.html
Here is a photo of one I made. The blade Ã¢â‚¬Å“snapsÃ¢â‚¬Â

Chris Gilman

Kilkenny wrote:
Krieger wrote:I don't care what ANY of you say....

I still think it's real!

It *is* real. It's just not what he said it was. We can't *all* be imagining the same thing...I hope...fervently

Gavin

If you notice, I didn't say it was anything. I just asked "What if?"

Chris Gilman

What if.... the director of the TV show Bones wanted an Iron Age skeleton and didn't want it just a pile of bones, as it should be?
I did say, What if...

We thought it was funny that a show called Ã¢â‚¬Å“BonesÃ¢â‚¬Â

Chris Gilman

What if my father in law, who lives in Northern Finland, was to find something buried on his property? What if he has sent me some photos to do some research on. What if He wants to know what period this is and if he can keep this find. ( what if he wants me to have it.) I would think if you find so...

Chris Gilman

Here is a shot of the full kits at Estrella.

Chris Gilman

Looks good! Nice to see another kit together.

Chris Gilman

Folcric wrote:That bust you've got the helm on looks just like my dad.. creepy. Awesome helm, can't wait to see the sugarloaf that goes with it.
~Folcric

Funny, it's me. How old are you?...no I'm not your dad

Chris Gilman

Excellent! Tell me, are the brows and nasal solid or foil? The gold brows are lost wax cast, the silver brows are hammered .125 silver and both nasels are cast. The crest on the gold one is sheet material, not cast. The foils where pressed on plates, this is how the originals where done. The Vendel...

Chris Gilman

Sir Gaston, On the other thread where you posted images of your tools, you mention a "repousse by the numbers" book you got at Artmart. Would you be so kind as to share the ISBN number with us or the title and author as I would love to get a copy of that. Oh and beautiful work. I hope to possess su...

Chris Gilman

Here is the finished shield. [img]http://globaleffects.com/Temp/shield1.jpg[/img] Here are the details requested of my Vendel helm. I weighed this helm and it is 4lbs, 12 oz. [img]http://globaleffects.com/Temp/vendaldetail.jpg[/img] Oh, did I mention I was making 2 Vendel helmets? This one is based ...

Chris Gilman

There was a short lived rule (or at least a rumor of one) that sca fighters back in the day who fought in cap and great helm or bascinet and great helm were allowed to "call" the first shot to the head and die on the second hit. Whether this was a way to promote this style of helm or some wierd sta...

Chris Gilman

Thanks all. Some answers to the questions. The helm is based on an effigy. A copy of Stothards drawing can be seen in the background of this shot. http://globaleffects.com/Temp/helmet3000.jpg Pictures of some of the tools are in this thread: m I'll be bringing all of these to Estrella. To keep the p...

Chris Gilman

Well, one down. Here is the finished Vendel helm. 1075 spring steel, 24k gold plated brass foils. Red silk suspension liner, flat riveted mail. The helmet is 5 pounds.

Chris Gilman

This was up on a thread a while ago. I finally got it done. This is based on an effigy from Stothard. The helmet is raised from 1050 spring steel, then heat treted to 46RC. The crest is hand made 24k gilt copper. This will go under a visored sugerloaf. (I'm raising this now, my second raised helmet)...

Chris Gilman

Thanks. That is the strangest thing I have ever seen. It seems strange such an odd shaped piece should survive. There just seems to be details on the original that don't seem to fit with the style of construction of other pieces. I feel the same way about this piece that I felt about the Ã¢â‚¬Å“Russ...

Chris Gilman

I think you missed a word, (Marketing at its best). The Higgins is the largest, "Private" collection in North America. Nope, I did not. What it is , is the largest private dedicated museum of Arms and Armour in North America. The Met has more stuff, we have a larger number of pieces on display. (bo...

Chris Gilman

I would like to see the extant piece. The design looks a bit like a Victorian reproduction of what someone thought a helmet looked like.

Chris Gilman

I think you missed a word, (Marketing at its best). The Higgins is the largest, "Private" collection in North America.

Chris Gilman

If the brass is annealed and soft, it bends well. "Kinks" can be tapped out with a small ball end hammer. Again, if the brass gets hard, anneal it and work it again.

Chris Gilman

How about one of these.
1.Thursday night 6pm-?
2.Friday night 6pm-8pm
3.Friday late afternoon 3pm Ã¢â‚¬â€œ6pm
4.Saturday late afternoon 3pm-6pm.

Chris Gilman

I have just made a ton of this edging. (about 40 ft.)
Here is how I did it. I used .010Ã¢â‚¬Â

Chris Gilman

Thursday eve or Friday day/ late afternoon? Bring some armour, bring some munchies or drink? Tell stories of how you could have made....

Chris Gilman

Anyone planning/ interested in an armourers get together at Estrella?
I will be camped in the period camping area and will have my large pavilion if some folks would like to get together.

Chris Gilman

Try this, cheap and you do not need a blacksmith shop. 12-17" pieces of small rattan with 4"-6" of heavy rubber hose attached (staples /screws) on one end of each piece. Slip each end in another and you have a 5ft ring that breaks down and weights little. Once inside your pavilion, it has to be as r...

Chris Gilman

Neither Mr. Reinhardt nor I pick any one person as having an education lacking in prime sources. It is interesting how many people here are quick to assume someone is being rude or attacking ones character. (I think this is a web wide phenomenon.) However, I am amazed at the number of really crappy ...

Chris Gilman

There seems to be some people here who are not quite clear on the properties of these materials. I have been working with these plastics for 25 years, and made the first Kydex SCA armour in 1982. Here are some of the things I have learned. 1. "Plexiglas" (Acrylic) to brittle, at any normal temp, no ...

Chris Gilman

Vitus von Atzinger wrote:Hank wrote-
"I must admit to be quite saddened that it appears that the large majority of those posting are familiar with Vikings nly through comic books are lousy movies."

Lame, Hank. Cheap shot. Be nice. People admire you.
-Sean A. Garrison
Vitus
Editor

Truth hurts, does it!?

Chris Gilman

Yes I have a thermoforming machine. I may make some others. This one was made for a commercial many years ago. This is the one I have fought in. http://www.globaleffects.com/C_pages/Rental/Wardrobe/Headgear/HelmetsPeriod/Renaissance/greathelmcrest367_hi.jpg It is a combination of cast foam (the hors...

Chris Gilman

The crest looks great! Just a note: The crest is made from a thermo-formed sheet foam. If you would like I can send you a piece of the sheet foam to make the wheel piece.
Anyone else who would like these can call Hugh at (818) 503-9273 and we will send them out.

Chris Gilman

3 feet long my friends, three feet. Do you guys know whether it is possible to get metal cutting circular saw blades? that would be my only way of chopping it up. This piece is a bit large for a circular saw abrasive blade. You may find a local metal shop that will cut this for you for very little ...

Viking Folding knife

A grave find...What if?

New Hat.

Armourer get together at Estrella