The Armour Archive

James Arlen Gillaspie

Have a look at my website, and see what you think.

James Arlen Gillaspie

When thinking about the Western Empire, most people don't think at all about the importance of Roman North Africa, and how catastrophic its loss was. As long as it existed, it was a source of trade and potential base for influencing the culture of Europe. Don't forget such things as St. Augustine's ...

James Arlen Gillaspie

There appear to be some real bits of 16th c. armour there, which really stand out compared to the 'Winky' stuff.

James Arlen Gillaspie

Winky, winky, winky!!

James Arlen Gillaspie

You'd better find someone who REALLY knows what they're doing... preferably someone who has had his hands on a real example, and understands it. That last part - understanding what he looked at - is CRITICAL! You don't want something half-arsed.

James Arlen Gillaspie

Yes, thanks!

James Arlen Gillaspie

And the pattens too!

James Arlen Gillaspie

I'll buy the beat - up daggers.

James Arlen Gillaspie

If I remember right, the voiders are 6mm mail. The Kult of Athena stuff is 9mm, I am pretty sure. The smaller links make a BIG difference, both in authenticity and ease of movement.

James Arlen Gillaspie

I got my shirt today. Thanks!

James Arlen Gillaspie

Money order is on the way.

James Arlen Gillaspie

Dibs on one of the chain shirts.

James Arlen Gillaspie

I could show up in my 'Band of Brothers' harness!

James Arlen Gillaspie

Aw, rats! I don't think 'Shoe Stretch' is gonna do it if they are 6 1/2's. Dibs released.

James Arlen Gillaspie

Aw, dang. If I still lived in 'The Zone' (AZ), I'd be there. It'd be GREAT to see everyone again! Can't remember the last time I saw Ugo. Years since I've seen Mac and Chris, too.

James Arlen Gillaspie

Those ugly size 7's (men's size, I hope?) might work well under my sabatons; no one will see them! Dibs!

James Arlen Gillaspie

Do you have many bears in Shittimwoode?

James Arlen Gillaspie

I live in Albany, New York, which is a bit out of your way, but I might meet you in NYC when you visit the Metropolitan Museum. The Higgins Armory is about two and a half hours from here. The Kienbusch collection in Philadelphia is a must-see, so don't miss that!

James Arlen Gillaspie

Aw, dang, I was under the impression that you lived down in the City.

The Higgins event sounds like a do'er, though.

James Arlen Gillaspie

Ruel, do you ever go to the Winter Antiques Show at the Armory? It's going on this week, and I always like to drop by and talk to Peter Finer and his sons. I'm thinking about coming down Friday, and I have an extra ticket.

James Arlen Gillaspie

Well, Ruel, if you ever want me to come down, let me know. I like your choice of friends!

James Arlen Gillaspie

The only time her headgear was specifically mentioned, to my knowledge at least, was when she besieged Saint Pierre le Moustier. Jean d'Aulon, her 'squire', testified in 1456, "She, after taking her salade from her head..." The salade was a very new sort of helmet in the late 1420's, but well suited...

James Arlen Gillaspie

2nd dibs on the purse, if brucer didn't get it.

James Arlen Gillaspie

Mr. Paggiarino’s idea of how to approach armour as a photographic subject is one that I have had, but didn't have the skill to do. Dario Lanzardo, in his book, The Iron Guest, did some nice work, but fell far short of Pagiarino’s. While armour might seem to an ideal subject for black and white photo...

James Arlen Gillaspie

I think the chest expansion is not that tough a problem. I would just add a couple of inches to each side in the front, and possibly fold the overlapping side under and sew it to make it look nice and keep it out of the way until it was needed. In the back, I would have a seam down the middle and do...

James Arlen Gillaspie

The Baron gets a gold star! His analysis of the tail is indeed correct. I have actually held this helm in my hands... for about a minute. The top lame of the gorget has a RECESSED track that the neck opening of the helm fits into. The bevor (chin) hinges on the left and locks on the right, unlike an...

James Arlen Gillaspie

Yes, a big part of what they were doing seems to be about adjusting the overall carbon content to get it where they wanted it. Impact resistance is far more important in armour than surface hardness, so it's best to keep the overall product in what we would call the "medium carbon steel" r...

James Arlen Gillaspie

This is nothing new to those who have read Dr. Alan Williams' research - though usually one sees several alternating layers. This is a typical feature of Lorenz Helmschmid's work. Later Innsbruck stuff can prove something of an exception, however.

James Arlen Gillaspie

Zetheros, as someone who has done serious damage to his elbow working on armour, I must emphatically admonish you to STOP working in the 12 gauge NOW. I am not liking how you are saying that you may never make another suit of armour again, and even less happy about the possibility that you may not b...

James Arlen Gillaspie

Truly amazing!

http://tinyurl.com/bwj3ox7

James Arlen Gillaspie

Doggone it, I missed this. If either sale falls through, count me in!

James Arlen Gillaspie

'Cleaning' usually actually amounts to grinding down the face of the piece, sometimes looking as though they'd used a chunk of millstone, frequently VERY aggressively; I worked on a 'Maximilian' helm awhile back that was 0.015" thinner below the rivet line on the skull (over 0.050 between the r...

James Arlen Gillaspie

There's a group of nine or so etched Italian half-armours with cabasets and a couple of later cuirasses in the Historical Museum, aren't there?

James Arlen Gillaspie

Removed because I goofed up and should have sent a p'm.

James Arlen Gillaspie

I worked on a film in Europe back in late '97. There were a number of things I was told by the costume director. 1. 'European stuntmen will only wear rubber 'armour'. They just say 'no' to metal'. 2. 'Most actors don't like anything to cover their heads. They want to be seen as much as possible.' I ...

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Re: Castle in Segovia Armour

Re: WTB cased greaves with bearpaw sabatons

Re: Hofjagd- und Rüstkammer, Austria, Vienna

Re: Selling off a variety of my stuff.

Re: Selling off a variety of my stuff.

Re: Voiders vs. a shirt

Re: Armor for sale, lots of it.

Re: Armor for sale, lots of it.

Re: Armor for sale, lots of it.

Re: Reenactors for West Point (NY) demonstration

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Re: Armour workshop - So. Cal. Now with Surprise guest Armou

Re: shoes and armour for sale by Talbot

Re: WTB: HElm for my Itty-Bitty girl head

Re: Intercontinental exchange of experiences this spring (US

Re: 16-17thc Crimean Tatar armor?

Re: 16-17thc Crimean Tatar armor?

Re: 16-17thc Crimean Tatar armor?

Re: Helm of Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc La Pucelle d'Orleans)

Re: Stainless steel legs for sale $150 Also a kidney purse $

Carlo Paggiarino's work; a review

Re: Hypothetical question about an arming doublet

Re: Wait how come i havent noticed this one before....

Re: Did you know about "damascus" plate armour in the XIV/XV

Re: Did you know about "damascus" plate armour in the XIV/XV

Re: Making of: Ocean's Wrath (Maxamillian/Gothic/Fantasy)

'Heroic Armor of the Italian Renaissance' - what a deal!

Re: Two Poleaxes for Sale - Sold

Re: Fun with a crossbow!

Re: Armour in Amsterdam

Re: Need high-quality photos of surving armour 1300-1430

Re: French film set in 1500s: any good?