The Armour Archive

Norman

Some more wiki so it had already been worn in the first world war before the revolution; m That Wiki confuses multiple stories of the origin of the cap. To whit: "The hat was created as part of a new uniform for the Russian army by Viktor Vasnetsov , a famous Russian painter, ...Bogatyrkas wer...

Norman

There is one purse in a Birka grave that appears to have squirrel fur as a lining. The Russian Primary Chronicle tells us that Khazars took squirel furs in tribute from the proto-Russian (ie: various Slavs) tribes. It also describes the early Rus (ie: Vikings) visit to ...I think it was Drevlyane a...

Norman

As cool as they are, as a good Russian Orthodox boy and a staunch Tsarist, I will never own one. What I have been told is that they were made for the Tzar's guard but the new regime found them unused and stuck red stars on them. They couldn't afford to throw good material away, the rest may be spin...

Norman

I had looked at those and strongly considered it, but from the picture it seems like the original helmet is round rather than oval too? It's hard to tell from the pic though, it's not like I've seen it in person, so I could be wrong about that. Just as a point of reference, how many people do you k...

Norman

The russians seemed to be about 100+ years behind the style of armor in the west. I always wondered why. Was it a lack of tech? Did the winter weather favor maille over plate? Is it a cultural thing? Slow to accept change. When you look at the litchina face plates, tech doesn't seem a prob. They we...

Norman

The Hebrew Hammer! Seriously Norman, you must check out this film. Who'se the certified circ... Private d... Everyone should check out that film. 2) You can make it "Folk Tale Period" like this - Перун усиль рук...

Norman

Konstantin the Red wrote:Furazhka I know. Can somebody clue me in better on an ushanka?

From "ushi" - ears -- its the "classic" Russian hat with the ear flaps that tie on top.

Norman

Wow, how did I miss this whole conversation?! Well firstly, depending on how far back you go the Rus aren't technically Slavic. What we best seem to understand is that the Rus were Norsemen who settled in Novgorod and then moved south to found Kiev. Them's fightin' words them is! You are giving &quo...

Norman

Here are all three pictures in their entirety. Yeah, that first picture looks even more iffy with more of it. There are lots of bits which make me think Ancient Egypt or maybe Assyria, then there's a guy in the lower left who makes me think 15th century. I'd love the caption for it - and would not ...

Norman

The helmet is dated to 1620. The armour looks to be about the same era. Chris, You seem to be very definite about that helmet. Can you tell me more of its provenance? Yes, in a book I have about the collection they date the helmet to 1620. It is all in Russian so, that is the most I can give you. A...

Norman

First I must say your term "Bazugant" is ... well, kinda makes me cringe every time. With that out of the way -- If it worked in real life, it can probably be made to work here. I agree completely, just trying to determine how to make it work for our game. I wonder if maille can be used to...

Norman

Isn't it early soviet style, just civil war? That's Budjenny's cavalry for that war. Stalin was ever seen with a visor cap. It was made up just after the revolution -- the winner of a nationwide contest to redesign the Russian uniform. Originaly called the Bogatirka - after Bogatir (knight) - the i...

Norman

The helmet is dated to 1620. The armour looks to be about the same era. Chris, You seem to be very definite about that helmet. Can you tell me more of its provenance? Going to change gears on this thread instead of starting another. Looking over Sloan's site I see something called a Kuyak. From wha...

Norman

Goldina and Volkov "Helmets of the Tarasov Burial" (in Russian) This is a web summary (likewise in Russian) m of finds The burial is 5th century near the Kam river in extreme North Eastern Europe (see the set of red circles 1-8 on this map m ) It includes frame helmets analogous to those f...

Norman

Halvgrimr wrote:Aside of Carolingian its the only other culture that has caught my eye lately (and I am reluctant to admit it was a quick glance at an Osprey plate that caught my eye)

Which Osprey plate?
This is our virtual household (a bit more generic - but certainly including the Avars)
http://www.redkaganate.org/

Norman

The visor was normally given to those that were not of Islamic birth. Those without were born of the faith did not have a visor. Citation, please! Looking for the resource that gave me that one. I have so many Ottoman sites bookmarked it might take while to weed through them. I remember Russ mentio...

Norman

Are you sure that there is no evidence of bazubands being used in the 4th century? The earliest evidence of "bazubands" (ie: one piece arm defenses with integral elbow protection) are in 8th century West Asian/ extreme-South-East European art. The earliest find is a possibly Khazar (ie: 8...

Norman

I found some interesting pictures and chopped out what I have questions about. When analysing the work of a modern illustrator "recreating" period events and costume, it is very helpful to have more detail on the context. At the very least, the whole painting would be helpful. Even more h...

Norman

The Kremlin armoury had been the armoury of the Russian tzars. The majority of the armour collection is still the stuff that had belonged to the Tzars. Catherine the Great was an avid collector of art. The palace in Leningrad may well be the first purpose built and maintained museum. From at least h...

Norman

Just out of curiosity, what is the penalty from G-d if one lets the flour come into contact with water or 20 minutes passes before the matzos are baked? According to the Jewish belief For baking it -- nothing basicaly at that time it becomes leavened (ie: normal bread) If its not Passover - its jus...

Norman

It realy depends on the area.. Sailors have a long standing tradition with pierced ears signifying the 7seas or crossing the equator depending on whos history you look at. I recall the hebrews used earings to signify a slave joining the house. In the region slavery at the time was more of an indent...

Norman

I'm a big fan of Bilibin. As the earlier poster mentioned -- his work is certainly right for the FEEL of a Russian warrior. Which only makes sence because between him and Vasnetzov, they DEFINED the Feel. He was the best known of the crop of late 19th - early 20th century (actualy, I think he worked...

Norman

She doesn't want to play an Amazon -- she wants to play a medieval western european's take on an Amazon. I suppose one way to sum up why this can be a valuable tool for women medievalists is this -- If a woman in say 15th centruy France came to an armourer and commissioned an armour, and she wanted ...

Norman

Grossmesser wrote:So mild is the best, not spring or stainless, even if they are harder to work.

Spring and stainless are better but harder to work. Mild is sufficient and will allow you to do the basic forming I recomended.

Norman

I will have them flat because i have a very very limited work place. Due to the above problem I also cant heat treat or do anything else to the metal. So Im ordering it precut from a nearby steel plant. Get 18 guage mild steel. The splints should be cut about 1" wide at the upper end (near you...

Norman

I'm picturing a toxic sludge monster with growths in front of his face.
Ugh.

Norman

THe point was that I despise documenting what I do. Y'see I have an LD in Written Expression which has caused me no end of academic trouble. Kick in a few other issues such as Asperger's Syndrome and you have a fun day. -Ivan If you can make a soft bread like Laffa within the prescribed Matzo restr...

Norman

I was under the strong impression that Chichaks date to the late 15th century at least, and were used by the Mamluks before their absorbtion by the Turks I guess there is the trick of identifying one specific helmet type from a similar other type - especialy considering the variations in the one ty...

Norman

Meantime, there is still the intermediate step of starting off with an available helmet of whatever description that fits on your head without being so large you'd rattle around in it; some hats are not only too big but really too round as well, giving the unhappy fighter a hydrocephalic look. We o...

Norman

Here at school the children were no longer allowed to say the Pledge of Allegiance. We went to war in Iraq, ..suddenly ALL classes must say the Pledge in first hour class. Some students would not. Change in policy, students who did not wish to participate could opt out and just stand. Some students...

Norman

I believe that your faith that organized religions are instituted for the purpose of control of the weak by the powerful is a false one. Points of evidence - 1) the AIM (American Indian Movement) organization used the reestablishment of the halmarks of organised tribal religion quite successfuly to...

Norman

I love the top of this helm. Is it fairly period accurate? Would a spiraling top with a taller peak be accurate as well? What time period is it from? Its very heavily SCA-mod. Genericaly it is 16 cent Turkish or Mameluk or East/Central European. If you like the deep spiraled dome and a high peak, l...

Norman

I respect everyone's faith. I despise everyone's religion. Faith fulfills a basic human need to believe in something. Religion is a fabrication by the powerful to control the weak. ... I am not passing judgement on anyone or their beliefs. It is my own belief that organized religions are inherently...

Norman

Sounds like a fun and tasty project. Sorry I can't particiate - on hanukkah, in the spirit of the holiday, everything I make has to be nice and greasy Thing Two: Sometimes the spirit of the thing is more important than the letter of the thing. ...it struck me that instead of going to the huge length...

Norman

An annoying inaccuracy is the overwhelming lack of Church stuff at SCA events. It ignores not only the huge role the Church played in the day-to-day life ... While I theoreticaly heartily agree, the lack of church in the "official" side of the SCA does serve to make some of us (Jews, Mosl...

Re: Anyone do Avar interpretations?

Re: Spiral top

Re: Kosher Matzo for a contest. How many can be made?