The Armour Archive

Johann ColdIron

Looking forward to it Wade!

I'm nearby so let the ones that are traveling set the date.

Johann ColdIron

The average gift shop is more targeted towards the 4th grader and the $5 his parents gave him to spend on his field trip. They are risk adverse on having expensive specialty items with a narrow market left over at the end of an exhibit run. For example ours sells really crappy Civil War Kepis rather...

Johann ColdIron

From the hauling photo it looks like mine might the other variation. It has a swivel table and a sloped front base. Quick search points to it possibly being converted from 3 phase. https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.Item&itemid=6822&acctid=350 The same table and base. If that is the case it would hav...

Johann ColdIron

I figure if they are gonna make me a MoD, I ought to have a real rapier to D with. (aside from my other earlier period stuff....) BUT! I should be able to make a scabbard to fit my practice blade with blunt that I can switch out with this scabbard, and use the hanger belt for either set up. I agree...

Johann ColdIron

Hi Mac, Yep, third handle is snapped off in the base. Seller offered to weld it on for me and I said NOOOOOOOOO!!! :) We're of the same mind on the fix. I hack-sawed a slot into what was left of the stub, but a screwdriver was just mashing/shearing what was left. So, I ordered a nice extractor set ...

Johann ColdIron

Your A-117 looks roughly like what I remember (again, only saw it once, not an armourer, not an expert on 16th century armour). The light cavalry armour of Archduke Maximillian III in Schloss Ambras and their armour for an infantryman in the first armoury have roughly similar armharness, only witho...

Johann ColdIron

With a sharp sword it would not take much to send the tip through the leather sidewall and into something you care about. Especially if the leather got wet and a little floppy.

If they did exist they would also be the least likely item to survive to today. Tough to find examples

Johann ColdIron

Returning to landsknechte , there are a number of representations of the drawstring purse worn around the neck. These are (presumably) under the outer layers of clothes, and normally out of sight....except when paying a prostitute etc. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/22/68/e9/2268e964565a...

Johann ColdIron

A perfectly reasonable conjecture. Sure. I wonder how thick the survivors are? Buff leather coats are a lot thinner than 3/8", but leather and felt are not in any way similar. You may easily need a lot more thickness in felt to get similar protection. It would still be fun to know if there is a bas...

Johann ColdIron

Here is a portrait with sword, dagger, and pouch. Second pic down. The pouch is the same color ah his clothing so maybe others have it as well it is just not visible easily. http://art-of-manliness.tumblr.com/post/119494048116/a-mans-pockets That style of framed pouch does turn up. Even in more inf...

Johann ColdIron

Here is another Urs Graf drawing that you might find useful. It depicts the usual progenitors of war, the interesting one is the guy on the right. He is a French agent pulling money out of his purse to buy mercenaries for a war. I'm presuming that it is hanging off of his belt. You can also see the...

Johann ColdIron

There is a distinct dearth of purses in that collection of images. Perhaps formal portraits may not be the place to look for that detail. Mac I'd say you are right on that account! Its what I had from my study on Rapier hanger styles. So it is either look at less formal imagery or invest in some fl...

Johann ColdIron

Was on another thread when it dawned on me that most of the Pinterest images I have of late 16 cent middle class men show belts that swords can hang from but pouches are rare. Where are their personal effects? And for that matter what would they be? Coins, Letters of credit, pen knife, keys, papers ...

Johann ColdIron

Thomas MacFinn wrote:
20160630Wall.jpg
http://foxknife.com/wordpress/product-c ... es/unique/

Those are really cool Thomas!

Johann ColdIron

There should be about 3/4" play between the risers. I did do a balance point test, and found the weight of the scabbard before adding leather moved it tipwise a bit from a bare blade with hardware, which places it approximately centered between the risers. But, truthfully at this point it is a WAG,...

Johann ColdIron

Huh, are the risers embedded in a rapier scabbard something done in period that I have just never noticed? How do you predict the balance point before final construction? I have a hanger that I built for WOW last year that I spent a lot of time dialing in before I was happy with the balance created ...

Johann ColdIron

I've never seen them there in 25 years. I would have bought them if I did!

Johann ColdIron

Never used them myself but any loss of service is troubling. Sucks for the merchant, for sure. Not surprised that the "Company Store" is moving into the market, though. They have made substantial efforts to provide the services and materiale that will keep people at the campsite and spending their m...

Johann ColdIron

Stainless rivets are REALLY hard to peen. I mean INSANELY hard. You don't really want to go with mild steel rivets, as the different metals will exacerbate oxidation and migration. So I'd go with brass, if you don't mind the color difference. They will wear more than the holes in the plates. Which ...

Johann ColdIron

Sharp work Mark!

Johann ColdIron

I agree. L is making some great stuff. If I didn't suffer from "make my own" syndrome I would be buying his.

Johann ColdIron

Looks like good progress. Could really use a side shot to get an idea of the shape.

Johann ColdIron

The Archer style is often depicted on people with bows. The joint armour appears to be metal with a vaguely paint colored upper leg and shin. The armour usually has what might be termed a demi quisse and a demi greave at the ends of their articulated lames. I do not remember the verdict we had here ...

Johann ColdIron

There is more inherent risk with custom work. There are plenty of instances of armorers finishing custom work then getting left holding the bag when the customer can't finish paying for it, doesn't like it etc. I've certainly seen that reported way more here than I would like if I was considering d...

Johann ColdIron

So sending a message through Facebook worked. Apparently there is a flaw in my email system - Outlook, an obscure system which nobody uses - which somehow, I am assured by Ms W, has been sending all their replies to my Spam folder. What I find remarkable is that, while I check the Spam (it's called...

Johann ColdIron

He is on here. You should be able to private message him directly. Click below.

ucp.php?i=pm&mode=compose&u=895

Johann ColdIron

Tibbie, Having met you and knowing your stature I would suggest that you shoot for a helm in the 10-12 lb range. Around 1/3rd of that can be aventail as suggested. Its floppy nature bleeds off energy well but you still need enough mass on your actual head to keep it from being launched with a strong...

Johann ColdIron

What a time to be alive!

Johann ColdIron

Cost to value ratio really depends on whether it is mild, spring or titanium as the website seems to offer all three.

Johann ColdIron

Nicely done! I like the distressed look of it. Great work.

Johann ColdIron

Hi All- I've recently picked a nice cross peen and planishing hammer at the antique mart. They are a bit rusty and are showing their age with pock marks, etc. What is the best way to get them ship-shape for forming metal? Any pitfalls I need to be aware of? Thanks, -Greg. Depends on what tools you ...

Johann ColdIron

Well Tom, sadly the truth is probably simpler than what you hope to find out. They are the kind of guy that spend a lot of money in their equipment, and don't want to have it scratched. I can't say I know them, because they are the kind of guy that don't look you in the face if you are not "period ...

Johann ColdIron

I *almost* bought that exact model- but really wanted those 5/8-11 threads. So I'm thinking 2" pulley on the motor, and 2"-3"-4" step pulley on the mandrel. That should give me about 860 RPM at slowest speed. Is 860 RPM slow enough for careful grinding? Or should I search out a larger step pulley? ...

Johann ColdIron

Just don't use hard buttons with a stem unless you enjoy the feeling of having it driven into your breastbone...

Johann ColdIron

Never seen a kettle with a tail. It's kind of redundant. The way it is drawn long like that it would limit side to side head turning. I'd bet it is a confused artist fusion of sorts. But there are some oddball things from the East. I'll be more likely to believe it when I see find one linked from a ...

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