The Armour Archive

Johann ColdIron

I've got a cheep set like these.... http://toolmonger.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/54750005.jpg ...and I find them tremendously disappointing. It's not even so much that they are bad files, but that they are never the right shape. I don't like to use absolutes like "never", but in spite of owning...

Johann ColdIron

I do not have a pattern for that. What I have to offer is a warning that minimums are not necessarily the best level of protection to learn this sport. :wink: Some of that is dependent on what kingdom you will be fighting in. Check in with folks at your local fighter practice and you might find some...

Johann ColdIron

Only till they amputate... :lol: The calf is a tough spot. At least three days before it won't radiate heat and be mad at you when you touch it. Regular courses of icing will help the pain and swelling. Ibuprofen will take the edge off. Prepare for the rainbow of colors as the bruise does its thing....

Johann ColdIron

Wooo!

That has to be a relief that the first run went well. Lets hear it for deliberative process!

The scale doesn't look too bad. Must be doing something right.

Johann ColdIron

Glad to help in any way I can Mac. I'm learning a bunch from this thread, especially when it comes to heat treating. Thanks for giving us a seat at the work table so we can watch.

Johann ColdIron

Tomorrow I'll get some fresh silicon sealer from the Home Despot and glue the (now clean) glass back in place. I won't be able to get black, but that's OK. Mac You should be able to get black silicone. I've used it on some roof repairs. Problem is you will have to buy way more than you need for thi...

Johann ColdIron

I am all at loose ends about this heat treating thing at the moment. It took several iterations of filling, partial emptying and welding to deal with the porous places in my welds. I am trying to decide how much of my equipment to replace and with what... --I have a line on stainless 55 gal drums i...

Johann ColdIron

Clang recently made some for Tom B.'s mail project. Tom or Clang were selling them separately. Seach here for the thread. It was within the last month or so.

Johann ColdIron

I gave up and paid the full price. It is really annoying, but the book is worth it. We get used to some pretty cheap resources these days. I had thought about just buying some copies and having them sent/picked up by some nice friendly local person who lives in London and then getting them to mail ...

Johann ColdIron

Yeah, those inset hinges are a little past my skill level at this point. So your saying 2 smaller hinges would make it easier to eliminate any wiggle next time? Also, I could have sworn I saw Mac post something about a phony visor but now I can't see his post. Two hinges placed further to the ends ...

Johann ColdIron

I will be returning to this project pretty soon. There's a little home improvement wiring project that has my attention right now, but it should be wrapping up in the next couple of days. Mac Looking forward to it Mac but take your time with the wiring. It's kinda important to get that right! :lol:

Johann ColdIron

I'd love to have a Peddinghouse though I would prefer one with a continuous face on it and not the step down bick end. I have a Peter Wright for that. Thats funny, I have a smaller "bulgar" anvil that has the face continuous with the horn and at least for armour work I've never made use of it. I'm ...

Johann ColdIron

A quick wander of the web shows me that anvils have become stupidly expensive. If I had any way to justify this, I would get one.. but I don't use the anvils I have now enough to merit owning another one. I have always wanted one of the forged ones... Must be good. Don't need another anvil.... Wade...

Johann ColdIron

I do know that if I were going to get hit, the lowest profile solution would be tempered spring steel of some form. Not the cheapest. Not the easiest for a normal person to make, but definitely protective and low profile. Wade Yep! Spring steel rules the day in terms of rigidity and thin profile. L...

Johann ColdIron

You could copy an original. Length 22 cm (8 11/16"). http://www.elpenbeen.nl/vambrace.pdf Dordrecht vambrace.jpg That is just crazy talk Ernst! :lol: Actually looks a bit like the pattern we use. But do as Schreiber says and extend the edges. Especially over the Upper end of the Brachioradialis. It...

Johann ColdIron

A quick read through the notes indicates that we have the following people signed up: Wade Ibrahim A-Hakim Zanetto Grettir Tom John Jeremy.G Jeremy Jennings (local)? Iain Jacob is out.. sorry. Bad timing this year. Any of the other regulars coming in? Wade Looking forward to it Wade! If the Iain li...

Johann ColdIron

You have a photo of the elbow armour you landed on? It may be that it was not made to land on. Alot of armour isn't shaped to fit humans but more for ease of manufacture. The pair I used to wear would allow blows to the outside of the elbow to transfer the energy to the outside attatchment point of ...

Johann ColdIron

I don't have "a set". I have one. When Ernst was playing with mail over in the corner at our study session he mentioned in an off-hand way that one of my scraps was actually a gusset. I was very happy to hear that. And, when you play with it, you find that it really is the right shape for that with...

Johann ColdIron

I didn't remember that Wade had a set. I'll have to look at those next trip!

I do not have any photos of originals but I have a lot of images of paintings with voiders and such in them, any interest?

Johann ColdIron

As Wade said- The "Why" is important. Untempered 1050 is fine to start work with. It's annealed state lets you play with a while before it starts fighting back. I actually like working with it better than mild now that I am accustomed to it. If it is for something that is already constructed then th...

Johann ColdIron

Something we say a lot in the computer industry.... Works for me. I clicked on the links in your quote and they worked. They do reference http://www.allenantiques.com, so I didn't paste links to the copy of the site on my system... Maybe they work now? Anyone else having problems? Yes, the ends are...

Johann ColdIron

Seeing some real ones might help. Two tassets showing the sliding rivets on the "outside" of the leg: http://www.allenantiques.com/images/A-62-inside.jpg http://www.allenantiques.com/images/A-250-inside.jpg And a couple on a breastplate to allow gusset movement (they really should have washers too)...

Johann ColdIron

Has anyone ever made and used a buckler with a flexible handle, i.e., from rope or a dowel with rope/leather attachments at either end? I have a teeny little buckler I'd like to hang from my belt for backup when I'm fighting with a spear. The handle needs to be fairly prominent in order to allow my...

Johann ColdIron

Looks like the interpretation of the reinforcing brackets I did appears correct. The shots Wade did clearly show they are U channeled in construction. Though I think I could have make them sit off the body a bit more to be more accurate. I was limited in the length of rivet I had on hand without mak...

Johann ColdIron

As Wade mentioned he went to England to pick up his latest auction purchases. When he told me he was going I asked him if he would be willing to go take a look at this buckler for me at the Wallace. He was able to squeeze in a visit to see it while he was there. I really appreciate it since there is...

Johann ColdIron

For what kind of project? Did some light dishing on the faceplate of my rapier burgonet. Anything further and care has to be taken not to stretch the steel to the point where the perforation spacing and size do not meet the specs for SCA Rapier combat. Raising would be different as the holes would l...

Johann ColdIron

Thomas MacFinn wrote:One of the transformations. I have seen in the SCA in recent years has been fighters who value performance over authenticity adopting period practices a bit at a time for performance's sake.

Guess I have always been wired backwards. I usually adopt authenticity and find performance within it.

Johann ColdIron

To me that is the rear quillion. Useful to guide blades away from the wrist/ forearm and ultimately the body. Most earlier swords/rapiers have both front and rear. Basket hilted swords of the late 16th century and on tend not to have the front one since the face of the basket protects that portion o...

Johann ColdIron

Love what you are doing with these Tom!

Getting Clang involved was a great idea. Nice fittings.

Johann ColdIron

I don't type well on my phone. Details when I get home. I have new pictures and measurements thanks to Toby. There are some surprises coming. We do think the lining is later. Same for the leathers. And I have images of A 319 too. Wade You tease! Drat on the lining but I look forward to hearing what...

Johann ColdIron

I managed to get one of our fine photographers at work to shoot the buckler and here are the results. He does really nice work. Much better shots than I am capable of with my phone! :lol: http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p181/JColdIron/Buckler%20A318/th_DSC_3494_zps6zvnpglv.jpg http://i128.photobu...

Johann ColdIron

Mac, For the pegs in my piece, I used pine. I was concerned about the pegs being harder than the pine and sanding differently and standing proud of the surface. I was also too lazy to drive to the store and buy dowels. To make the pegs, I used a process I learned from a rake maker. I found a piece ...

Johann ColdIron

We had a cross over from HEMA get her finger smashed pretty well with a longsword wearing a pair of those. Had to lance it to get the blood drained from under her fingernail. The terminal lame on the thumb is too flat to resist crushing force. It really should be more cupped. The rest of the gauntle...

Johann ColdIron

Very nice. I have been able to watch the progress a little more closely as the project has moved along. John has done a lot to really get the feel of the original and try to mimic as closely as possible. I guess this one will stay "soft". Taking the lining and leather off would be a real bother. So...

Johann ColdIron

Once finished I resisted fighting with it till until I could put it in the A&S display at Pennsic. Threw in my last couple projects as well. Not a lot of armour there in the display. Just me and Gardiners Co. http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p181/JColdIron/Buckler%20A318/th_20150802_124615_zpsu5yh...

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