The Armour Archive

Johann ColdIron

Then on to the center oval. I cut mine out of a piece of flat sheet 1050. http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p181/JColdIron/Buckler%20A318/th_20150415_211458_zpssbfyelsj.jpg Once chiseled I put it in the vise and rocked it back and forth until the chisel line cracked free. What a waste with the cent...

Johann ColdIron

Slowly processing the photos of some of the work done. Up to my armpits at work. Here are all the layout steps on the outer blade catchers. Centerpunching the circular terminals allows you to use a compass to show their outer dimensions. I'm using a woodworking marking gauge to do the parallel lines...

Johann ColdIron

Who's that mean looking guy on the cover?

That is a great angle for what we do and has been needed for a long time. Glad to see it in print!

Johann ColdIron

John, as I said on the phone the other day- I am humbled by your willingness to go there and be part of the effort to get the these folks back on their feet after such an event. Your group will get a donation from us and I will spread the word

Johann ColdIron

That is cool! There were several attempts at WWI body armour. Even Bashford Dean at the MET. High velocity ammo is a problem for steel. Even alloys! 30 cal rounds made for 1000 yard rifles cut right through it. I have a pistol rated target that someone accidentally shot with a 30.06. Nice round hole...

Johann ColdIron

There is a similarly abused breastplate described in an article about armour in the American war between the states. I don't think that it is really reasonable to blame either of these failures.... In both cases the person wasn't shot with anything that was really intended to be a single-person wea...

Johann ColdIron

This is not one... :shock: http://www.musee-armee.fr/collections/base-de-donnees-des-collections/objet/cuirasse-du-carabinier-fauveau.html Ran into this in a search for Civil War capes, of all things. The condition of the rest of the breastplate and back in incredible considering what it went throug...

Johann ColdIron

Very neat stuff Mac. It does make me question my own process when making the capped rivets on my Gorget though. I had problems with the rivet floating in the liquid pool of solder instead of staying at the bottom as yours appear to have done. Ended up using a pair of needle nose pliers to hold the r...

Johann ColdIron

Mac, So far I have a spiral rivet cap punch filed to shape, hardened and tempered: http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x171/zanetto11/Spiral%20Rivet%20Caps/20150429_182017_zps4hzqoalm.jpg I made some test caps from .015" brass and dapped them into lead. I realized that the caps are not tall enough s...

Johann ColdIron

One of the really cool parts of John's elbows is directly applicable to your elbows: http://s128.photobucket.com/user/JColdIron/media/Floating%20Elbow/20140706_155512_zpsb1ee3169.jpg.html The buckles. He did a nice job. Wade Thanks Wade! They were a lot of fun to work with. I appreciate you letting...

Johann ColdIron

On the 16th century pair I did based on an original in Wades collection there is a large post on the side that leathers for the vambrace and rerebrace attach to. The relevant part is about half way down. http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=170940&hilit=tale+elbows I have not l...

Johann ColdIron

Very nice! This is something that should catch on, I am going to have to make something similar myself. Only thing I can comment is that it perhaps should get some light hammering all over to add strength and make it look less machine flat. I agree completely! That is the thing I most regret with t...

Johann ColdIron

Alrighty! Got some work done on the next generation of bucklers to try and home in on the actual weight and size of the original in the Wallace. 18ga was too much weight even without the add on blade catches and the lining with leathers and attendant 43 rivets. Finished weight should be 1.2kilos or ...

Johann ColdIron

Tom B. wrote:
Johann ColdIron wrote: I had also wondered about walnut shell or other media used in firearm brass processing for reloading.
Walnut shell is probably a bit too aggressive.
I have used walnut shell media in a vibratory tumbler on reproduction mail.

Did the walnut end up polishing it?

Johann ColdIron

Somewhere deep down in the remnants sale Joe G. bought one (not both, just one) of the 16th c. gauntlets we had made for the education department. I got it back at Baltimore. I have no idea what happened to the half suit, the other gauntlet, the 15th c. gauntlets or the other stuff we made for them...

Johann ColdIron

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130815191502/lotr/images/0/01/Sauron_copy.jpg I'm putting my money on Sauron. He decimates entire ranks of men and elves alike with single blows from his mighty mace. What chance do mere Atlantian mortals stand against such a beast? I don't see him on the list! ...

Johann ColdIron

The mail I've had to clean has usually been Eastern, and I put it in a barrel with diatomite (cheap cat litter) and rolled it around the yard. It requires some more work to get rid of the diatomite dust. It produced no additional wear that I could detect. I also add to the chorus: NO ACID. EVER, EV...

Johann ColdIron

The handle is an error. I made the error by not looking closely and trying to be clever by conflating the handles on the next two extant pieces. Late 15th century, late 16th century, both German. Now if you are looking closely, you can clearly see those handles are made in the same manner -flat she...

Johann ColdIron

I know Doug Strong has done it casually on some dug pieces he has. Or maybe John Cope will weigh in a little. He works in a museum. I tend to leave most of my stuff as alone as I can as long as it isn't really causing itself harm. And where are you? Maybe there is someone close who can help with so...

Johann ColdIron

Out on the raggedy irregular edge, where the leg parts of the hide stick out from, the leather is softer and floppier -- and that's the quality you want Really depends on the usage. For Gorget collar leathers you want something that will be flexible AND spring back. Which makes buff ideal but is re...

Johann ColdIron

I use a wire wheel on a 8" bench grinder for basic deburring. Usually after cutting the parts and before shaping so I don't get cut working with them. For final edging there really is no substitute for a file. Many period examples have a chamfered edge that is tricky to get in one shot with a power ...

Johann ColdIron

VERY neat! I like the finish.

Looks like it will be fun to play with. All the little angles to manipulate things.

16 ga?

What images of the original were you working with?

Johann ColdIron

The beginners do need hammer know-how and forewarning of hammer pitfalls. Very nearly as much if not more than they need patterns, bearing in mind what Wade did with hammering a hexagonal blank into a breast. I imagine that works without cutouts if it's a sixteenth-century lo-rise. The breastplate ...

Johann ColdIron

It may just have been highly polished at one time. Sometimes that is confused with Stainless.

But, as others have mentioned Stainless really means Stain-Less. Given the right conditions it can rust.

Johann ColdIron

I have a nice Mig welder already, but it wouldn't hurt to have another method available. I am looking to be able to use heat more for spot heating for making gothic elbows, flaring the bottom edge on breastplates, and for helmets with the can method. Sounds like Oxy is the way to go for that, I thi...

Johann ColdIron

Do you have a way to weld currently? Oxy/Acet is nice because of that ability as well as heating. I don't really find it that expensive to run. Once you have the tanks the refills are less than $70. That lasts me several months with students hot working ever week. That said, I have a small propane h...

Johann ColdIron

Wolf wrote:hairy legs not included?

Probably not, but you could get a picture of them on a coffee mug though his photobucket link

Johann ColdIron

Every question on this tread has just yelled out at me to answer : "Well, the answer isn't black and white." To close to the original question, so I resisted until now. Wade Oy, well I guess we had that one coming! :lol: It is worth reinforcing what you mentioned on how much bump out, or rather how...

Johann ColdIron

"All tips require some maintenance. All should be expected to potentially bounce at an inspection point and materials to rebuild them brought. I've had plenty of homemade tips bounce for need of more padding get back on the field after a quick servicing. This should be no different. " Oh dear gawds...

Johann ColdIron

Thirded! I experimented with installing a cut down mesh mask in a helmet. It did not go well! Welding individual wires is almost an imposible task with a mig. Perf is the way to go. I actually prefer the vision though it over wire. Still tough to weld but possible. I have a bunch of 18 ga perf that ...

Johann ColdIron

Thanks for the nice comments, folks. It was fun, but a lot of work, to build. This helmet is sold pending payment. The buyer has requested a tall plume holder on top and 2 smaller ones on the sides, so that should look really cool. Hopefully I'll get some pics up after it's installed. So glad to he...

Johann ColdIron

It is a neat one. Lots of good details to study. I like the belt fittings as well. What is the deal with the spaulders articulation? The left one is shown to gap at the front interface with the upper arm defense. Almost seems one lame too short. Lly the elbows look a lot like the ones you have been ...

Johann ColdIron

I'm not sure the article confirms that proofing shots were underpowered. As far as I can tell the article is saying that it isn't possible to tell the difference between a proofing shot and damage taken in battle. The dents could have been caused by a low-powered proofing shot or a spent bullet on ...

Johann ColdIron

I'm not sure the article confirms that proofing shots were underpowered. As far as I can tell the article is saying that it isn't possible to tell the difference between a proofing shot and damage taken in battle. The dents could have been caused by a low-powered proofing shot or a spent bullet on ...

Johann ColdIron

Well isn't that different? Rob That it is, Rob! When I fight great sword I hook the pinkie on my rear hand under the pommel. It's been a habit for years. I think I read about it in a Japanese sword fighting treatise or some such back in the Eighties, can't remember which. It does help with control....

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