The Armour Archive

Uilleag

Troy, I personally have never had a problem with buckles, either in my elbow or knee. I know of people who have, but bungies / elastic isn't something I'm willing to stock / encorporate in my patterns for sale to customers. The measuring is even more exacting than customizing the pattern to fit each...

Uilleag

I would like to say that I commend Torvaldr on his cander. He is a fine craftsman, and as he has said, we have shared ideas and leatherworking tips in the past. I accept that greaves of this style will be similar in appearance. I can also vouch for the craftsmenship Torvaldr offers. Shop with a clea...

Uilleag

On my personal harness, I have not had a problem with the speed rivets. They need to be replaced about every two years or so. I have not heard from any of my customers with the problem yet. I prefer the copper/burr rivets, myself, and you're right they do last considerably longer. The problem is tha...

Uilleag

Here are some pics of my latest work. <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/drbauzubands2.jpg"> <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/drbauzubands3.jpg"> <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/cbshovelgreaves1.jpg"> <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/cbshovelgreaves2.jpg"> We are still...

Uilleag

I've finished assembling and strapping them.

<IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/drbauzubands1.jpg">

<IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/drbauzubands2.jpg">

<IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/drbauzubands3.jpg">

Uilleag

Here are the greaves assembled and repolished.

<IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/cbshovelgreaves1.jpg">

<IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/cbshovelgreaves2.jpg">

Uilleag

In the begining, I actually cut them with rubbing alcohol, with acceptable results... But about 4 years ago I found that Fiebing's has a Thinning Agent that comes in quarts just like the dyes. What do you use to apply your dyes? I use trimmed sheep skin. Hmm. I didn't know fieblings had a cutting a...

Uilleag

I use Fiebing's dyes, and green and blue are the hardest colors to get a nice even dye coat. I usually thin the dye 1/1 or 1/2 (dye to thinner) and put several nice wet coat, to get a nice even forest green. Otherwise green dyes very blotchy as the dye dries very quickly. I will then use medium bro...

Uilleag

After seeing all of your remarkable tooling skills, I almost regret not getting my kit with something to make it "unique" Well, Smitty, I'm not going anywhere. If you are ever ready to change armour or upgrade existing pieces, just let me know. Thank you all for your compliments and all of the orde...

Uilleag

Yes, the green can be darker, all it would take is another coat of dye before sealing it. However, there will be a certain amount of varience in color due to dye saturation into the leather.

Uilleag

Just finished up another pair of greaves. These are green with black knee cops. Green seems to be a very popular color for leather!

Uilleag

Here's my latest project. Just finished the shaping tonight.

<IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/progresspics/drbauzubands1.jpg">

<IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/progresspics/drbauzubands2.jpg">

<IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/progresspics/drbauzubands4.jpg">

Uilleag

Greetings all. First off, I would like to thank all of you who took advantage of our Holiday sale. Your orders are being processed. Second, I am sorry to say that our Holiday sale will be ending tonight at midnight. There are still a few hours left to order your commission though, and it will still ...

Uilleag

I have finished the entire project today. A pair of tooled gauntlets and matching shovel greaves. I've even included a picture of how they articulate. <IMG src="http://www.houseofthewolf.com/pics/jjfullgauntlets2.jpg"> <IMG src="http://www.houseofthewolf.com/pics/jjfullgauntlets5.jpg"> <IMG src="htt...

Uilleag

I fight in riveted mail, since this pic was taken I got rid of the pauldrons, they never stay in place anyway. Under it, I wear a pleated wool liene, (Irish long shirt). <IMG src="http://www.houseofthewolf.com/pics/dan001.jpg"> Since moving to Atlantia, I've gotten tagged a few times inthe shoulder,...

Uilleag

This is a pair of greaves that I'm working on to match the gauntlets I'm posting my progress on. This is how the tooling is comming along so far. <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/progresspics/shovelgreaves1.jpg"> <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/progresspics/shovelgreaves2.jpg">

Uilleag

I buy all of my leather from the Leather factory. I primarily use thier armor bends, stock number: 9099-01 or 02. 01 is premium grade leather, very few range scars and brands, 02 has more scars and brands, but it is considerably less expensive. If expense is a concern, I would recommend reading my t...

Uilleag

I might be a bit out of your price range, but I do allow a 10% discount for bulk orders, (anything over 3 pieces). Check out my site, the URL is in my sig line. This way you can get all of your armour from the same place and it will match. I've been producing leather armour for about 5 - 6 years. He...

Uilleag

The bells are finished! The rest of the gauntlets are baking. They'll be finished and assembled tomorrow. <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/progresspics/halfgaunt9.jpg"> <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/progresspics/halfgaunt10.jpg"> <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/progresspics/halfgaunt11....

Uilleag

The pieces you recieved in the mail may not need padding, but remember knee and elboe joints do require padding under the armour.

Uilleag

Greetings all! I have been a member of the ARS for about a week now and I can't speak enough about it. As many of you know, I am gaining interest in authentic cuir bouilli armours, (hardened leather). Just two days ago, I enetered a request for aid in researching this elusive topic and I have alread...

Uilleag

Greetings all! I have been a member of the ARS for about a week now and I can't speak enough about it. As many of you know, I am gaining interest in authentic cuir bouilli armours, (hardened leather). Just two days ago, I enetered a request for aid in researching this elusive topic and I have alread...

Uilleag

Very nice craftsmanship! Interesting chain design-did you get that from the book of Kells? Actually the chain is from the Gosforth Cross, according to the stencil book I got it from, "Celtic and Old Norse Designs", by Courtney Davis. Wulfe, your order isn't quite as detailed, but I'm putting the sa...

Uilleag

Thank you for the compliment, Ashfield. I have been attempting to give my tooling a more authentic look. Here is the first cuff. All of the tooling is complete. Tomorrow, I do the other one. After the tooling is complete, I will shape, harden and then finish with antiquing paste. <IMG src="http://ho...

Uilleag

Here's this evening's work...

<IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/progresspics/halfgaunt4.jpg">

<IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/progresspics/halfgaunt5.jpg">

Uilleag

Greetings all! These are some progress pics of a pair of 1/2 gaunts that I am working on for a client. The customer asked for a celtic wolf with some knot work and left the interpretation up to me. We exchanged some ideas, and I had come up with a fairly nice pattern. Then after viewing David's work...

Uilleag

I believe by the early 15th century vanbraces were "tuliped" in shape. A very mild dishing in the upper forearm portion with a slight flaring at the cuff.

I don't have any readily accessable documentation for this, just what I remember seeing / reading, so I could be wrong.

Uilleag

Did you wash the surface afterwards? Wax and oils are both lubricants. Unless you wash them entirely out of the surface of the leather, gilding and natural pigmented paints will not adhere to them. I have discovered this from years of experimenting and researching different possible cuir bouilli re...

Uilleag

There's a nice cuir bouilli archer's bracer at the British Museum -- from England, dating to the late 15th or early 16th centuries -- dunno how to get a direct URL to it, but you can use the British Museum Compass to search for it. Thank you very much! I have a question though... "The leather is so...

Uilleag

The metal that shows through the armor is actually thin brass plate with aluminum plates behind it so it won't bend on impact. The color didn't show up well in the pictures. The leather is about 10-11 oz (Non hardened. I tried to do some hardening but I just can't figure it out.) and the plates ins...

Uilleag

Greetings all! I have been a leather craftsman for quite some time and have recently spread my interest into creating more authentically based leather armour. Primarily, I provide steel armour based patterns for SCA rattan combat, (read leather sports equipment). However my interests are expanding a...

Uilleag

It's never been worn, so I don't have pictures of that at this time. I could take some pics later this evening and post them if you like.....pm or email me please and we'll coordinate something.

Uilleag

David,

I am immensely impressed and honored. Exquisite workmanship. I am very humbled that my small contributions and tutorials inspired that work. Truly inspiring.

Uilleag

I buy my tracing film from the Leather Factory. The stock number is: 3500

I don't know of any craft stores that sell it, but I'm sure that they do. I just haven't looked.

Uilleag

Greetings all. Unfortunately, I have been unable to sell that FF& Cloud Soldier belt. It is now being offered on ebay at this listing: m <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/custombelt2.jpg"> <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/custombelt3.jpg"> Thank you for your interest!

House of the Wolf Leather Updated

Shovel Greaves (Pics)

Munitions grade bauzubands (Pics)

Sorry you missed it. (pics of latest work)

Greave progress

The Armour Research Society (x-post)

Armour Research Society

finished the first cuff!

Leather gauntlet (Entire Project finished!)

Re: Help with researching leather armour

Re: Thanks all.

Help with researching leather armour

New Ebay Listing