The Armour Archive

Uilleag

$12.00 - $20.00 per pound is actually a fairly reasonable price range. This link is to Dick Blick as well, but this one is already mixed with gypsum etc. I've tried both unmixed rabbit hide glue and this pre-mixed. The pre mixed w/gypsum leaves a more finished surface and makes the leather very hard...

Uilleag

Fearra, I have to agree that your willingness to jump into working on armour and your insightful questions make it really fun answering them. I regards to your leather armour question: 1. I'm wondering about the difference (practical and historical) of leather articulation vs riveted articulation in...

Uilleag

Here is a harness that I recently finished. Made the body armour, pauldrons, bauzubands, and legs and c-belt. The leg harness and belt are hidden by the garb, but you can just see the knee cops. I thought I would share.... <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/jannaharrisarmour1.jpg"> <IMG src="h...

Uilleag

Thanks, Everyone. for a while during construction it was called "Elven Jihad" but i backed off that name.. Though i like it the best. The reserve price is $1200 on it. i always end up spending days pondering what to price things at. The original intent was for this suit to goto a theatre or a larpe...

Uilleag

Stitching can work very well. That is how I made my original pattern for over 4 years. The reason I changed the pattern, (as did GAA), was because in those 4 years we had 2 pair of bauzubands come back to us. The leather around the seem had torn, making the elbow fail. The other reason is that rivet...

Uilleag

Start with Uileag's tutorials. Bazubands (elbow and forearm protection) m And then try the shovel greave tutorial m After that, come back, and we will help as much as we are able. Uilleag, I had trouble finding your excellent tutorials on your website, so I did a search on the archive for the origi...

Uilleag

It bumps the post back to the top of the list so more people will look at it.

Uilleag

Uilleag

I am willing to shorten the length and adjust the hinged forearm at no extra cost. Send me your measurements and give this fine piece of armour a home!

Uilleag

Blind Hamish, I personally do not sell my patterns, but there are several gauntlet patterns available here on the archive that would work in leather. The best part about these patterns here on the archive is that not only have they been developed by some of the best armourers in the world, but they ...

Uilleag

Wil,

I am familar with the pattern you referenced and you are right it does allow for good mobility. I have also used a pattern with the same concept, but instead of stitching, (which takes for ever and can fail), we included tabs off of the metacarple and rivieted the hand piece to the cuff.

Uilleag

George, I have 2 tutorials on my web page that covers shaping, hardening, assembling, dyeing, etc of leather armour. One is on shovel greaves and the other is one bauzubands. The information can be translated to any leather armour project and as for patterns most metal armour patterns will work with...

Uilleag

Hi all! Mention this add and recieve a 10% discount on all armour purchases, because it is better to give than recieve! Some examples of recent work.... <IMG src="http://www.houseofthewolf.com/pics/newfullgauntlets.jpg"> Gauntlets of this style are on sale for just $90.00, just by mentioning this ad...

Uilleag

PM sent.

Uilleag

Thanks! They aren't for me though....I have made myself a similar set, but just the articulated knees, without the cuises.

This pair is for a client. The cuises are made of 10 oz and the knees are made of 14 - 16 oz.

Uilleag

Here is another project that I recently finished. I've worked regular cuises but this is the first pair that fully wrap the thigh..... <IMG src="http://www.houseofthewolf.com/pics/customlegs2.jpg"> <IMG src="http://www.houseofthewolf.com/pics/customlegs3.jpg"> Figuring out how to line the pattern up...

Uilleag

Here is a recent commission, that came out kind of neat! The client wanted tooled dolphins.....

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

The pics don't really do the tooling justice, but I thought I would share.

Uilleag

It helps to have the cuff flare all the way around - the shape you use for the articulated cuff may bind on the inside of the wrist when rigid. The pattern I used for mine is semicircular (with a similar point), and it allows a very wide range of motion. I think I understand what you are saying...g...

Uilleag

The open hourglass cuff? Do you mean a cuff that covers only the outside, and not the inside, of the wrist? It seems like Wil was talking about a full cuff, just fixed in place rather than flexibly articulated. I was talking about the open cuff, that covers the outside only, I thought that was what...

Uilleag

Uillieag, how well would these work with a simple hourglass style cuff stitched to the metacarpel, rather than the three-piece articulation? seems to me you could save time and materials doing them this way, without sacrificing mobility. I've only fought a couple short sessions with full gantlets t...

Uilleag

those gauntlets would do the trick with my armor..so would those nice black shovel greaves listed as your work on the GAA armory website. If only it wasnt so expensive You do really nice work. You take pride in your craft and it shows. Thanks for the compliment! Have you seen the cost of good leath...

Uilleag

Sweet! How do you like this pattern vs. the one you were using previously? By the way, in your essays, you've never mentioned comercially available products like Leather Sheen for protecting armor. I do much less upkeep on my leather armor than your instructions would suggest, without any troubles....

Uilleag

Greetings all! I have a pair of munitions grade bauzubands ready for immediate sale. They are made to fit these measurements: wrist= 9" forearm at widest=15" tip of elbow to wrist 13 and one half" They will fit a large person or a medium sized person with padding.... Here's what they look like: <IMG...

Uilleag

very cool! now if people will use it. I really like the pics to go with the names...I know a lot more folks here than I thought I did!

Uilleag

I have very minimal tools for doing leatherworking, punches, scissors, needles and such. I'd like to get into carving and tooling, what tools do i need? Slainte, Fearghus Fearghus, I would start with a basic leatherworkers kit from the Leather Factory, stock #:4900. It comes with 7 basic tools, to ...

Uilleag

Looks good Uilleag! How much do they weigh? Have you considered using rabbit glue to harden a pair? This is one place where I think you want all the strength you can get. I have considered rabbit glue, but I haven't tried it yet on my gauntlets. The gaunts are made of 14 - 16 oz compressed leather ...

Uilleag

Every sample of your work that I see is more interesting than the last... One question about the thumb - do you need additional padding to make it "combat legal?" It looks like the thumb piece wouldn't completely cover the thumb (i.e. rest on the sword). Time to PM you for a gorget order, I think.....

Uilleag

The thumb rests on the weapon. I tested it with a piece of rattan.

I will check PM in a minute.

Uilleag

Greetings all! Well, it's new for me, anyway! <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/newfullgauntlets.jpg"> <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/newfullgauntlets3.jpg"> They also translate well into half gauntlets..... <IMG src="http://houseofthewolf.com/pics/newhalfgauntlets.jpg"> Here is a c...

Uilleag

I have some pictures, and I'm in Japan if you need me to do any on-the-spot research. My wife is interested in that time as well. Do you need some patterns? -Aaron I would love some patterns. You can email them to me, I have Adobe, so PDF files will work for me, if you have them. Like I have mentio...

Uilleag

My customer and I haven't discussed what the finished project will be, other than 15-16 century Japanese, the entire harness minus kabuto. He wants it done all in leather, which will make it interesting and some of the patterns I have researched will not work well with an all leather construction......

Uilleag

I have to agree with several sentiments thus far. I hate being wrong, even though it is a common occurance! I enjoy learning, and I'm enjoying learning how to not take it personal when my views are proven to be inaccurate. A potentialy painful life lesson, made easier when taught with understanding ...

Uilleag

I think you have the pattern down, just fine. I would dish the helm panels out a little more, that will give it more of a sallet profile.

Uilleag

Thanks!

What a wonderful wealth of information! This site alone, should make the commission very doable!

However, I would love to see more! Information is Power!

Uilleag

Greetings all! I have been approached with a very intriguing (sp) potential commission for an entire Japanese harness. Having never done one before, my research sources are woefully inadequate. I would need sources that specifically show construction techniques, or at least detailed pics of differen...

Re: Many Questions

Lady Segnat new harness (pics)

Holiday sale! Only 2 weeks left!

first attempt at full cuises (leather)

Tooled bauzubands

Re: nice work

Leather Bauzubands ready for immediate sale!

Re: leatherworking tools question

New Leather Gauntlet design! (pics)

getting ready for a challenging project