The Armour Archive

Uilleag

Hi Thomas, As Vondan has told you, GAA is, unfortunately out of business. I am his apprentice in the SCA and run my own shop now. Is there anything that I can help you with. If you would just like to contact Massa G of GAA, his email still works; GAA_Armouries@yahoo.com It takes him a while to answe...

Uilleag

Animal has summed up what I am advocating. It is forcing people to accept personal responsibility for thier actions. It is precisely a marshal telling someone they are hitting too hard, or ignoring blows. Usually a simple conversation will fix the problem. I hate active marshalling, I think that it ...

Uilleag

The problem with most wood stains is that the mordant used to get the dye to take hold over-dry the leather and cause it to crack. Check the label and make sure that there are no polymers, or other sealants in the stain. Regular, oil based wood dyes should be ok, but you need to be aware of any addi...

Uilleag

Jost, you wrote: "But single combat isn't all of our world. In melee, force escalates overall. As a gratuitous personal example, while fighting spear last year at Pennsic, I took an overhead shot to the left forearm from an upadded glaive which dropped me to the ground, fairly sure the arm was broke...

Uilleag

Jost, The incident you are refering to was the case of an excessive blow, IMO. Gearing up isn't the answer, adressing excessive blows is. I live in Atlantia, and I get by just fine with hardened leather armour with minimal paddining on my arms. I have been hit by some of the stoutest hitters in this...

Uilleag

Noe, You can send emails to danhouchins@houseofthewolf.com If that address does not work, try danhouchins@yahoo.com , but please try the first email address before the second..... Is there a problem with the email link on my website? I haven't had problems with it befroe, that I am aware of......

Uilleag

My lady and I will be arriving the Friday before the War to help with set-up. I'd love to link up with you at some point...I miss my Meridian friends.

Uilleag

Brave talk from a doughty warrior, but without harness, you will be nothing more than fodder.

Mercanary or loyal vassal, any warrior worth his salt knows the value of good harness. Come play with the big dogs, or stay home, but no whining about bruises!

Uilleag

Is Latigo what you are talking about? I was thinking of getting this in burgundy. Its very expensive but I think its worth the cost because of its great quality. Thanks for the weight sugesstion since I was thinking heavier. Sometimes it is difficult to gauge what you need. What type of thread and ...

Uilleag

I would suggest 3 - 4 oz oil-cured leather. The laether factory offers it is 3 colors, burgundy, brown and black. They all cost the same regardless of color..... As to the design, I would sugget that you pattern out the leather based off of the finished project, and this will give you a better idea ...

Uilleag

Thank you for the recommendations! Nightmare, I offer several different styles of torso protection, however, it sounds as if you are interested in my 13c cuirass. This runs for $195.00, it comes with a breast and back plate, pre-strapped, and is made of 12 - 14 oz leather and is then hardened. You h...

Uilleag

Yes, you will have to redampen the leather. Do not soak it, just a quick dampening will do. Another thing that will help to get rid of that wierd sheen you are speaking of is to buff off the excess dye right after you apply it.

Uilleag

There is a difference between saturation and good penetration. Hmmm...sounds like it will take much experimentation on scraps to figure out the difference. Le sigh... Any rule of thumb for knowing when you have the right pennetration? That's the tricky part for me since it goes on much darker than ...

Uilleag

So the trick is to really saturate the wet leather? Huh...and here I never tried it cause of the fear it would be even more pruple....lol. Well, on to experimenting with the dread ox..... Oh...do you cut the dye with the thinner, or do it straight from the bottle? Thanks, Christopher I use it strai...

Uilleag

Remember the general rule when dealing with merchants of any product; you can inexpensive and quick, or quick and high quality, or high quality and a relatively low price. You will not find high quality, low price, and quick turn around all at the same time. Low price is relative to what you are ask...

Uilleag

*Begins beating the dead horse* Where do you obtain your hide glue? A I get mine from Dick Blick's, but I'm pretty sure that it can be obtained from any art supply store. It is sold as rabbit hide glue, under canvas sizing. It is primarily used to prepare porous surfaces for painting, it helps stre...

Uilleag

Sweet....the glue technique is working well it seems. How rigid are these, just outta curiosity? Are you dying these before you bake them still? Or ar you adding the dye from the back after glue treating like you did with the linseed on those polyens? What sort of wax and waxing technique are you u...

Uilleag

This was last weeks work. All of these pieces have been made with 12 oz. leather water treated, work hardened, heat treated and then hide glued, then the entire piece is sealed with wax. The first set of pics Is a pair of bauzubands in oxblood. <IMG src="http://www.houseofthewolf.com/gallery/bauzuba...

Uilleag

email sent.

Uilleag

My Lady, Ulfdis and I will be there.

Uilleag

He is adding on the mail drape, so it will be some time before the helm is ready for pics. Don't worry, once I have my entire harness finished, I will post pics. I am redoing a lot of my harness to go with the reproduction work I am developing.....

Uilleag

I found exactly what I was looking for at Windrose Armoury. Thanks for all of the emails and such! Pixley, Windrose is a bit steep in price, but I am getting a SS helm with welded SS mail drape with a swept back nasal. Definately worth a look!

Uilleag

Greetings all, I am looking to complete the look for my kit. I am not a skilled metal worker and so I have shelved my attempts at this project. What I am looking for is either a Norman conical or Norman spangen either one, with a nasal, slat of plate backplate with a mail drape incorporated into the...

Uilleag

Unfortunatately, no I do not have a picture of the reinforced c belt. I can take a picture of the normal one and post it later today. As for an increase in price for larger folks, that depends on how much larger. I have to be honest, I have found that the c belt design doesn't work very well for lar...

Uilleag

Other than the museums, you can try the Library of Congress, it has some really good research material for just about any interest.

Also, if you are so inclined there are some really good fighter practices inthe area. Several Archive members live in the area and attend.

Uilleag

I too have heard great things about the C-belts you make Dan... How much would one go for, out of curiousity... Also, really quick , does anyone happen to know if there are some of those nifty COP kits from GAA floating around, collecting dust ?? Standard c belts for just holding up leg armour run$...

Uilleag

Well, if you are interested in the GAA style c belt, I make them. I used to make all of GAA's leather products and have brancehed off to run my own armory.

Uilleag

GAA has gone out of business. He had to take a day job and now has little more than "tinker" time in the shop. He is still armouring, but not as a business.

Uilleag

I actually use both. I have started purchasing steel from Home Depot. Cheesy, I know, but it comes in 1" strips in about 18g. It works great for hidden splints, but I will need to find a better steel supplier for exposed splints. I'm not really set up for metal work, so my finishes will be simple sa...

Uilleag

No it doesn't. The conservators at the British Museum are of the opinion that the straps were held in place by threading the strap through the slot with a flare at one end, so that it could not pass through. I'm not sure whow they came to this conclusion, but it makes sense due to the lack of stich ...

Uilleag

As a matter of fact you are exactly right. That is one of the examples that I am remembering. I can't believe that I forgot that one!

Uilleag

The documentation that I used for the "y" strap comes from several different artworks and effigies from the 14c. I can't seem to find the pics in my library, but I will look for them and see if I can give you some specific references.

Uilleag

I'm not sure what your budget is but I offer this:

http://www.houseofthewolf.com/authentic ... uirass.jpg

This is styled off of a 13c leather cuirass and comes in a variety of colors. Please feel free to contact me for pricing, delivery and other ordering information.

Uilleag

Thanks for your answer. You're right its not what I am looking for, but it is pretty.

Uilleag

what time period is it? Is it Norman? I am looking for a Norman conical, (I know this isn't a conical, but it is interesting)
I may bid on it, but not sure yet....

Re: one question...

Latest projects (Lots of pics)

WTB-Norman Conical (SCA)