The Armour Archive

Maelgwyn

I know of documentation for both leather lacing and bronze wire staples for iron lamellar in a Roman Britain context (1st-4th century). I have a vague recollection of a reference to silk cord lacing in a 2nd century Sarmatian context but I couldn't quote a source. My answer is to use paracord as "fa...

Maelgwyn

freiman the minstrel wrote:...The viking idea is a good one. There was somebody on this archive that put together a relativly cheap viking checklist.

There is a Viking checklist in the article I cited above. Is that the one you mean?

Maelgwyn

If you are dead-set on getting a helm before you pick a time and place then the Ashcraft Baker is safe and adequate. If at all possible it would be better for you to take some time and select a time and place at least for your fighting kit, then develop an armouring plan, then start purchasing/makin...

Maelgwyn

Therefore, good sirrah, I shall be well pleased to have one, two, three, or however many passes shall satisfy you with what form you will, saving only the joy of combat that we both may share. I have set some times aside solely for which to seek gentlemen such as yourself, and test myself against t...

Maelgwyn

I like to ILL unfamiliar books first and then buy them if I want to keep them for reference. This one is available from over a dozen libraries.

Maelgwyn

I use a band of tape at the end, and one at the balance point, and one about halfway in between to make it easier to shift my hands and feel where the spear is without looking.

Maelgwyn

For that matter, where can one purchase saddler's felt?

Maelgwyn

... I can make a set of 5 piece knees that articulates further than the human leg can bend, no gaps, with a standard "satin" finish (that can be buffed to a high polish with an hours effort on the customers part) that gives EXCELLANT protection (I know because i WEAR THEM) and the customer can have...

Maelgwyn

Two brief observations:

1. There are some fun ideas here.

2. Standing in armour while other people bargain is rarely fun.

Maelgwyn

...Two of my largest selling items are not historically accurate in any way, and are clearly marked as such! Yet there are those on here that would have me believe I should discontinue selling them and only sell those historically accurate items I have. ...Not everyone should strive for perfection ...

Maelgwyn

I found that most industial suppliers had a $75 minimum order but I could get 1/4" felt in smaller quantities from an orthopedic supplies dealer that sold felt for making custom shoe inserts. I'll try to find that address for you.

Maelgwyn

Linen is more durable than cotton for any given weight of fabric, but you do probably want to use something thicker than translucent handkerchief-weight linen for armouring purposes. I suggest a medium or roughly 5 oz linen like the "IL019" fabric at m for most armour-related purposes and a heavy li...

Maelgwyn

Since 1982 I have had two personnae that move forward in time, one starting in 482 and one in 1582. It makes it more fun to discuss current events like the Frankish invasion of Gaul and the Spanish Armada that way.

Maelgwyn

I would compare this with the sleves of the doublets, especially the two fencing doublets, in Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion c1560-1620. ISBN: 0896760839

Maelgwyn

Aaron, part of the problem is the poor lighting and grainy photos that don't do your kit justice. Another problem is the straight lines, as Brian pointed out above. The greaves, vambraces, and even cuisses give the wrong silhouette, which is very noticeable in these pictures. The lack of smooth tran...

Maelgwyn

I think "50 years behind" works for a very general trend, but for any specifics you will want to use contemporary artwork specific to the region/class/activity you are portraying. Not my area of research though...who can link some good pictures?

Maelgwyn

... I have never felt so utterly bereft. I am wondering if I should find a new teacher and go that route, despite the oath I swore to myself "Never to jump through anymore hoops for anyone ever again". Anybody got a suggestion? Baron Hamish First, it sounds like the path from where you are now to w...

Maelgwyn

I can tell you how to make a shield out of parts from Home Depot for $30, would that help?

Maelgwyn

Here is an experiment for you: Dress a scarecrow in a grey tunic and hood to simulate mail and add a tin-foil spangenhelm. Now add an unarmoured straw horse. Shoot 500 arrows at the scarecrow from long range. Count how many arrows hit the fighter where the "armour" doesn't protect them. Count how ma...

Maelgwyn

Isn't it great that the few people in the world who actually care about weight distribution and body position in Capo Ferro's third guard can compare notes like this? I'm looking forward to the Capo Ferro class by Don Aeron Harper of Ansteorra (David Biggs of the Tattershall School of Defense) at KW...

Maelgwyn

Josh, many of us use "personna" or "portrayal" names here because we are widely known by them to hundreds or even thousands of our fellow hobbyists. This is done not to be anonymous, but to be better recognized by others who are talking here. Some of us use the titles that go with the names and some...

Maelgwyn

Therion has them in stock at http://www.therionarms.com/reenact/shields.shtml.

Maelgwyn

m I came across a couple of interesting tidbits recently: Dan Shadrake who leads the Britannia reenactment group included a picture of a Roman iron lamellar find from Somerset in his book "Barbarian Warriors". The book does not mention the size of the lamellae but in a posting at m he mentions: "A c...

Maelgwyn

I have always used 1/2" aluminum C channel around the edge of plywood shields, covered with hose. The hose wears out and needs replacing but the shields last forever. My current shield is 2 layers of 1/4" birch plywood curved and laminated together in a press, with 1/2" aluminum C channel glued on, ...

Maelgwyn

...I would by no stretch call you a liar, but perhaps your own reputation precedes you more than you think. I assure you that my claims to be ancient (having passed my fourtieth year), and outmoded (not having entered a rapier tournament in several years) are God's own truth. You will note I did no...

Maelgwyn

My hidden leg armour has plastic cuises & demi-greaves attached to tempered 4130 spring steel knees. They weigh practicaly nothing. Any shop monkey can dish a pair because they are hidden and do not have to look pretty. Annealed 22 gage spring steel is very easy to form. I made mine wingless with ro...

Maelgwyn

...If you will be at Knowne World Academy of the Rapier, you'll probably see me there. Take care. Alejandro Baron Alejandro, I will likewise be present for the Knowne World Academy of the Rapier. In the interest of further edification of the general populace, would you be willing to join me for a b...

Maelgwyn

Yes, but if you are buying both a hilt and new rattan you can probably save on the shipping by buying them both from the same place.

Maelgwyn

I check out Dick Blick for Rabbit Glue, what I found was only artist gesso. Is this what you are using? Try m Their gesso is a dry mixture of rabbit skin glue, gypsum, marble dust, and titanium dioxide. It probably won't soak in as well as plain rabbit glue. You might want to review Joe's original ...

Maelgwyn

GdV: I think if you "teach" someone more than a single blow or a single strategy in one armoured fighter practice, you are not fighting enough. Funny that. I was always of the opinion that if you spent more than 5% of your time fighting -- dedicating the remaining 95% of the time to drilling that d...

Maelgwyn

Some folks on this forum helped me out with this a little while ago. Hi Akmatov! The clan secret that was revieled to me was Rabbit Glue! Full credit to Chris Dobson and his AA prophet Joe Skeesick for bestowing this secret upon the Armour Archive clan! I can fully endorse steps 1-11 and 13 from my...

Maelgwyn

What sort of hammer/dish do you use for forming? I just shape the wet leather by hand and then adjust as needed during the drying process, but I haven't tried much in the way of a 3d curve. I'm guessing that you use a very smooth form to prevent surface damage to the leather. My stump or my steel fo...

Maelgwyn

My gamer friends that enjoy Carcassonne also tend to enjoy any of the Rails games, starting with North American Rails and working up to Lunar Rails or Iron Dragon.

Maelgwyn

See http://www.armourarchive.org/essays/ess ... ting.shtml in the essays section here at the archive.

Maelgwyn

My two cents worth: give your sword to your opponent. Every strike you make should deliver the momentum of the sword to the opponent, not glancing across them or pulled back as soon as it connects. Your opponent is wearing armour, he or she can take the hit. Strike as if your blade will pass clear t...

Re: Should I consider squiring again?