The Armour Archive

Maelgwyn

There is an excellent summary of this period by Christopher Snyder at http://the-orb.net/encyclop/early/origi ... essay.html The bibliography at the end includes many of my favorite sources and many more that I haven't read...yet.

For a nice chronology with many sources cited, see http://members.aol.com/michellezi/timel ... icage.html

Maelgwyn

Not entirely true in Britain, where the legions revolted in 406 and then left for Gaul in 407, never to return. Those troops were defeated in 410 by troops loyal to Emperor Honorius but he declined to send them back to Britain, possibly due to the Vandal problem in Italy and the Alans, Alemani, Fran...

Maelgwyn

...And I would slightly alter Maelgwyn's analogy to a somewhat more Medieval tone: "If I have drunk the baron's mead (or preferrably some fine Cypriot wine) in celebration of our contract in which I will receive ten pounds gold annually as rents from lands in Lombardy, I will be obligated to serve ...

Maelgwyn

Fectio does it well, as do Brittania, ERA, Combrogi, Comitatus, and the Cohors Prima Gallica.

Some previous posts on the topic include:
http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=29231
http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=33781
http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=29492
http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... p?p=319871
http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=33916

Maelgwyn

How about Late Romano British / Saxon =) Maybe eventually a Rus one as well. Duncan Maybe we should just start the Romano-Brit thread here and let JT move it over if he feels like it. I've asked a couple of times about starting a Romano British topic in the "I wanna be" forum but gotten no reply.

Maelgwyn

I think you want Sir Alexis, who does not post here often. Try drwise at houston.rr.com . I found that address in his user profile here.

Maelgwyn

The most common howler I see is someone posting scans from a book (particularly images) on a website, and "invoking the fair use clause". Now, I'm no expert on copyright, but I'd be really surprised if that's what the "Fair Use" clause actually permits! It was my understanding that it permits anyon...

Maelgwyn

I have posted a question to the Austin SCA group's e-mail list.

Update: I received a reply from Matt and I have asked him to contact you.

Maelgwyn

Why not make a web page for each of the "I wanna be" threads and appoint an editor for each. They could integrate information, images and corrections from the threads and present a coherrent veiw of the material. Anyone could post information and pictures to the thread but the editor would select an...

Maelgwyn

I had thought the current usage was "locking scale" for scales attached to a backing but wired together in rows and "lamellar" for scales or lamellae attached to each other so that no backing is needed. I would call these locking scale : http://www.carlislemillenniumdig.co.uk/images/armourscales.jpg...

Maelgwyn

See m for a very brief summary of european use of lamellar. As for the true nature of carolingian scale, we would need better physical evidence to be sure. It is conventional to assume that if the scales in an image point up then it is lamellar and if they point down it is scale, but there is really...

Maelgwyn

Ok, time for an accounting: Mon: 90 hindu squats, 30 hindu pushups, 50 crunches, 30 seconds of bridging. Tues: An excellent fighter practice with high turnout due to post-war enthusiasm and pre-crown training. I worked with Giotto, Kim, Duke Kein, and Sir Erazmus who was visiting in town from the Ou...

Maelgwyn

I am in the "do I really want to get hit with a stick" stage. I am looking for a cheap helm so I can get on the field and find out. That is what loaner gear is for. Borrow some, hit somebody, get addicted, and then come buy this cool helm from ROC. I love the way the bar grill conforms to the lines...

Maelgwyn

On the Youth war point, perhaps there is a middle ground. Award a war point to the side that fields the most youth fighters. Then even up the sides and let 'em have it out with no pressure. I agree that the pressure to win might be too much for the blow-calling ability of some kids. Some days it get...

Maelgwyn

An excellent question! Here are some guesses: 1. None. Sleep in the open or commandeer a barn/house/villa. 2. Use a traditional Roman military tent, a wall tent made of goatskin rectangles sewn together. 3. Use a tent in the form of a Roman wall tent but made of canvas. Many U.S. civil war tents fit...

Maelgwyn

I like my 42" Del Tin blade (from Darkwood) even in my old bronze swept-hilt guard from American Fencers. The Darkwood guards are very nice, but there are other sources like James the Just at m that may suit your budget better. See m for more possible suppliers. For protective gear I suggest a comme...

Maelgwyn

For the last several weeks? Zero.

Last night? 4, including Duke Kein. A good time was had by all.

Now that Sir Gideon is back from his extended trip I expect we will see him regularly at practice. As for Duke Kein, Earl Reynard, Sir Pendaran, Sir Connor and Sir Martel, who can say?

Maelgwyn

Mon - 3 hours of hiking and rock climbing at Enchanted Rock with my kids and my sister the geologist. It is really fun to be able to ask "why is that stripe made of different sized crystals" and similar questions and get a detailed answer. Tues - recover from rock climbing. No one in armour at pract...

Maelgwyn

If I get to the hobby store this weekend, I will try some of the rabbit glue out on a piece and see what happens. Maybe if I thin it, it will seep into the pores more thoroughly and give a very firm result. I find it at art supply stores... it is traditionally used to prepare canvas for oil paintin...

Maelgwyn

I wasn't joking about the rabbit glue. Do a forum search on rabbit glue to see why it might be more effective and historically accurate than wax, for armour.

Maelgwyn

Whats wrong with a group, that was more like the early SCA, where fantasy cultures were allowed? Nothing at all. Feel free to form one. A group that did just history but any time and any continent would be fine too. That isn't the SCA either. The SCA members decided that it wasn't what we wanted to...

Maelgwyn

Ok, time for a story. Back in May of 1984 I decided that armoured combat might be possible even for a skinny (6', 145 lb) college kid like me. I was at Steppes Warlord when I came across a guy called Cricket who was getting out of the game and wanted to sell his gear for some tiny sum even I could a...

Maelgwyn

For my only-somewhat-educated guess: Trophies from raids against other, wealthier cultures. Saxon artifacts (think Sutton Hoo) from Bernica, Brythonic/Welsh artifacts from Dun Edyn. A quick read of "Y Goddodin" will identify many high-status items well within reach. Glass vessels for wine and gold/e...

Maelgwyn

Rabbit glue

Maelgwyn

In my SCA paper on planning your armour kit for your time and place, I used a Viking kit as an example. The paper is available at http://pages.suddenlink.net/egrim/papers/armour.doc

Maelgwyn

1st, that is a nice kit and an excellent way to plan, using a variety of contemporary effigies. Done in hardened steel it should be light and protective. ...I also realize the helm material may be pushing it, but the helm will be strong enough I agree 100%. and with a full visor it should have almos...

Maelgwyn

My week: Mon. nada Tues. 30 min nordic track. Fighter practice in armour : worked with Aldwin (new to the area...formerly of Elfsea), Charles and Tarquin. Tarquin still takes my head off with greatsword if I let him get inside. I need to work on controlling his weapon while setting up for a butt spi...

Maelgwyn

So if I call my rattan weapon (6' long with a marked blade of 12") a spear - I cannot cut with it; but if I call the exact same weapon a polearm I can cut with it? Have I misunderstood something? No, you have not misunderstood. You are exactly right. Do not adjust your set: reality (or our set of r...

Maelgwyn

What's your favorite, what is your favorite length, and your favorite tactics? 7.5 foot "unpadded glaive" cutting spear with stabbing tip and butt spike, and a "lug" or "wings" at the end of the cutting head like many dark age spears. I use the wings to manipulate shields and weapons. My favorite m...

Maelgwyn

Possibly because lots of Mongols occupied territory and conducted warfare in Europe during the Middle Ages, but not so many Chinese? I think there were some Chinese people in service to the Mongols in Eastern Europe, but not in large numbers.

Maelgwyn

Looks like Iolo's work...is there an "I" in brass pins on the end of the stock? If not it's most likely made by an apprentice under his supervision.

Maelgwyn

Monday - 30 hindu pushups, 80 hindu squats, 50 crunches, 2X15 seconds bridging Tuesday - 30 min. nordic track. Good armoured workout at practice against Esteban, Ysfael, Catalina and Sean. Ever get hit on the side/back of the knee in a way that makes your whole lower leg go numb and then start tingl...

Maelgwyn

Is the fiberglass cloth and resin really that much stronger than linen and hide glue?

I use a laminated birch shield and would never go back to pine plywood.

Maelgwyn

Torvaldr sells pre-made leather scales with wax hardening at http://skaldic.com

Maelgwyn

D. Sebastian wrote:I fought at Pennsic 31 with Sword and Draco.

Any pictures?

Re: One more opinion

Re: I wanna Be...

Re: Next harness planned, Agincourt. SCA - Marshals, please.

Re: SCA polearm people question