The Armour Archive

Maelgwyn

So, who would make a really excellent SEM? If the Board needs to appoint a new one in October they might appreciate some good advice. Perhaps we should nominate Jester, and then when the uproar dies down we propose Asbjorn as the compromise candidate? Just kidding guys. What knight (preferably a roy...

Maelgwyn

Is it time for this discussion again? To get beyond "Is! Is not! Is too!" you will need to offer widely accepted definitions of the terms you are using. Good luck with that. If you cannot agree on what the terms mean, how could you agree on which term is best for SCA combat? I suspect that the ultim...

Maelgwyn

This is cross-posted from the armour construction forum. Does anyone have any credible weights for extant shield bosses? It would have to be well-preserved so that corrosion losses are not too significant. Perhaps something from Dura Europos? Roman or post-Roman examples preferred but any data point...

Maelgwyn

Ok, time for some real measurements. On the postal scale at work the old 16g shield boss weighs 17.5 ounces. The new one weighs 8 ounces. Anyone have any credible weights for extant shield bosses? It would have to be well-preserved so that corrosion losses are not too significant. Perhaps something ...

Maelgwyn

I can't believe you made that in 2 days!! It looks REALLY good! It is good that you can't believe it, because I didn't make it. The article credits Tim Blades as the maker of the draco. I'd like to know more about who he is and what he does. The pictures of his shop are intriguing. Did you make the...

Maelgwyn

BdeB wrote:It's some of the most fun you can have standing up.

I could illustrate the problem with this statement, but not on a public Web site.

How about "The most fun you can have with your clothes on."? Ok, some problems there too.

It's a lot of fun.

Maelgwyn

I want to look like this guy when I grow up! http://www.channel4.com/history/timeteam/images/2005_drum_10.jpg This is from a Time Team episode that will air on the Discovery Channel. See the article on draco construction at m Hey, those repousse tools look familiar... http://www.channel4.com/history...

Maelgwyn

Within the SCA I usually call it "armoured combat" to distinguish it from "rapier combat" because I may use a simulated sword or spear or whatever but I always wear armour. Outside of the SCA I refer to it as "medieval combat with real armour and blunt rattan weapons". I call my weapon a "sword" if ...

Maelgwyn

Free kiln! How lucky can you get? I think this is great. Your munitions armour approach combined with an in-house kiln should generate a whole new wave of low-cost low-weight steel armour. I want to see your wingless cops available in .032 (22 g) and blackened with 3-in-1 oil during tempering for ru...

Maelgwyn

My press uses 3 boards of 3/4" plywood (each roughly 10"x24") to define the curve, 3 pieces of 1x2" each 4' long, and some ratchet straps. The boards each have a curve on one side with a notch on one end to hold the shield blank in place and a rectangular hole below the other end for a 1x2. The pres...

Maelgwyn

I have heard of the technique being referred to as the "Iron penis". You can find it in Frano de Liberi's "Flos de Denti". (Franco was was Fiore's younger smarter brother.) Hell if we're going for cheese - When you have your opponent legged, get in tight and give him a hard thrust to the face/chest...

Maelgwyn

m and no, but I'm sure others will. I think Krag's was for a commission. His was made of 1050 and shaped for a flat shield. Mine is 4130 and shaped to fit a curved shield, which is a real pain. Max at North Star armoury is also starting to work with 4130 carbon steel and might be willing to fill an ...

Maelgwyn

Around here they call them "flight deck helms". A helm based on the Prank or Pembridge great helms would have better glancing angles but the top piece requires some serious dishing/raising. See m If you go for 13th or 14th century I'd make the greaves and vambraces out of tooled, hardened and painte...

Maelgwyn

3 of 4 armourers responded with spontaneous laughter when they held my old 16g mild steel shield boss in one hand and my new 22g carbon steel boss in the other. The fourth (Krag) also responded with spontaneous laughter, followed rapidly with marking, cutting and hammering out his own boss so that w...

Maelgwyn

I had a good week also, although I didn't get to fight at all. Mon. 70 HS, 30 HP Tues. 30 min nordic track Wed. 70 HS, 30 HP Thurs. 30 min nordic track Fri. 70 HS, 30 HP Sat. rest Sun. Worked on leather lamellar scales. Drove to Krag's shop in Bryan and back with archivers Sir Gaston de Clermont and...

Maelgwyn

Just a suggestion: When you get around to putting this in petition format, put a place for SCA member number on the petition. I think it would help make your case.

Maelgwyn

Congratulations on getting yourself back in the game! I'm sure Master Wolf and the Elfsea crew will get you back up to speed in no time. Are you doing a regular strength training regimen? Be sure to tell us about it on the Monday Training topic. I want to see pictures of your lamellar, and the rest ...

Maelgwyn

I also didn't have much else on my plate - my girlfriend was 3000 miles across the country, I wasn't going to school and my job was early in the morning to early in the afteroon. I did some of my best training right after I broke up with a girlfriend...several months on an intense schedule. It seem...

Maelgwyn

Could someone post a link to a contemporary image (effigy? artwork) of a 12th or 13th century cuirass for comparison? I recall written references but I wonder what art exists.

Maelgwyn

Yes, lets put shield pushing with other kinds of pushing. All of this has been done safely in some kingdoms in the past so I see no reason not to allow it as an option.

Maelgwyn

My $.02 I think that pushing people back and off-balance is fine. Throwing people through the air is a bit much. Knocking people to the ground in the kind of helms we wear is unsafe. I know that in some circumstances it takes only minimal force to knock someone to the ground, so don't worry about th...

Maelgwyn

...I still wonder what was said to, or about the fighter in the exposed white plastic armour? That he is a good fighter inspite of his stormtrooper armour? I hope someone said to him "A good surcote covers a great many sins." BendSinister, by the power vested in me by the Corpora of the SCA, I here...

Maelgwyn

... I am nothing special, just determined. Ha! That's a good one! Adam, you are one of the most gifted artists working in armour construction. Nothing special my foot. Other than that I agree with your post. Even for the non-armourer an excellent set of armour with the right foundation garments and...

Maelgwyn

Ok! My suggestion for improved wind is first to see if you are holding your breath during combat. I still do this too often myself. No amount of conditioning will help if you forget to breathe. Next, increase your weekly aerobic minutes. If you do stairmaster or run for 30 continuous minutes 3 times...

Maelgwyn

My understanding of the latest rule "clarification" is that manipulating your opponent's shield with any part of your body is not allowed. You can use your shield or weapon but not your body or armour. Prior to this clarification many Kingdoms allowed such activity. For now I would assume you were p...

Maelgwyn

Is your mail closer to: a) about 15 lbs. of riveted chain; or b) about 45 lbs of butted coathanger wire. If a, then I suggest plyometric conditioning to improve quickness and endurance. If b then I suggest getting a. Running or other active training in mail increases your risk of joint injury. Stair...

Maelgwyn

Just wait till the kid is old enough and wants to fight YC too... 2 parents, 2 kids, 6 sets of gear. I fight armoured and rapier, my wife fights rapier, my daughter fights boffer and youth rapier, and my son fights boffer. And my son hates to travel without his full arsenal of polearms. We need a b...

Maelgwyn

I fully support this proposal. I agree with Cet that the "Single handed weapons only" clause is not needed for safety and it is detrimental to the purpose of the rule change.

Maelgwyn

Is there any reason not to use a DC transformer, like the power cable from an old printer, in this process? I have a couple of 12v. dc transformers laying around and I'm sure I can find some alligator clips. What amperage is required?

Maelgwyn

...I have got to start a library if I am ever going to learn anything. It is hard to start one, for me when books cost so much It is nice to have your own copy for re-reading selected texts, but you can learn a lot more for free at your public library. What they don't have they can get for you thro...

Maelgwyn

I have made a coat-of-plates based on an example from Wisby using plastic plates, and it works great. If you form the plastic well and use it in locations where it isn't seen I have no problem with it for SCA youth combat. Visible plastic of a form and color to replace leather pieces in historical a...

Maelgwyn

Thanks for the citation, Egfroth! I'm trying to make helms lightweight and rigid enough for SCA youth boffer combat. I also have a 2-panel Roman ridge helm of 18g. mild steel in work. When finished I will compare weights and rigidity. For the 6-9 year old fighters I think the lighter weight leather ...

Maelgwyn

Where do I fall? I try to stay on my feet and keep advancing on all fronts. I would love to have a "perfect" set of armour and fight with "perfect" prowess. Meanwhile I strive for excellence in both and rarely find that one interferes with the other.

Maelgwyn

I am concerned about the term "open hand". When I fight single-sword I sometimes use my CLOSED hand to push against my opponent's basket hilt or pommel. If my hand was open then my unarmoured palm would be vulnerable. A gauntleted hand is only safe when the gauntlet is closed.

Maelgwyn

You know, I thought this thread was going to end after the third post. Josh saw a picture of someone who looked to me like they could use help and encouragement to get some better-looking armour. Josh asked who it was. Animal named the person and mentioned what he was doing to help him with new armo...

Shield Boss weights

Roman cavalry helm and Draco standard

3 of 4 armourers responded with spontaneous laughter...