The Armour Archive

Effingham

I'll have to take your word on that one. I don't WANT to know if you're cuddly or not

I think we're all safer that way.

Effingcuddlydammit

Effingham

I remember you telling me that Effingham, but I'm not sure why. I thought the guy was a bit of a hack

Oh, definitely a hack. But a sweet, cute, cuddly hack.

Effinghack

Effingham

although the Japanese one's are pretty good from my understanding

I've heard that, too. Can't quite recall where....

Effingham

Effingham

Spaulders are, indeed, excellent first projects in that they teach you most of the basic skills -- but to be honest, making a helmet is a LOT more satisfying. Let's admit it, folks. Showing off a helmet, holding a finished one, trying it on -- is a lot more of a "lookee what I kin do!" than a set of...

Effingham

Why do folks keep saying stuff like this? Isn't it like saying Joe Blow is a good guy except for when he is cheating, stealing or lying? I'm reminded of something Dr. Laura says when people admit to doing bad things and then say, "but that's not like me..." She says: "No, that is *exactly* like you...

Effingham

At least you get excuses. I don't even get responses to my e-mails.

Effingham

Effingham

That's okay. Don't worry about it.

Effingham

Effingham

That's okay -- you've ordered a VERY good book.

Effingham

Effingham

What?!?!

None of MINE????

Effingham

Effingham

Oy. How frikkin' pathetic.

I hope this is all incorrectly reported, as I'd be embarrassed to have someone like that as my king.

Effingham

Effingham

Yes, they cooked in their jingasa. It's called "multitasking the equipment."

Ask any WWII vet who spent time in trenches or bogged down somewhere if he ever cooked in his helmet. It's not that uncommon.

(Course, you can't do that with the new helmets.)

Effingham

Effingham

Hey, Mike -- remember what I said about Japanese-ish armour.

Effingham

Effingham

Gwen, if you guys ever want to experiment on making this stuff for "typical 21st century" body types and see how it works on us non-wasp-waisted chubby folks, let me know.

Effingham

Effingham

They're frikkin' ancient. The Romans had 'em. Bagpipes are actually rather common instruments, structurally speaking. There are bagpipe variants all over the place.

Effingham

Effingham

The great frustration I -- and many other SCA folk these days -- have is that we're not wasp-waisted. We're chunky. Deluxe economy size. Fat, even. And many clothing merchants -- even the great ones, like Gwen's -- don't market for the increasing number of larger people except by special order. We s...

Effingham

By the way -- sorry if I cam across as if I were angry or constipated. I've been waiting for over a week to hear back from a promising job possibility in the Pittsburg area, and I'm getting a bit testy...

Effingham

Effingham

And you never mentioned this before?.... Actually, I mention it everytime I get asked. Which is, frankly, too damned often. I generally ignore the question on shields and Japanese, because it's bloody obvious -- to me, at least, and anyone who's ever watched a Japanese film or looked at Japanese ba...

Effingham

It is indeed a Kamakura weirdness. It was something the Japanese played with for -- no kidding -- about thirty years. It pops up after the Mongol invasion (and you never see it again). It was designed as something to defend the footsoldiers against enemy arrows, but it wasn't used in close combat (i...

Effingham

The helm is historical in the conical top and applied nasal, that was done for the time period of this helm. The rest is SCA 'historicalish'. Actually, that's what I meant. I recognize the form, but I was talking about those specific types of etching details and the use of an angel for a nasal. BTW...

Effingham

That would be the work of one of my apprentices!

Effinghappylaurel

Effingham

Suh-weet!

Though I really like the idea and the execution, I have to wonder -- is that really a period stylistic helm, or is that "an SCA helm" (i.e., "historicalish")?

Damned nice etching. I must talk to you sometime about a project.

Effingham

Effingham

Sent yet another e-mail query two weeks ago. Haven't heard squat back. As with all the rest.

Replies came quick enough when the specs of the order were being discussed, though.

Effingham

Effingham

Congratulations!!!

Effingham

Effingham

Removing 300 year old Ito without damaging it or the Hasso grommets is a B#tch! I SHOULD just cut it all out and replace it, but so much of it IS in good condition I'd hate to. Tell me about it. I keep wondering if I should try to restore the one I bought umpty-years ago from Katsu's friend (whose ...

Effingham

Nah, that one is from Kinokuniya Katchu. Katsu's wife works at the one in Ginza now.

Ah, okay. I like that shop. Lotsa cool stuff.

Effingham

Effingham

Is it typical to lace the hinges in? I would have thought that hinges would be riveted. I love it when I get to do this. From chapter 7, "Making a DÃƒÂ´": [quote] You can either rivet the hinge in place (typical with retainer-type armours) or lace it in place. More fancy suits, as shown at left, we...

Effingham

Hmmm....I was under the impression that rawhide kozane were only really used in early period O Yoroi where they had the kind of scales that overlapped two of their neighbors instead of one (as well as inferior metal that tended to be a bit more expensive for them). Not quite. Rawhide was the common...

Effingham

For the record, real Japanese armour does clack. It doesn't clank. Maybe it's just me, but I find that a very satisfying sound -- it means the armour is done right. If you make metal kusazuri, even though the original Japanese model may have been also metal, it'll clank when you walk because you did...

Effingham

Yo!

How can I help?

(What have you been titling the e-mails you sent me?)

Effingham

Effingham

Y'know, that really could have changed the outcome of Hattin...

Effingham

Effingham

I keep hoping to get to England. I've been wanting to sit down with Ian for ages, for one thing. Sigh.

I really need a job...

Effingunemployed.

Effingham

i hate you too cos you live in a country brimming with armourers. Y'know, I'm reminded of something... When I lived in Japan, I was majorly bummed that although I had ready access to piles of the real thing to play with and study (and get all worked up... ) I had no armouring shop and very little a...

Effingham

Thomas, don't take this personally, but I now feel obligated to hate your guts.

Effingham

Effingham

Yeah, but you still have real castles and castle collections to paw through.

Effingham

Effingham

Doh! Yeah, I knew that... Sigh.

I really need to get more sleep, I think.

For the record, though, it's an 8 hour drive. Pennsic is closer.

Effingham