The Armour Archive

Effingham

How common is 1, 2, or 3 (or more) colors? I was planning on keeping the lacing to a "reasonable minimum". What would that be on a mogami do, to find a happy medium between keeping lacing time down and looking right? How about 5 pairs for the front & back, 3 or 4 pairs for the sides, and 3 or 4 pai...

Effingham

And unless I used very small lace, I could discard the bottommost two row of holes.... Sure. I have no idea about those two holes -- they aren't on the pattern I have here. Hm. Here are two new graphics from the new website (as I'm working on it now) that specifically address the issue of hishinui ...

Effingham

I really need some help on how to fasten a Do that is open in both sides, cant some please help me?

I have to admit -- I'm really confused.

They tie closed, just like any other dÃƒÂ´, only they have a tie on both sides. What's the part you're stumped with?

Effingham

Effingham

Overall well made,but a perfect example of Edo mish-mash. Unfortunately like some SCA harnesses. Good thing we have Eff keeping everyone stateside on the straight and narrow. I do what I can. Yeah, there are some scarey Edo pieces out there. MIK sez: I know there are a lot of wrong thinks about it....

Effingham

I planned on making an armor in the style of the mogami do(s) on pages 91, 92 & 93 of "Arms and Armour of the Samurai". Both are Edo period; if this is later than 1600, did similar armours exist pre-1600? I've found references to 1637 being edo, but not when it officially started. The one of Naito ...

Effingham

Eff, since I'm assuming you designed these kozane, what style did you end up going with for the basic pattern?

They're pretty basic standard kozane. Nothing exotic: just regular 13-hole scales aimed at 3/8" wide lace as optimal, but 1/4" *could* work, and 1/2" would look lush.

Effingham

Effingham

I wonder who gets to beta test?

Heh heh heh. Who indeed.

Effingham

Effingham

You can make the kote any color you want -- as for the plates, black or red is fine. Given the color scheme you're working with, either would be perfectly spiff.

Have you seen my site?

Effingham

Effingham

Oh, for feck's sake.

http://www.urbanlegends.com/misc/middle_finger.html

Effingham

Effingham

Don't take this wrong: ouch. Latin is an inflected language -- nouns and adjectives *change* their forms depending on how they're used. "Artemisia" is a proper noun. "Artemisian" is the English appositive. What you want is the Latin genetive. Part of the problem is that, being a non-Latin word, a La...

Effingham

Also, Effingham, I am not sure if I understood your post?

Have you never watched Sesame Street?

Effingham

Effingham

Note I am looking at having dies made for nobel plastics style Iyozane (not kozane which is what THEY make). Is there an interest in Iyozane nuinobe dou I thought about something like that a long time ago. It didn't seem feasible as the actual hole spacing in a nuinobe varies -- so the only holes t...

Effingham

<singing>
One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just isn't the same...
</singing>

Effingham

Effingham

Where does the shitagi fit in?

It's the replacement for the hitatare jacket. Smaller, more comfy, less fabric, cheaper.

Effingham

Effingham

I've seen some pics and descriptions of japanese armour, where the wearer is wearing 2 pair Hakama, a short pair under the Hitatare and hakama, and like, 2 or 3 kimonos under the hitatare. If you remember that the hitatare is a jacket, it makes sense. Think of it this way: T-shirt, shirt, (maybe a ...

Effingham

I'm making a Do-maru, full kozane, kebiki odoshi, should I have O-sode, or mogami sode made of kozane? I'm going for a 15th or late 14th century look, that of a warrior of some wealth, but by no means a nobleman or anything. If you're doing 14/15th C specifically, only the ÃƒÂ´-sode is correct. If ...

Effingham

The shita-garami reminded of the shiki. Effingham-dono, any recommendations on material for a shiki? Can it by curved to force the armor into shape? No. It's not strong enough. Shiki are to help a piece HOLD its shape and hold it all in one piece, not to force it into shape. I've used steel rods or...

Effingham

Tomegawa are only used on the do.

Effingham

Effingham

I don't know of any rules about it.

But I gotta tell ya, re. the title of the thread:

You're right that "florenteen" doesn't mean just swords. Actually, "florenteen" doesn't mean anything.

Now, florentine, on the other hand...

Effingham

Effingham

I'll see him tomorrow at Robin Netherton's lecture. I'll send your regards.

Please do!

You see, you should really move here.

Hey, no one's hiring Japanese history teachers there. I gotta go where the jobs are. (Would be. Might be...)

Effingham

Effingham

Speaking of which --

Has anyone ever gotten mail from 'jester?

Effingham

Effingham

How the heck is Adhemar these day? I miss hanging with him.

Effingham

Effingham

Replying to a few things... If you would be so kind to point me to some pictures of complete armor that use dÃ´ of 5 solid lames laced with Sugake, maybe I could make up my mind Look at my links page m and hit the armour sites -- especially the Japanese ones, like KÃ´zan-dÃ´. (They've changed their ...

Effingham

I'd have to agree with James that they are better than combat boots, sneakers, moccasins, or my personal favorite, Ugg boots. To me, it's a risk. Many "stop-gap" temporary measures (as in, "until I can afford something better") often become the permanent solution out of entropy, or the unwillingnes...

Effingham

Jeff-

It's the old "ya get what ya pay for" argument.

Yeah, they're inexpensive, and so is polyester. I wouldn't use either, as a rule, for historical clothing.

Effingham

Effingham

Responding to several things here: Would you have any solid idea as to when the Noble Plastics' Kozane will be available? Should be a couple of weeks (for me at least -- I have to make a few pieces for the "beat testings"). There was a delay owing to their dissatisfaction with the first set of molds...

Effingham

John? Are you the king of Ansteorra? If not, you probably shouldn't be using his arms as your avatar...

Effingham

Effingham

So I don't get to meet Mel, then?

Effingham

Effingham

I'm Russian Orthodox. Our Lenten rules are still no meat, dairy, wine, fish, eggs, or oil...

Effingham

Effingham

Exactly, Merlin. All those extra cords don't belong in a sengoku armour. They're an attempt to "classicalize" the modern armours to make them look and work like older ones. It's massively bogus -- the equivalent of putting huge lapels and gold braid on the duty uniform of modern US army officers. Ef...

Effingham

I can imagine your frustration with my questions... There's no frustration where genuine interest and curiosity are involved! As to those images: Looks like an Edo period armour. The big giveaways are that haidate, the use of the early-period fittings (e.g., the long metal strip on the sode holding...

Effingham

Hopefully Mykaru will be done with my kote and sunate shortly. I'd like to get your opinion on em.

I don't need to see 'em.

I can tell you sight unseen: Exquisite.

Effingham

Effingham

What is that piece of padding called anyways? The term I've seen is "watagami-shita" -- which could be translated either as "watagami backing" or "under watagami." If one would not use the tomegawa, the lame would move like the faulds of a european 15th C harness, isn't it? If so, why would this no...

Effingham

As for padding under the Japanese armour, what about the yolk piece, that goes under the watagami and a raised collar of kikko (and sometimes koheri ? As I said in an earlier post: Historically there was never any padding except for the shoulder-straps (and that was more to make the weight bearable...

Effingham

Try this one:

http://www.brotherguido.com/armor/default.htm

Effingham