The Armour Archive

Trevor

Very nice. Personally, i'd go ahead and finish cleaning up the last of the hammer dings. They're too big and too few to be like a true hammered finish, and I dont think that bascinets were ever left less than smooth in any event. (Only when plate armor for troops in the 16th c. became the norm did r...

Trevor

OK-I haven't posted a photo yet, but I thought I'd post a review for my fiberglass-covered plywood shield for what I've seen so far. First, communication: Vitus communicated with me several times to let me know the progress. The shield was delivered the day he said it would be. Second, quality:I rea...

Trevor

Nice! Best interpretation I've seen of Byzantine stuff. I'll have to pass the word to my Byzantine friends.

Trevor

Suhweeeeeet!

Trevor

It's looking pretty good. The face hole being as wide/deep as it is makes it look a little longer front-to-back than some bascinets-how does it fit? If the size is good, then no regrets. If not, perhaps a dart can be taken out of the front/top of the helm and it could be brought in a bit. But, that ...

Trevor

THe short answer is: who knows? I don't think any splinted defenses survive from the era. (Not to my knowledge, anyway) So, we are left with conjecture. However: The rivets between the splints could very well be supporting alternating splints on the inside. There is a very good reason to support thi...

Trevor

Hmmm. I wonder why they call it "wholesale armor"? That stuff wholesales for like $45 a helmet, not $99...

Trevor

Great Plains steel is in Kansas City, Kansas. THey have good prices, and good customer service. I'd buy your steel there, rather than The Yard. New metal is much easier to finish than stuff that's been in a scrap yard. The Yard in Wichita has an amazing array of all sorts of stuff. There are all sor...

Trevor

How thick is the plywood?

How do you attach the guiges?

Trevor

Whatever you do, I've learned that balancing the shield is all-important. ALL IMPORTANT, I TELLS YA! To find the balance point, hang the shield from the corner your hand goes in. Take a plumb bob (i.e. weight on a string) and hang it from that same corner. Draw a line where the string is. Your hand ...

Trevor

The problem I see is that a lot of armorers don't appraoch this as work. Mass production is the only way to go, and the more tooling that you can use to speed up production, the better. I remember seeing a picture of an old German blacksmith's shop. In it, were dies and stakes of every possible shap...

Trevor

I'm looking for some online information on Spanish 14th c. armor. Anyone have any good links?

Thanks in advance!

Trevor

Being a bronze age enthusiast and knowing a thing or two about the evolution of bronze age and classical swords (from start to finish, although only in detail in certain aspects) I'm VERY curious as to where you saw a sword with an inch thick blade. I believe it came from the Oakeshott collection. ...

Trevor

Frankly, I thought it would be cool at first. Then, I saw the topics, and I thought, "Oh. Well, maybe it won't be too bad, and next year it'll get better." I was such a dumbass. I was totally blown away! Much better than I ever dreamed it would be, and cooler in ways I didn't even think about. The j...

Trevor

So German Gothic armour is really thicker than contemporary Italian plate? Depends on the time period, the quality of the steel, and the skill of the armorer. I'll also stress that this was a limited sampling, so I may be oversimplifying. But, there was a 4 mm thick katsenbrust breastplate c. 1440,...

Trevor

I know, but i wanted to contribute something, i wasn't there and mised posting on the forums but back to the topic. What kind of weight was the gauntlet? thickness? The 15th c. German gauntlet was thicker than I thought it would be. If memory serves, it had pieces around 18-16 guage. Later period p...

Trevor

Hey, I wasn't talking about you.

Trevor

What I learned at the Armor Research Society: - We are pronouncing things entirely wrong. "Bascinet" is pronounced "Bass-in-net". "Armet" is pronounced "Arm-met". "Burgeonet" is pronounced "Burr-gun-et". -Metallurgic technology drove the plate armor revolution. Prior to the 14th century, smaller fur...

Trevor

Definitely be interested. I wonder if armored combat would be in the offing, as otherwise we'd be limited to drills, marches etc. Not a prioritiy in my fun book.

I would be INTENSELY interested in some rebated steel combat, and possibly a passage of arms done right.

Trevor

Flat ring, wedge riveterd shirt $950. I'm 6', 210. Let me know if you're interested.

Trevor

Trevor

how much for the greave stake?

Trevor

Trevor

Looks like a lot of Indian made stuff. Not bad for the price, but plan on spending some time de-burring it. Definitely not museum grade.

Trevor

I'll be there, and I'm bringing Master Glendour.

Trevor

Trevor

I've got a buddy interested in SS legs.

However, he's a bit of an armor snob-he only wants armor that looks like the real thing. No SCA munition grade stuff, thanks. Anyone interested?

Trevor

Put me down for the stainless round boss.

Do you take paypal?

Trevor

Trevor

Nope.

fortunately, Von sussen has a very good return policy. Use it and get another one.

Trevor

Powder coating. Looks like paint-lasts a lot longer.

Trevor

Nice helm! Can't believe it's your first!

Trevor

Richard makes some nice ones-his page is on Rod's website at mandrakearmory.com

Trevor

I assume these are all mild steel?

Trevor

Anyone have a SS bascinet in stock? I've got a friend that is looking to get into fighting, and wants one to get on the field ASAP.

Bonus points for a SS aventail already attached! Used is OK too!

Thanks in advance,

Trevor

Trevor

A friend of mine is russeting a helm. I know we had a discussion in the last year-anyone have the link? (Or know how to look it up?)

Thanks in advance!

Trevor

Trevor

Here's a great way to lighten a shield. Get pairs of dumbells in 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12 lb. weights. Do side raises (and on alternate workout days-front raises) standing, with straight arms in the following manner: 12 reps with 3 lb. dumbbells, rest one minute 10 reps with 5 lb. dumbbells, rest one minu...

Trevor

Looking for SS riveted or welded hauberk. Need it in hand by Sep 20th.

Trevor

Trevor

Thanks!

REVIEW: Vitus' plywood shields

Spanish 14th c. armor

What I learned at the Armour Research Society's conference:

I've gotta buddy interested in SS legs

Want to buy: Stainless Steel Bascinet

Russeting help?

Looking for Stainless rivetted/welded hauberk