The Armour Archive

Trevor

Got it!

Trevor

<img src="http://www.photodump.com/direct/trevorclemons/roundtable04015404.jpg">

Yay!

This is a picture from last year's Round Table event. It shows Sir Hirsch taking on the dreaded Red Knight.

Trevor

I would think that whether you used a shield depended on whether you could defeat your opponent with a single-handed weapon. On horseback-you can weild a lance one-handed, so sure, a shield would be used for the extra protection it gave versus the most dangerous weapon to a man in armor-the lance. O...

Trevor

It's legal-just not very common. Some people, especially knights, may look down on it, but I think that not only is it great fun, but it is closer to "real" fighting. Your opponent may be faster and stronger, but with proper technique you can really negate their natural advantages and pummel them in...

Trevor

I like to have stock sizes in my shop. It makes things like rivets, drill bits, whitney punches, etc. easy to keep on-hand. I use 3/16 for most of my projects, except for quick rivets which are 7/32. I just put in an order for rivets myself, and if you want to only order a few-order some 5/8" ones a...

Trevor

The closure is a flat-head rivet, with a stepped shank. This leaves a portion of the rivet standing proud from the under piece, like a clothes peg. The over piece has a keyhole slot, with the round portion of the key hole big enough to get over the flat head of the rivet, and the slot part of the ke...

Trevor

Add 6" to the circumference of your brow line and that should be just about right.

Trevor

You're right. 4x8 is too big. It also is too big to store. I cut mine into 4x4 sheets first. Then, cut it into pieces that are more manageable, using the edges of your patterned pieces as much as possible. After it's more manageable, then you can continue cutting up the metal, again using the edges ...

Trevor

1) Conditioning. The vast majority of aches, pains and out-right injuries can be prevented by being in shape. 2) Ibuprophen, 200mg. Use three at a time to gain anti-inflammatory action. Use every 6 hours. Take no more than 16 total in a given day to prevent reaching toxic levels. Good for all sorts ...

Trevor

Damn fine effort, man.

I really enjoyed our bouts at last year's Round Table. Fighting with another cap a pied was a highlight.

Trevor

I think it varies from kingdom to kingdom. But, there is a bigger factor at play than gas prices: demographics. In the initial growth stage of the SCA, the majority of the members belonged to the baby boomer generation. That generation is still huge, and still makes up a large chunk of our populace....

Trevor

It's too bad they don't allow spears. Spears are a lot deadlier than rifles. They produce a larger wound channel with better capability of cutting vital structures, so the boar is more likely to die quickly without undue suffering. They are deadlier to boar-but the state officials may be more worrie...

Trevor

Very nice stuff!

Trevor

Zerker, If you have trouble making hose/braies, Historic Enterprises make some very nice ones that are very affordable. You'll also have your choice of linen and wool for the hose. Linen is very cool in warm weather; wool is warmer and more durable. They are by far a lot more comfortable for fightin...

Trevor

Thanks guys!

Keep 'em coming.

Trevor

Football cleats

Trevor

I tried to get the Lilies War committe to take this up, but without avail: Each of our baronies would take on the role of an Italian City-State. If your city was destroyed-you were out of the war. And of course, you could not attack an enemy city without first moving through their territory Each wou...

Trevor

For being not totally accurate, I'm left wondering just where the hell you could have gone wrong! It looks great!

Trevor

I'm trying to help a guy who (looks around and whispers) wants to wear a kilt.

I know that the kilt proper was more of a 17th c. phenomenon. Were they in use by the late 16th c.?

Also, are there any good web sites for late 16th c. Scotland?

Trevor

And your website is ...?

Trevor

Cool-I stand corrected and my knowledge base expands.

Trevor

Might want to bump up the search a bit. I could be wrong, but I don't think that couters were developed before 1340. Most of what I've seen is mail shirts coming past the elbow with vanbraces sticking out. If you're lucky, you'd have a rondel tied to the mail over the elbow, or rere braces sticking ...

Trevor

Is there a significant difference in combat techniques from the age of chain vs the age of plate? We don't know. Ooooh! Oooooh! Yes we do. Just look at the differences in sword technology. A sword is a very specialized tool. Look at how it changed during history. If the fighting techniques had not ...

Trevor

I think that it is telling that Talhoffer reserves the term "krieg" (war) specifically for wrestling/ground fighting. It would seem that once things break down to that level, it gets deadly serious. It also follows that in tournament fighting, if you touched the ground with any part of your body oth...

Trevor

Shields SUCK! They are a bunch of wuss-ass panty-wastes.

Oh-different type of shield bashing. My bad.

Trevor

The Maciejowski bible has several paintings of (assumedly) painted helms. If you're looking for a durable coating-the best is powder coating in a finishing shop. But, there aren't that many sources of painted helms in period. I don't know of any early period sources. Another finish that would be low...

Trevor

The earliest reference for cuir boili tourney armor is 1278. Other than that one reference, I don't think there's much evidence of armor made specifically for the behourd prior to the 15th century. (not to say it didn't exist-I just don't know about it) I have seen one bar-faced bascinet shown in a ...

Trevor

Best material for lightness and authenticity? Spring steel-hands down. AS long as you don't mind dealing with the rust...

(I live in Kansas City-humidity here is 90%+ during the summer)

Trevor

Oh, and I'd also argue that fencers do not do "real" fighting any more than heavy fighters do.

There are things to be gleaned from period fencing manuals, but they do not grapple. Changes it into a game rather than a simulation.

Trevor

There are still alternatives out there, but steel isn't all that expensive. I'd check on prices at admiral steel. Even if an entire sheet is $60, the time saved in clean-up would be worth it.

Also, you can check out some plastic suppliers in their scrap rooms if you're looking to make a brig.

Trevor

I won't put words in his mouth, but I can see his point. A lot of what we do in the SCA is geared specifically to our sport. Historical fencing was different. There is some crossover, but there's a lot you can do in "real" fighting that would prevent you from doing some of the things that are regula...

Trevor

It's been my experience that a defensive fighter is usually the loser. Fact is, a sword is inherently faster than a shield-though it has the advantage of already being in place 90% of the time. "hiding" behind a shield usually doesn't last long, as you opponent will figure out that all he has to do ...

Trevor

FYI: after discussion here on the archive, apparently leather was not used for scales since Egyptian times.

It does work great for SCA combat, though.

Trevor

Women were involved in the day-to-day chores of the camp. They would travel with the army-some as wives, some as servants, some as whores. They would generally not be involved with the fighting, though apparently they were often not far from the action. There apparently are a few instances where wom...

Trevor

I definitely don't recommend a helm made of less than 14 guage for non-dished parts, and 12 guage for dished. 16 guage mild is the minimum-and it will need to be beaten out every week. 14 guage mild will get dented noticaby within a year. It's not worth L40 for a helm you'll end up throwing away. A ...

testing

Italian War scenario

Any good sites for Scottish Border Reavers?