The Armour Archive

Vitus von Atzinger

Close examination of the works of Ewart Oakeshott reveals the truth- there were many different grades of sword in the Middle Ages. Spear work and swordplay would have been taught to a young nobleman as soon as he could pick them up. Swords were not rare- *extremely* nice ones were rare. Many art pie...

Vitus von Atzinger

I just wrote a post for this ridiculous thread, but I deleted it.
-Vitus

Vitus von Atzinger

Thats the guy! Thanks, bro!
-V

Vitus von Atzinger

Hey guys, Kara is about to start on her dress for my elevation ceremony and we need some killer buttons. We already have a bunch of the Fluhr types from Historic Enterprises- I need something different. Where did I see a great cast button that had a red garnet in the center? Help!
-Vitus

Vitus von Atzinger

A big metal pommel is a dangerous thing. You choose to wear an open-faced helmet...imagine it crashing into your teeth.
-V

Vitus von Atzinger

Sheesh....

Vitus von Atzinger

Aw shucks, fellers.

Vitus von Atzinger

Ohboy.

Vitus von Atzinger

Murdock- that is good advice. But remember, if there is no joy in serving your Crown then hang up your sword and move on. Stop all this griping about plastic armour- it's not what you should be worrying about.
-Vitus

Vitus von Atzinger

I know, I know. I will try harder.
-V

Vitus von Atzinger

It was a really great event, but I wish that I had seen more people go all out. There were few crests or outrageous fighting garments. I am starting to get interested in the Pas and other types of more authentic tournamnents again, but I am not going to go all out unless I get a promise from everyon...

Vitus von Atzinger

Noble Sir Dilan, The difference between these two sources in question is that de Charney's book isn't the account of a battle. It's a book about Knighthood, and the lifestyle and beliefs of 14th century knights. I saw a wonderful documentary about the Vikings and medieval Ireland last night- it was ...

Vitus von Atzinger

I used to have this barbute, and I had a plume holder put on it to give it that Eastern European look that is so rarely seen in the lists. I mounted two gigantic black plumes in there, and this "barbarian" guy who had crashed the Pas tried to razz me about it. During the barrier fights I took away h...

Vitus von Atzinger

I have to chime in here- I have been fighting in turnshoes (both hardcore period style and rubber-soled "cheater" turnshoes) for about six months.
I have twisted my ankle in combat four times.
It's now become a chronic pain situation.
-V

Vitus von Atzinger

Of course Morgan is right. I used my former description to remind people that medieval knights were very concerned with physical fitness and competitiveness.
If you are not interested in the Middle Ages at all....
-V

Vitus von Atzinger

I am sure that this is going to sound like SCAdian silliness, but I think that almost everything was tried. What can we be sure of? Not much. We know about various visors that were common and we know that visors were sometimes eschewed altogether. Medieval art shows so many combinations....where the...

Vitus von Atzinger

DO IT NOW.

Vitus von Atzinger

I feel that questions like this are impossible to answer. We don't really know when pigfaces first became fashionable, or any other type of bascinet visor for that matter. This type of very specific question is very difficult, but I will give it a try. It seems to me that after the middle of the 130...

Vitus von Atzinger

Ohboy.

Vitus von Atzinger

Hey Rhys-
Wait until you see Nigel Macfarlane's new look. He is doing Hohenklingen pretty well- he even got a pair of those strangely split greaves.
Both Nigel, William and I will look even better than we did last year.
-Vitus

Vitus von Atzinger

The shields that I currently use are probably pretty close to medieval stats as far as weight goes. Their lifespan is about two events. Keidale, these are actually lighter than what I usually use. I am tired of making them, but I don't know what else I can do. Roderick has a few aluminum blanks cut ...

Vitus von Atzinger

Remember that golden Pembridge helmet that I used in my procession last year at the Grand Pas? We were standing around talking about whether it would fit over my Cad basinet- so I gingerly tried it. It was a perfect fit, and I could see perfectly fine. Neat!
-Vitus

Vitus von Atzinger

You are going in the wrong direction as far as names go. Look in Froissart for ideas- stay away from the overused Saint names...
I was talking about this L.H.-level play with Kara at dinner last night- it will take like two years before I will have the proper stuff.
-V

Vitus von Atzinger

A stick jock is a knight with a tourney baton in his hand. Knights were the worst sort of jocks.
-V

Vitus von Atzinger

If we are talking about actual medieval social convention, this type of issue is impossible to make a swweping judgement about. Since this issue isn't commented on much in any of the various types of chivalric literature, we can't really say one way or the other. Rhys is right though in his assertio...

Vitus von Atzinger

There is a tendency nowadays for people to dismiss late 19th and early 20th century medievalists out of hand. The great thing about Delbruck's book is that he gives in-depth descriptions of tons of medieval battles that you can't find in any other readily available sources. It's really cool. It's am...

Vitus von Atzinger

This could be a very cool thing, that people from all types of groups would be into. As far as getting together- the thing to do would be this- Have all the members camp together at large SCA events, so that the camp will have an "Enchanted Grounds", serious Living History type of situation. This wo...

Vitus von Atzinger

When I am on the field, I don't ever think about how many cups are hiding out there, or about how much foam is hiding in the helmets. I look for the best portrayals, and I reward the best with gifts, praise and the best fighting I can muster. Cover it- what we don't see we will not think about. If y...

Vitus von Atzinger

Our armour is too heavy- medieval knights would think we all idiots for trying to fight in the stuff we fight in. They were JOCKS. However, I admire anyone who tries to do it anyway because they think it lends credibility and beauty to the field. Plastic armour is fine- I just would rather not see i...

Vitus von Atzinger

In the Midrealm? House Leonthas are the spiffiest pure SCA group I have ever seen in my life.
-V

Vitus von Atzinger

If you are using a medieval reference, they are probably talking about a glue made from dried rabbit skin. Modern hide glue that comes from a bottle is not going to behave in the same way.
You can get dried hide glue from www.sinopia.com

-Vitus

Vitus von Atzinger

Jeff, please get your SCA auth card in time so you can play at some of the Pennsic events. I also think a Fiore demo with live steel would be awesome. Brian- make it happen. I am totally psyched about fighting with rebated steel weapons, but I have to admit- I will need yet another harness to do it....

Vitus von Atzinger

This is an off-shoot from one of the authenticity threads. Why do so many people who are into the GeneriCelt or Scottish thing seem to express the same psychological themes onto the SCA or re-enactment? I know groups of Celts who consider all other SCA Kingdoms and households "The Romans", and they ...

Vitus von Atzinger

If it has a Corinthian face- no.
If the top is rounded- no.
If the top is pointed, then it could pass for a Chalcis-type helmet.

Vitus von Atzinger

That is Joan's bascinet.
-V

Buttons- help me find cool buttons.

The Fiercely Independent Barbarian/Scot