The Armour Archive

Jeff J

Add the right hardware, Drew, and you could make it break down. Even more desirable for event-packing.

Jeff J

"Patron Saint of Research"

I'm going to quit doing research. She's done it al!

Not really, but she keeps coming up with some really spiff stuff that I haven't seen before.

(Edited to quench Atli)

Jeff J

Northern Italy gets hot as hell for half the year too.... The temperature of Hell is relative. Austin, TX has an average of 95 for July and 96 for August Milan has an average of 83 for July and 81 for August Naples has an average of 84 for July and 85 for August Seville, Spain has an average of 95 ...

Jeff J

Looks like what I call the "type 2 trestle" at m may be a somewhat typical style in mid- to late-16th century encampment settings, though not always terribly ornate. Ooooh. Karen's done an update that I haven't seen. I'd describe your Type I as "Free-standing Trestles" and Type ...

Jeff J

I don't think you are going to find much in the way of breakdown. The tripod Trestles with planks are still the most popular. I know Jeff J made a trestle style with a sliding groove for attaching the legs. But, I believe it was an interpretation made practical for camping use. I thought you knew m...

Jeff J

generichead wrote:I'm going to go see that next Wed before fighter practice.

Sweet!

And I'm going to go see... Heck. Can't top that!

Hate you guys with prime museums and archaeological sites withing spitting distance, ya know.

Jeff J

More like: "Oh, gee... another incredible information source readily available to any schmuck on the open market that we Norman reenactors of 15 years ago would have killed for a poor-quality photo copy of..."

Jeff J

The late 15th century is when the coffin changed from a storage device to something that was eaten and enjoyed. The quote referenced above "The proper way to serve such a pie is to cut off the top of the crust, and then the sides then you cut of the filling into small chunks and serve them sta...

Jeff J

Am I looking in the wrong Book of Carving? At m all I can find on this subject is: Open hot Meat-Pies at the top; cold in the middle. All bake metes that ben hote, open them a-boue the coffyn; & all that ben colde, open theym in the mydwaye. Yup - Wynkyn de Worde's Book of Kervyng. That sounds ...

Jeff J

Jeff J wrote:My recollection from those I've seen in museums is a metal strap a 1/2 inch wide and a couple inches long attached to the back. I'll dig through photos to see if I can confirm.

No can find. Sorry.

Jeff J

Andrew Young wrote:..and yes this leaves blisters. Many.

And a few splinters, I'd wager.

Nice to see hand-worked stuff. What's your plan for the mortises?

Suggestion, 3 legs work better on uneven surfaces than 4, and produce a couple less blisters.

Jeff J

adamstjohn wrote:(Aside) Is Karen not an absolute treasure?

Well, ya... but she did miss mentioning "Peel Affinity", the DEFINITIVE HYW book for reenactors.

Jeff J

My recollection from those I've seen in museums is a metal strap a 1/2 inch wide and a couple inches long attached to the back. I'll dig through photos to see if I can confirm.

Jeff J

Missed this one over the weekend... Ya - crosscut saw. Pit saws have T-handles or a frame, and are a lot longer. Polish the blade Set the teeth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saw_set . This gives a wider kerf so the blade has room to pass. Wider is better. You can buy these at antique stores. Get one ...

Jeff J

Jeff; I attended the Medieval Technology Conference held a decade or so ago at Penn State. One of the papers presented was on the wood use in a major massive bank barn. IIRC 95% of the wood used was less than 40 years old when cut and only 2 pieces were over 250 years old and they appeared to be re...

Jeff J

Wow this is fascinating. Are there any extant coppiced trees still around? Yes, it's still done by groundskeepers and even by commercial tree farms. A Google image search is sure to turn up dozens of examples. What he said. For tradition and there are commercial farms in the UK producing chips, pul...

Jeff J

however it would still seem like the time span or cycle would be too long in between with respect to the need for wood. Slightly longer initially, but the yield is far greater, and over a longer period. For example: You cut back a tree that's 3 years old. In 6 more years, you have 6 six-year old sh...

Jeff J

Certainly, there were professional woodcutters, as well as a hy-uge charcoal burning industry. As Char says, I've done a lot of research on coppicing. It seems that it was the major wood source in Medieval England for almost everything except major-project construction timbers (and wide furniture pa...

Jeff J

Plenty of people are hoppin' mad about it - from several kingdoms. I don't know enough to make a judgment, though. We'll have to see how it all plays out.

Jeff J

My current idea for my mild steel chain, is WD40 and a bag, any other thoughts on rust prevention etc? WD is a water-displacer, but it will not protect steel. For that, you need an oil. After applying the WD, put the mail in a bag and add a light oil or a silicone-oil product and shake it around. T...

Jeff J

I'm actually not really looking to have it approved at all at this point, I just want to know if it looks like something your group might consider. Thanks, Cat Yup, it'd be considered. We usually require hands-on examination, but it looks like it'd likely pass. We'd pass it to James B. for primary ...

Jeff J

Ok - quick recap here: If I shorten the length of the straps and change them to goat skin, this pouch should be acceptable, right? If not, what else do I need to do? Cat Acceptable to who? It seems to look pretty good from the photos, but none of us has actually touched it. Are you at a point where...

Jeff J

We need to get you into the shop to make some shaped pattens appropriate for those pointy-toed shoes.

Jeff J

What needs to happen is more reproduction of the wider range of items that we do not generally see. Agreed, but I what we're talking about is: what if there are only a couple of extant pieces to base reproductions on? Or no extant pieces at all ? Then you try to understand plausible materials and b...

Jeff J

I'd be more accepting of people who make variations from direct reproductions if the person doing the adapting was well-versed in making objects in the original configuration first. It's like the traditional practice of apprenticeships; the apprentice practices making the reproduction stuff until he...

Jeff J

Dragging what started as a nice thread deeper into the gutter...

You could try a formed leather bag, like this one:

http://www.disturbingauctions.com/view.php?item=11

Jeff J

If we were to be vetting a 14th C moneychanger's pouch for LaBelle, I think I'd suggest we'd ask for all of this to be done before accepting it. Some may consider this over-pickey, but it's the little details that really count in achieving the aesthetic. Does La Belle demand that items be modelled ...

Jeff J

Looks very nice! Definitely agree that the thinner leather folds to look more like the original. Have you taken a close look at the size of the straps on the original? They look to be thinner and of leather as thin as the original (probably the same leather) . The original's straps on the side pouch...

Jeff J

Sounds like a spiffy idea. That said, I suspect you'd run into copyright issues. Have you considered that there may already be a lot of said images online? I think that it would take Karen Larsdatter about 5 minutes (I exaggerate only slightly, as the awesomeness of The Larsdatter is legend) to comp...

Jeff J

I've had a class with the Great JC before. I walked out after he hit his assistant in the eye. Then started blaming the assistant. That, coupled with the amusing anecdote about the Great JC stabbing himself in the leg while wielding a sharp sword at a demo had taught me about as much as I wanted to...

Jeff J

I took a class with Clements many years ago. He was quite impressed with himself. Read his book - it's rife with little snipes about other groups.

Jeff J

Likewise flattered to be on the wish list.

I MAY be able to swing work-related travel into SoCal, as I go there fairly often. It'd be nice if I had my Late 14th C kit together by then. I need a set of arms and legs. Know any at a decent price?

Jeff J

Uadahlrich wrote:"
and there all by himself would be, Sir Ixtilixochitl. In all his leopardskined glory.

And the 16th C. Spaniards give him smallpox and the battle is over for him.

[img]http://www.naturesodyssey.com/images/syphilis-giant-microbes.jpeg[/img]

Jeff J

Green is easier to saw, but you need the teeth to be set wide so they remove a wider cut of wood. Green tends to bind the blade.

Jeff J

Two different books..... I've been told his Glastonbury chair plans have a few issues.... incorrect sizes.... But I've not use his plans and do not know exactly what the problem is. ( 1st book ) There's an inaccuracy in the measurement of the back piece - it won't give you the angle he mentions. In...

JT, Can we provide Karen Larsdotter with a new title?

Re: Seeking mid to late 16th century (camp) tables....arghh!

Re: Look Ma, no power tools (hand made camp stool):

Re: Caring for Chain?