The Armour Archive

carlyle

Jehan et al, How do you avoid the "Upstairs, Downstairs" class separation? It would seem to me that, whatever approach you took, the entire recreation must stay on one side or the other of the line dividing house servant and house master. A gentleman would not lurk in the kitchens to ferret out the ...

carlyle

Thanks for the critique on the pictures, guys. If the harness doesn't go in this round, I'll re-shoot them -- this time, with something to help establish a better perspective (though images of a man in a rubber godzilla suit rampaging through a model of downtown Tokyo come to mind

)... AoC

carlyle

Just the pics, II. The model is 5'11", 190lbs (me). The photographer is 5'0, 90lbs (my wife); I'm afraid her perspective skews the image somewhat

With regards.... AoC

carlyle

Just wanted to increase the exposure on the following: m There is a full photo essay on the harness here: m Not something I do regularly, but I offered to help out the folks who made it. I have the item in my possession, and it is ready to ship as soon as the auction concludes. Feel free to contact ...

carlyle

"...[adam] a telling thrust with a single sword to the great helm.... [cet] a telling blow with a real sword to the side of a helmet..." For the sake of clarity, I would suggest there is no such thing as a "telling" blow with a "real" weapon. The concept of "telling" was originally introduced to di...

carlyle

Koredono, Thanks for taking the time to reply. I think I'm beginning to understand some of the rationale, but this medium is inherently incomplete, and I have a few questions regarding a couple of your statements: "his statements were that a) in general, thrusts to the side of the head are more dang...

carlyle

Morgan: "THEN if someone sees a thrust coming, and they turn their head, they have purposely placed an illegal target in the way of a legal shot, and they are to take it as a legal shot. THEN fighters wouldn't train themselves to do something that is supposed to be dangerous." Without wanting to di...

carlyle

Adam, Why is it important where the thrust lands, unless it's a question of safety? If you try to open the argument about the effectiveness of the armor against a "real" blow, you'll run into all kinds of rules-by-exception -- it's a slippery slope from which no one has ever returned. But if it's ab...

carlyle

"Thrusts to the top, sides, and back of the head are discouraged and need not be called."

Not illegal (assuming "discouraged" is just a nice way of saying "without consequence"), but not called. Utterly amazing (seriously, without sarcasm or judgement)... AoC

carlyle

Koredono: "But for safety reasons, we've decided (in Ãƒâ€ thelmearc) to make the areas that are not targets for 'telling blows' to be illegal targets, so while they may get hit accidentally, they may not be targeted and may not be blocked with." Sorry if I sound dense here, but my brain is reeling ...

carlyle

Adam -- I had feared when I originally wrote the above that, in trying to maintain the rhythm of the text, I might inadvertently short-change the message. To clarify, I intended "to your liking" to be viewed in opposition to "the local standard". In effect, it is only your opponent's obligation to d...

carlyle

Aaron: "For example, some land blows to my torso, but I can't tell the difference between a shot and no shot there. At the same time, I can tap myself in the side with my elbow and feel it just fine through my armour." If this is as you describe, then the problem is neither with your calibration or...

carlyle

While I agree with Paul, I still have to ask, how much of that aesthetic is influenced by local culture? Paul has visited many kingdoms, but only lived in the West. I have lived in three kingdoms, but find "Western" convention most closely suits my own sensibilities. Is crowding "ugly" to me just be...

carlyle

Wasn't Brian Price involved in a similar effort with some European societies to allow inter-group play? This was a few years ago, but you might want to tag him and see what he has worked up. With regards... AoC

carlyle

Vebrand: "No Robert wouldn't do that. Everyone has said that Robert does not listen to anyone and makes all his own rules in vaccum. SO YOU MUST BE WRONG (Sarcaism intended)." Thwweeeepppppp!!!!!! 10 yard penalty -- excessive defensive posturing! 5 yard additional, administrative penalty for wasted...

carlyle

Bart -- I don't use the strap for control. For me, it is only for safety. If I am extremely bored someday, I'll post a little video on how to make one... AoC

carlyle

Bart -- One word: "pommel". Helps with hanging on, and shifts the balance back to a manageable location. I use pipecaps (with Illusion baskets and light leather gauntlets). The pommel has to have mass of its own, though. If it is hollow, consider filling it with lead wool or some equally dense mater...

carlyle

Godfrey -- Here is Knuut's URL with contact information: m His turn-around is usually measured in weeks. FYI, the picture I posted was taken about 10 years ago, and I had already used the helm for seven years prior to that. It is my primary helm, and except for some careless surface rust on the shel...

carlyle

Richard, Your post seems to imply that SCA "sport" armor is somehow inherently superior to medieval "sport" armor. If this is your meaning, then I must respectfully disagree. We have well documented evidence that the medievals used very specific gear, or often went without certain elements, in order...

carlyle

Understood, Jehan. That's why I jumped at the chairs and clamped front chests from Albion. I am trying to achieve a 13th C. portrayal, so these are not inconsistent with that effort (if not exactly on). Like many, however, I allowed the craftsman to add a gentle incline to the chair backs for comfor...

carlyle

I agree with Vebrand; it is a rare "S" that looks to a medieval archtype for inspiration. In my experience, the role model is much more likely to be an active duke than it is William Marshal. That said, I am also convinced that the conceit of many an "S" that they are able to discern what "works" ou...

carlyle

Jehan, you are such a purist.

How do these suit you? These commission pieces were delivered several weeks ago. The work is from Albion:

[img]http://home.comcast.net/~courageux/pictures/IMG_0726b.jpg[/img]

carlyle

You mean like this

?

[img]http://home.comcast.net/~courageux/pictures/DSC0041a.jpg[/img]

carlyle

V: "Some are cruel and think they are nice. Some think they are nice and are cruel." Really, REALLY wanted to drive this point home, eh ?? It's all about the individual. Always has been. The difference is, it's not about the other guy. It's about you. Fight your fight and take your blows, and your ...

carlyle

Odo: "Vebrand is an Atlantian."

Born-again Atlantian, which makes him twice as fervent

... AoC

carlyle

I don't agree with hanging the arm along the plumb line from the leading point, but my experience is purely SCA. Using the plumb for mounting alignment is unbalanced, placing too much of the weight above the arm, making it harder to control and re-orient when it is struck on the lower portion. Inste...

carlyle

SP: "Start by shortening the camail..." Yes, the aventail is too long. I wear mine long, but that is because it covers a false plate in the back of the helm, and the length helps to pull the mail away from the attachment point so that the silloutte of the hidden plate doesn't show. Plus, I think th...

carlyle

For what it's worth, I believe the argument that we hit any harder today than we did 20 and 30 years ago is specious. For example, I first matched swords with Paul Bellatrix in 1985; and while his power was impressive, he was already commenting on how force requirements were in decline. More, I have...

carlyle

So just to be clear (and to share with everybody and their uncle on this list ), you rivet the leather in first, and then sew in the mail drape? This is what I meant by replacing everything "in place". In all my previous work, , I've used vervails (even on my two-piece spangen), so the mail is sewn ...

carlyle

Sorry, Animal, I meant to ask what I was doing wrong in understanding the grip you described, not necessarily in swinging a stick with effectiveness in the SCA context . I find your discussion regarding intent determining the grip quite fascinating. It parallels the same discussions I've had with WM...

carlyle

Yeah, so am I! Actually, I may wind up calling you again soon. I'm a little intimidated by the prospect of replacing the mail drape -- it does not look like an afternoon project, as I had hoped. Think it could be done in place? I'm afraid I'm going to turn it into one of those British "my husband st...

carlyle

[quote]Freiman: Ã¢â‚¬Å“I applaud Robert's desire to be more period.Ã¢â‚¬Â

carlyle

Just a quick note to commend Grendel for our recent transaction regarding the WMA "flattop" (I call it a round-faced pot) he posted for sale here a few weeks ago. Once we agreed the purchase, he was timely and communicated quickly what he knew. I realize that parting with this helmet was not easy fo...

carlyle

I'm sorry, Saverio, I didn't mean to imply that I don't believe they had scale, only that the example you gave probably needs corroborating provenence to support your assertion that this IS depicting scale. In the end, however, I am more concerned that there is desire to translate this into leather,...

carlyle

Saverio -- My photo archives are off-line so I'm working from memory, but to my eye, the chessmen you posted are using a similar, if cruder, version of the mail representation in the Temple Church effigies (12th and 13th C.). The idea of sequential wavy lines to depict rows of mail is common for the...

F/S: 15th C. Italian White Harness

WMA and Grendel: It couldn't be better