The Armour Archive

CLANG

I'm ALMOST curious enough to look up some random monkey's age. If I had less to do, I would. How 'bout a red-faced uakari? (Sp?) Of course, with google, it would probably take less time to actually look it up than to write about how I don't have enough time to look it up... "Typically 15-20 yea...

CLANG

Seems that the helmet is about 71 cm (28 in) inside circumference, which should fit a about a 61 or 62 noggin (24 in).

CLANG

Wish I was doing kabutos-I could use the TIME!

I've still got them on the end of the ol' fishing pole dangling about 2 months out, give or take 2 years. So, situation normal: Fubar.

CLANG

Thanks-I'd appreciate it. It's less a question of how long I CAN wait vs how long I might HAVE to wait.

CLANG

I shipped one to a bloke down under, but there was a flub in the sizing. I'm working on determining how it happened, but the bottom line is that it's too big for the guy. I figure it would simplify the return process if we could find an Aussie buyer for the helmet he has. It is large-ish, more exact...

CLANG

Howdy, Sorry for not replying. I've been away from home for a couple of weeks, with pretty random internet access. I should be home in 3 or 4 days, and I'll get to work on my back-logged email then. Can't type for sh*t on a laptop keyboard... I've been working with Doug Confere figuring out the rive...

CLANG

Eh, the short version is: Depends on how hard the jaws are to begin with. The pair I worked on for Doug were medium-hard, so we didn't have to anneal. The pair of end cutters I got from HFT were very hard, and needed to be annealed/re-heat-treated, which was just as well, I suppose, since the handle...

CLANG

Hey-thanks for the insight. I've wondered for a while if that stuff could be used in such a way.

CLANG

No-but it's +2 vs missile weapons made of foam.

Gotta add $.02 here... Doug's wife is hot, and I honestly don't think the pix do her justice, and not just because he's hiding her face behind his helmet. Could be a Freudian thing...

Instigator much? Bah...

CLANG

Somewhat of a clarification here-Doug doesn't use a center punch to punch holes in the rings, but we used a center punch to make the divet in the rivet-setting tongs. In the press, we use a long, tapered punch made from drill rod, which is easily made. And replaced, as it turns out...

CLANG

Great-you're hired! How much do you charge for BS by the pound? Oh, I mean by the metric a$$load.

CLANG

On a slightly related note, does anyone know what oil should be used in the gearbox on this thing? It's a Keller Model 1A. I found a knowledgable person on a machining board who suggested a particular Mobil gear oil (based on general experience), and I also found a scanned copy of a manual from a si...

CLANG

I've seen one of those treadmill VSD's, and it operated on a really neat principle-sort of like one pulley expands while the other one contracts. However, I think the work involved to get one and modify it probably wouldn't be worth it. I also think that it might end up fairly bulky in the end. The ...

CLANG

I bought a Keller die filer a while back. For those of you who might be wondering, it's basically like a heavy-duty scroll saw with a file instead of a blade. It has a regular Dayton 1/3 HP motor on it (like a washing-machine motor). It has 2-step pulleys for speed control, but even the slow step is...

CLANG

Hey, thanks, fellas. I gotta tell on myself, though. I initially shipped the bottle to Gunthar's address listed with his Paypal payment, which was apparently an old one. To be fair, in an early email he sent me, he did include his current address. I had just forgotten a few emails later when we got ...

CLANG

Also-if you need a larger image, email me. I can only post 100k here.

CLANG

Here ya go: The last pieces of fifteenth-century Italian defensive armor in the Kienbusch Collection are a pair of greaves (fig. 43), which are not in the 1963 catalogue. The front plate is ribbed along all its length, and there is a row of holes at the instep to attach the mail shoe. The calf plate...

CLANG

If you wait 'til this evening, I can hook you up with a scan of the pic. As stated, really nice lines on those.

CLANG

Thanks for the replies and info. Not the exact one I had in mind, but good references. I've been thumbing through A&A of the Crusading Era looking for examples. I was particularly taken with the one that I saw before because it had nice aesthetics there was enough detail in the illus to translat...

CLANG

There's one in particular I'm looking for that shows prob an early 14th C greathelm with a lifting visor-I think it has brass trim on it. It's a very clear depiction. I thought I had saved a copy, but can't locate it. Any help appreciated, as well as other period pics of similar helmets.

CLANG

Just a bump, since it's already made it to page 2. Glad to see the AA is thriving, though.

CLANG

He bought some Roman belt hardware from me last Sept, and I just got the package returned to me "Unclaimed". I haven't gotten any answer from his email. Any info to help get the package to him would be appreciated by both parties, I'm sure.

CLANG

Hey, Adric-do you just randomly pee on stuff to see what color it will turn? I remember hearing that the workers who were re-furbing the statue of liberty would just take a leak off the scaffolding onto the side of the statue to help the new parts... integrate. Made a media stink IIRC. I've had the ...

CLANG

*bump*

Checking a handy reference, I see that's potassium sulfide.

Any other suggestions?

CLANG

W'onch you git up off me, Snowflake?

Besides, you don't wanna be giving him any ideas! Buncha frootloops...

CLANG

Do any of you folks have a product that you like for the process, or a home-brewed concoction? I'm aware of several commercial chemicals, but I haven't actually used any of them. What I'm looking to get (ideally) is a deep blue-black. Any suggestions?

CLANG

Hey, thanks guys. Glad they're doing their job!

CLANG

For the actual book, the best price I've seen lately was around $60 or $70. Try Bookfinder. Of course, free is a great price, but clicking through a digital copy just ain't the same as thumbing through an actual book. Not as convenient, either, when you're trying to find something specific.

CLANG

I have a few metal roses in stock. I have both buds and full blooms in copper, brass, and nickel-silver. You can see more details here: m Email me to see what I have in stock if you're interested. I'll offer free Priority s/h for archivers. I always forget to list these 'til the last moment for Vale...

CLANG

Hey-that looks like the head priests from Jesus Christ Superstar!

CLANG

Pm sent.

CLANG

One thing I've always wanted to do is organize my pics-primarily by time, then location. One other thing that would be REALLY useful to me as an armorer, would be to have separate folders with copies of pertinent pics (much more easily accomplished with a computer than with books, but one can dream!...

CLANG

Just to let you guys know, I'm gonna take that last post out of context and mail it to my friends.

CLANG

On another note, I just looked up Adam's (former) hammer in "Pounding Out the Profits". As I thought, it's one of the original DuPont/Fairbanks hammers. They were the first to use that neat DuPont spring linkage, known to most smiths as the Little Giant style linkage. I haven't seen one of...

CLANG

Unfortunately, I have to totally agree with Thomas' "bragging price" opinion. One can get lucky, of course, but I haven't seen an anvil in that price range for a long time, at least not at a junk shop, flea market, or blacksmiths' meet. Anvils most often go crazy on ebay, but I have seen o...

Any Aussies WTB a stainless "Corinthian" barbute?

Need to slow down motor on a die filer?

Looking for period illus of greathelm w/lifting visor

Anyone here know Brian Lauthen?

Blackening copper/brass?

Metal roses for that spayshal Valentine