The Armour Archive

Mike F

I just bought a forge which is reasonably portable (I fit it in the back of a Geo Tracker for almost three hours of driving). I'll happily post pictures when I get back home this weekend. I'll happily give you my thoughts on design as well.

I may steal the quench bucket idea, by the way.

Mike F

Hey, Lloyd, I now have a certain forge from a certain John.

You get me an outlet next year for the faire, we'll bicker over pricing for the booth and the like, and then you'll have a blacksmithing setup there. Sound good?

Mike F

No, a single day, even with meeting a number of people the night before, was too short a time. I said it on the thread I started, but allow me to say it here, the event was great, the people were wonderful, and the presentations were great. The ones I could understand, at least. I'd like to think by...

Mike F

Pad, it was drawn on the 21st, my Birthday. My precious.

I said it before, but grats, man. If you don't take care of it, Kaizer Soze will get you.

Mike F

He was there. Ran into him, said "Hi," but I was a bit busy to do anything else. My conversations tended to be measured in seconds that day.

Hey, Pad, it's a beaut. It'd never fit my head, so I'll let you keep it.

Take good care of it.

Mike F

I finally got word back from the Shire, and we're interested. From <a href="http://www.northshield.org/groups/index.php?RTID=1&BTID=*">Northshield.org</a> Shire of Lub Siochail (West Bend WI) Seneschal: Ellyn Jourdain de Wentworth (Mellissa Shevy) --Street Address omitted, it's on Northshield's site...

Mike F

Never fear, the name was drawn, not a ticket number. The stubs all had names on them. My three reasons for not telling you: 1. The ARS itself should probably make the announcement 2. The winner should probably hear about it first. 3. I could be wrong on who it is, and that would be pretty dis...

Mike F

I feel tired. It was a long time in a car, and it was a lot of lost sleep. Was it worth it? Oh, yes. First off, it was a pleasure to meet Tasha, Ralph, and any other Archiver I missed. It was also good to see Otto, Chuck, Doug and Brian again, amongst everyone else I knew. It is, of course, always a...

Mike F

It's not me.

Otherwise I don't think it's my place to say. Beyond that . . . They weren't at the conference, so you all have hope!

Mike F

Railroad spikes and track are useful. Vices are terribly useful (I like drinking and women, not so much the latter as of late) but stakes are rare and hard to part from their previous owner. If you find a good one, it's worth a bundle. Try any armoring or blacksmithing meets. I got a great pipe stak...

Mike F

It might not be quick. Patrick does stuff right, even if it takes a while.

That being said, I seem to recall him duscussing a sallet he raised without cutting the front, simply by raising at a different angle.

Mike F

Can't wait! Only a few hours of burying myself is work here until I can bury myself in work at home so I wake up tomorrow, finish classes, and off to Chicago!

Why isn't today tomorrow?

Mike F

I'll be leaving here around 4:00 or so. Mapquest claims it's an hour and a half, more or less, but I'd plan high for hitting Chicago and Milwaukee traffic on a Friday. Call it between six and seven, most likely.

Ah, I figured as much, but I didn't know. It'll be nice to see you again.

Mike F

I believe this was a non-SCA helm. Or visor, anyway. Marshalls look down on visors being held shut by gravity and friction. (I know the rules, but this was funnier.) I've also heard tale of using a leather washer for additional friction, but I'm not sure if this is period. My non-hounskull visor fli...

Mike F

I know Archie, Chuck, Doug, Brian, if Otto the same one as from the last ARS meeting, Otto, most of the Chicago crowd coming and a few others by sight, so I'll be fine in finding people, I think. Basically, wander around until you hear people comparing shop injuries.

Mike F

Brian, are you drawing names out of the hat or just numbers? If it's just the numbers I'll have to find my tickets. I think I know where they are, mind you . . .

Mike F

Been there, done that, got the scars. I'd have to second armor coming full circle, but there's a fundamental difference in design philosophy. A motorcycle helmet is not a bascinet. A bascinet will not protect you on a motorcycle (as well anyway) but the motorcycle helmet will not stand up to a blade...

Mike F

That's a really steep angle. I don't see it on the close arm (but it does look closed) but the far arm looks like a V now that I look at it. Thanks.

And I've been vexed by the arming points as well. Perhaps it's for a set of rondels? Those were in fashion around that time.

Mike F

Hey, can I have my 3M wheel back?

Do you want your ball stake back, or what do you want for it?

And regarding the forge . . .

I wish I had the cash. I take it you won't accept spring steel for it.

It's a great forge, people. Absolutely wonderful.

Mike F

I just realized I said the opposite of what I meant. Not to say it's difficult to convert over The word "Not" was supposed to be in there. I hope that was clear, sorry. His kabuto has a fairly long career if I recall. But this isn't about his helm. I''d be inclined to agree that returns are a bear i...

Mike F

You know, for all the problems . . . It is easy for beginners who can't weld or raise.

Mike F

I've seen those. I have no clue how to make them short of welding. Mmm. I have more photos, but no major clues. It's a spring pin on an axle. If you look at an old record player you see an alternate way of doing it.

Mike F

Yup. I think it's Cantebury tales, and it's from around 1415. I don't recall exact numbers.

Mike F

Okay, now this is something I'd like to investigate further, mostly for war where I need a bit wider field of vision. Does anyone have any suggestions on how these would be constructed?

(from The Flower of Battle, c1410)

Mike F

I've only dated it back to 1401, but that was the date of death, so it's possible that it was dated back to 1380. Have you checked out Gothic Eye?

Mike F

Yea, Hal, I got him. He's in my dorm room right now and happily holding off the Demons of Stupidity. Somebody needs to. That's a nice looking helm. And just to be odd . . . NIJ standards are 1/4" for level III and 1/2" for level IV. This is flat plate with no deformation, mind you. That means, accor...

Mike F

The spaulders are an interpretation of Sir John de Argentine's effigy (c1365). It may not have come across right in the picture. I was actually going to do a period suspensory lining in the helm, but the arming cap was for reducing grime on the liner and for allowing a tight fit around the forhead t...

Mike F

My understanding is a true heraldic garment is formal in the way of a tux nowadays. Court, various other official duties, and, of course, battle. Not that we fight in tuxes. The visor was still in use. King Charles the VI of France had one. About this time things started becoming rounder or more bat...

Mike F

Well, I was going to make an arming cap anyway, and now it appears the votes are in. Overwhelmingly, I may add. Alright, the only arming cap design I know of is the two pieceone that covers the forhead around the back and comes down like a bonnet. Frieman, do you have any pictures of the style you s...

Mike F

Does anyone wear a bandana inside of a helm for the sole purpose of keeping sweat out of the eyes? I'm looking into a period liner for my next helm, but that doesn't come down as far or stay in such close contact.

Mike F

Archie, between researching on your own, suggesting raising, and admitting you had it wrong . . . I like ya, kid. You missing anything cheap toolwise? Hammers or the like? Wanna gift? If it wasn't for the fact that it'd be a real bear, I'd give you some spring steel to play with. Gotta screw up usin...

Mike F

Kinda an x-post from R&A, but for a different reaction. I want to hear the armor side, not the historical side. (If you have a historical beef, feel free to say it here or on the other thread, though. ) http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/files/pict0142_101.jpg I'm doing an English man-at-arms fr...

Mike F

Okay, I'm throwing this out for critical analysis. I can document about half of this, but I'd like any complaints on the other half. Or suggestions. Suggestions are better. I'm doing an English man-at-arms from the Battle of Agincourt (1415). Most of the gear can be dated to 1380 for the harness, an...

Mike F

Actually, Raito is currently king of Northshield. I'd rather take a face thrust in his somen than in my visored sugarloaf. Not to say it's difficult to convert over (it is harder than most European helms) but it's very possible to do so without much trouble. Of course, as you said, it also varies by...

Mike F

So, I did some searching and came up with a few sites to get linen, but when I get to sites like <a href="http://www.fabrics-store.com/first.php?goto=search&tema=all&menu=&menu=&searchword=linen&n=&sa=1"> here</a> I don't understand what all those numbers mean. Virtually everything I'd make is gambo...

ARS Conference

Tournament grilled Hounskull

Bandanas?

New harness specs

New harness and clothing specs - Suggestions wanted!

Linen help