The Armour Archive

Mord

Sorry, I haven't had time to look. Last night was busy. I'll look tonight, the "Valsgarde 6" is in German--and my deutsch is slow.

Mord.

Mord

A well known armorer used to say:

"Praise to Margaret (Thatcher): her hair is perfect! Drink Pepsi!"

Mord.

Mord

Lorrcan,

You're welcome. I have a xerox of "Valsgarde 6" at home--I'll check tonight.

Mord.

Mord

My sympathies to Glen K. How did it happen? I hope it wasn't combat related.

Mord.

Mord

So, all of you handsewers, any tips on how to make it go faster? I hand sew quite a bit, but I'm terribly slow at it. Anything other than "practice"? Do you use longer bits or shorter bits of thread? Tips, tricks? If you are having trouble getting a straight seam (if your stitches are wandering, th...

Mord

Greta Arwiddson's "Valsgarde 6"

Mord.

Mord

Possibly the best work on Early Medieval helmets I've read in English is in Dominic Tweddle's book on the Coppergate helm.

Mord.

Mord

Ummm, where to start? What do you mean spagenhelm? Do you mean what Glen K has presented, which is dated to the 11th century? Or do you mean somthing earlier, say the Merovingian Frankish period-- the 6th through 8th centuries. Most of the documentation I've seen for the Frankish helms is in German-...

Mord

ISBNs were introduced in the 1970s. The OCLC (WorldCat) number is 1873155. The book is reasonably available in some 53 libraries. Where are you in the nation?

Mord.

Mord

Sotheby's auction catalogs are some the best sources around. Thanks for posting this.

Mord.

Mord

White Mountain Armoury wrote:Actually Mord the nasal was not seperate from the helmet, it is part of the nose to nape band, the decoration overlay was seperate
the steel nasal base hidden underneath is indeed part of the helm

Oops. My mistake.

Mord.

Mord

Hello everybody! This is my first post so I decided so show my first armouring project. This is my first helmet that I have ever made. It is supposed to be Coppergate helmet and it is made of some kind of 2mm crappy steel. Pics Say what you think. For a first attempt, well done. The nasal was separ...

Mord

The Catalog of the Higgins Armoury is at good price. The Wallace Collection Catalogs at $60 seems fair. I have heard that a new Wallace Collection catalog is coming out.

Mord.

Mord

Not to boast, but my lady wife has got to be the fastest hand-sewer east of the Mississippi. Of course, she started sewing when she was a kid. The nice thing about hand-sewing is you can do it anywhere, once you have cut and pinned the garment. You aren't stuck bending over a machine that doesn't re...

Mord

Im fairly ignorant on swords, but didnt the Franks export a fair amount of blades during this time. Yes, they did. Solberg, B. "Weapon Export from the Continent to the Nordic Countries in the Carolingian Period." in "Studien zur Sachsenforschung 7" (1991): 241-260. Also, in Simon Coupland's article...

Mord

Ok, some more thoughts posted during my coffee break... If the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms (a nice, A-S word, btw) had relations with each other, then would be logical that each kingdom had separate relations with whatever was in Scandinavia? Also if England had the Heptarchy, then what did Scandinav...

Mord

Ok, the helms: I've yet to see anything substanial on the Pioneer Helm, which, I believe by someone with a metal detector at a construction site. Regia Anglorum has posted a reproduction on the helm, but there's really nothing else. The Sutton Hoo helm was found in a boat burial/cenotaph. It's the o...

Mord

Stuff on A-S shields: The previously posted "The Anglo-Saxon Shield" by Stephenson. This book is pretty much a summary of previous work. Dickinson, T. and H. Harke. "Early Anglo-Saxon Shields." (1992) ISBN: 0854312609. A-S shields from the 5th to the 7th centuries. Watson, J. "Wood Usage in Anglo-Sa...

Mord

Gail Owen-Crocker just republished her book "Dress in Anglo-Saxon England." As for the book you posted, I've probably looked at it. Sad to say, I don't remember much of it. However there's lots of information out there, even in English: For warfare, arms and armor there's: Pollington, S. "The Englis...

Mord

Well, in the first place, I don't recognize the decoration on the hilt and the pommel. This looks "plated" and not carved or inlaid, like other swords. Second, are there any other swords like it there?

Mord.

Mord

My lamellar suit has 2 buckles that go "across" shoulders. I got the idea from Roman arms and armor, I think. I keep the body "whole," it gives me better protection (imo) and is less hassle to put on.

Btw, Animal, where'd you get the pattern for your greaves/armor?

Mord.

Mord

he's a knight...that's what they have squires for...THINKING! LOL Yes, you should use the paint thinner outside. I use paint thinner to clean my stainless steel helm to take off the scuff marks. Now, I'll do it outside. Do that outside anyway. Paint thinner fumes eat brain cells for breakfast. I ha...

Mord

...or try Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. V." by Jan Peterman--this volume is a catalog of all the objects found in Norway, but made in Ireland and the UK.

Mord.

Mord

If Glen is a grad-student, then his soul is owned by his grad-committee. You'd have to pay rent. Of course, the committee would have to decide on Glen's soul's worth. I can't wait for the debate on that.

Mord.

Mord

Thomas Powers wrote:If you come up wit a Ragnarok Rap I will comission someone to *hurt* you...

Thomas

"Ice Ice Baby..."

Mord.

Mord

Halberds,

Are you really interested in Viking Age tools? Information does exist (and not just what everybody knows about!). If I can find it (which will take awhile), and copy such (which will also take awhile), do you want it?

Mord.

Mord

Glen,

You're a history graduate student, right?

Mord.

Mord

Ah! Viking Age bling!

Mord.

Mord

So I'm confused now...by what you just said, you're still leaving open the NOTION its possible it was worn...which is all I ever stated to begin with. I always figured if it was used at all, it would have been by Swedish vikings or Rus due to the proximity of Slavs and the Steppes....plus the easil...

Mord

Don't forget the ritually destroyed gear... Ah yes, "The Dreaded Ritually Destroyed Gear" ! Actually there are 2 parts of this. 1. Weapons bent or broken and placed in graves. I believe I've already covered that. 2. "Stray" finds--specifically weapons found in the muck and mud of rivers. These stra...

Mord

Ok, where was I? I consider translations of anything interpretations--there are different readings/translations/interpretations of many of the Sagas. People do argue over the meaning of a word or phrase, so you have to ask yourself, just what is being said? Considering the sagas are interpretations ...

Mord

Take a look at your sources: Source type #1: The Sagas, legends and myths. Source type #2: Material Culture--which usually means objects found via archaeology. Let me begin with the Sagas. Written sources of viking history have a long historiography. Interested folks should read "The Vikings and the...

Mord

I use paint thinner to clean my stainless steel helm to take off the scuff marks. Now, I'll do it outside.

Mord.

Mord

The black and yellow shields came from the Gokstad ship. Check Nicolysen. The suspect that the idea for the "diamond" pattern for the sail might have come from the Gotland stones. Check Nylen and Lamm ("Stones Ships and Symbols). Conversely, the new NESAT book has an article on the making of sails f...

Mord

Thanks Halvgrim, I didn't want to get into any of the 'Lamillar period' haggling....I am just curious if throdemans book still passes the test of time, within its context. Regardless of exactly who and when lamillar is approprite, the book is a fascinating read. Thorfinn Thordeman's book still pass...

Re: My Coppergate