The Armour Archive

Kel Rekuta

in any case its better than the TRADITIONAL european method of smearing it with faeces. No - the traditional European method of loosening hair, blood and fat prior to pickling and tanning. Each stage involves copious washing in water. Best you do a little research before pontificating. Further to t...

Kel Rekuta

audax wrote:Don't suppose you have a pic of your set up?

Not that I can find tonight. I'll be in kit for an interview Wednesday so I'll make a point of getting some taken.

Kel Rekuta

Polishing contact edges and rivet faces inside helps. So does thin leather/suede arming point reinforcement. If all else fails mount leather arming tabs on the plates then point those to the arming cote. Padding inside articulation is tricky.

Kel Rekuta

Well, not really but I have a question for those of you that use them -- what side do you wear yours on? I'm right-handed and made a scabbard that sat on my left side, so I would effectively cross draw to take it out. Well, I decided to try it on my right side (because I just made a fancy new dagge...

Kel Rekuta

So what is up with the ARS Journal Volume II? There were some great presentations at the 2007 conference at the Wallace that were to have published in it. Any progress?

Kel Rekuta

Whaa! Domnall - GOAL!!!

Kel Rekuta

Stop punch blocking. Move behind the shield. Learn your measure - where you can hit them but they have trouble getting at you around a shield held at arm's length. You can't stand toe to toe with centre grips without someone else's shield guarding your flanks. It doesn't make sense although there ar...

Kel Rekuta

You could call that a CoP, but not a "pair of plates" because you are not connecting a front plate to a back plate in a "pair". The effigy does not show multiple plates, but 2. A brigandine can attach a front to a rear, but it would not be a "pair" of plates. Awesome. ...

Kel Rekuta

You can look about 5 posts down and read this thread. m Uric Yeah I read that one. A lot of the advice is to buy a more expensive wood. I'm already down almost 80$ after 4 attempts. I'm not going to buy something that's double what I've been buying, just to screw it up as well. Most of the rest of ...

Kel Rekuta

It should be a pretty good choice for a cop. Because it has been treated with oils and waxes, it should be more resistant to sweat and rain than veg-tanned. You almost certainly won't be able to slick the edges the way you would with veg tanned. You can give it a try - but don't expect too much You...

Kel Rekuta

I'll add second dibs on that, should it become available.

Kel Rekuta

I did hear an account (I *think* I heard it from Kel Rekuta, but I can't be sure or give the original source) of a pollaxe fighter who gradually wore less and less armour as he found that it just hindered his technique. Eventually he would fight armoured opponents with no armour himself. Ah, Craig....

Kel Rekuta

Matthew Fedele wrote:Is that the original or the copy the Higgens has? I've never seen the original.

Higgins museum copy.

The one at the Real Armeria doesn't have all the poofy stuff displayed with it.

Kel Rekuta

Upholstery tacks are a stamped head friction fit to a wire shank. They are designed to be driven in one direction to secure some textile against lateral movement. (i.e. stretch) They aren't fasteners to sandwich layers of material together. (i.e. delamination) Upholstery tacks are a convenient resou...

Kel Rekuta

Duke Icefalcon wrote:I will get measurments for the XXXL while I am in the shop today.

That would be great. I bought an XXL for a portly colleague and its too small. I'd be grateful to trade it for a larger one, if possible.

Kel Rekuta

Urine is wonderfully useful! Why do some people have a problem with this? Among it's uses, currently or historically - Tanning Hides (which is why it works so well for shoes) It's very useful stuff. Unless there is something seriously wrong with the person/animal that expelled the urine, it is load...

Kel Rekuta

If you didn't sign a waiver with either institution, it doesn't matter. They are your photos so do with them as you wish. I suggest using some photo organizing software to imprint your copyright on the images, if you care about being credited for your effort.

Kel Rekuta

Leo Medii wrote:However, you can get some odd looks from folk when mowing the lawn in a full hauberk and chausses....

[img]http://www.aemma.org/album/2007/aug2_dayInLifeSmithsCoveKnight/aug2_9.jpg[/img]

Gardening is good exercise isn't it?

Kel Rekuta

Have you considered a raffle for those Who couldn't ordinarily afford $350-$400 for a book? 'Eh? 95 euro is $120... -Gregory I was looking at the conversion rate for GBP a while back& it was nearly 2-1 sha-ul, The British pound is not equal in value to the Euro Dollar. Different currency. Try a...

Kel Rekuta

I don't believe the Wallace even requests photo authorization for personal photos anymore. Toby Capwell instigated a substantial photo inventory project there so they don't seem to care about amateur photos now. I could be wrong, a few years ago I signed a waiver not to publish so I'm still bound by...

Kel Rekuta

Yeah but Brian, your's are deeply researched and annointed with Awesome Oil.

I'll have to kick mine up two notches to match that project.

Kel Rekuta

Buy a bottle of degreaser designed for a home power washer. Lay the mail out on a tarp and blast it. Removes the grease and vents your frustrations all in one easy step. If you don't have a power washer, the local self carwash usually has a degreaser setting. Take a roll of quarters and wear your ru...

Kel Rekuta

How about getting a can of Shoestretch at your local shoestore? Yeah, no kidding. What's with the urine and stuff Mike? Yuck. I know they sell shoe repair products in England! If you can't find liquid shoe stretch, for maybe a $1 or $2 a bottle, make your own. The commercial products have some stab...

Kel Rekuta

Valerius is a cool guy. He was a leading light inspiring Midrealmers to ditch ugly tin can armour and hit the field in 14thC bling in the early 80's.

Isn't that enough?

Kel Rekuta

Dibs on the crossbow parts. I can pick it up this weekend if you are around.

Kel Rekuta

Pretty sure that's the dark amber to black stuff. I'd like to examine the MSDS to see if its food grade.

I would consider splitting a bag of it with you if you are interested in a volume purchase. I like the JAS Townsend fat pine pitch but it is a bit sticky for some uses.

Kel Rekuta

Brigandine / Coat of Plates & Wisby Coat Of Plates (1) All images lifted directly from CA#69. Micheal S. Lacy (Sir Michael de Lacy) published these in "The Development the Coat of Plates" - Compleat Anachronist #69. The illustrations are credited to himself and Anthony J. Bryant, the s...

Kel Rekuta

Wow, you are one tough sumbitch, molding and baking leather right on your limbs! Don't the tacks sting? Seriously though, I've had good results cold lasting then warm baking some products. I've also had good results from the rather challenging method of lasting then dipping the entire form in hot (n...

Kel Rekuta

I still get goosebumps when I look at some of "Kaspar's" work... and I've had the book since it was first available! First class lighting technique brings out the detail in ways one can't expect. This work is a very, very solid investment for anyone seriously interested in European armour....

Kel Rekuta

Neatsfoot oil, mink oil, and if I can get it, tallow. Neatsfoot oil is tallow. Almost all prepared leather dressings are substantially "fancy" grade beef or pork tallow. Anything else the manufacturers do to it or add to it is a minor improvement for penetration, stability or residue redu...

Kel Rekuta

My nephew sprays his new carpenters belt and tool pouch with WD-40. It gives it an older, softer used look. I tried it on some spangenhelm Y-Straps and it worked great. After several years they are as good as new. It made the leather flexible. So... Is this a sin, with real leather workers? Hal If ...

Kel Rekuta

I have the 6mm round wire chausses from Icefalcon. Surprisingly heavy but they move much better than 9mm flat ones I've seen. I wouldn't want a 12thC hauberk made of that stuff.

9mm seems a more reasonable compromise if no one is shooting arrows at you.

Kel Rekuta

Oh and a quilting tip from someone who has made 2 jacks and several helmet liners; keep a board in your lap and push the item down on the needle to push it through and save your fingers. Great project! Well done. Another tip for those who want to quilt dense material; Mattress needles are very stif...

Kel Rekuta

It was actually made illegal to paint helms in England in the latter half of the 14th century because some people were painting old rusted pieces and trying to sell them as new. Any chance you have a reference for that? I've seen an ordinance against covering old bascinets to sell as new but not fo...

Kel Rekuta

This thread has been huge in enlightening me as to the reality of SCA combat. I just wonder why it isn't in the "Chivalry" forum. It seems to have more to do with chivalric honour than medieval combat. I strongly approve of stepping up to the line when reputation is slighted however encou...

Re: leather tanning method w/o chemicals

Re: Daggers, daggers for everyone!

Re: Daggers, daggers for everyone!

Doggie Kit

Re: WD-40 and leather.

Re: Gambeson. . .