The Armour Archive

Kel Rekuta

I went back to the site I got it from, and it's listed like this: "2 ply waxed linen thread (cord)". Other sites just have it listed as "linen thread". How can you tell the difference? Is it possible that the stuff I have is thread, but 2 ply was just too thin? When it pulls apa...

Kel Rekuta

Never used a head knife... those the half circle ones? Never thought of what I'd do with it, as silly as that might sound. Stop using three other knives as well as assorted skiving gadgets. Head knives and round knives in various sizes are the bomb. Learn to keep it sharp and use it for all kinds o...

Kel Rekuta

OH you lucky son(s)of... I've been looking for a good two-man in usable condition for the better part of ten years. Everyone who has one only uses them for decoration, but no one wants to let one go! =( *sigh* And I've been trying to get rid of two of them for five years... Too bad they are so easy...

Kel Rekuta

I'd supply you but I'm in Toronto Canada. Anyone that supplies sign, tarp and awning manufacturers sells grommets. Sailing supply shops too. Anyone that sells C. S. Osborne tools can help you, too. Heck most camping stores and dollar stores stock quickie repair kits for tarps and awnings. Grommets a...

Kel Rekuta

Mine worked out okay although I might have curved the abdominal plates. It is quite light and comfortable as it was made with 18ga. stainless.

Kel Rekuta

Good broadband satellite reception though!

Kel Rekuta

Bastior wrote:I don't doubt it works but you have to wonder who was the person who first thought I'll mix vinegar, honey and water.

B

Someone who wanted to drink his remaining wine in spite of it already beginning to turn into vinegar? Probably a lot more common than you might suppose...

Kel Rekuta

So what's that, a buck an hour after material cost?

What a bargain! Such nice work should command a better price.

Kel Rekuta

What kind of batting do people use for their gambesons and gamboised cuisse and where do they get it? I found 100% cotton batting in various thickness' at the local quilting shop. It may not have been the cheapest supplier but for a couple yards of the stuff.... why bother importing it from the Sta...

Kel Rekuta

What kind of batting do people use for their gambesons and gamboised cuisse and where do they get it? I found 100% cotton batting in various thickness' at the local quilting shop. It may not have been the cheapest supplier but for a couple yards of the stuff.... why bother importing it from the Sta...

Kel Rekuta

You might want to check out The Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts (AEMMA) - m. They are located in Toronto. Hey! Long time no see!!! I think the local SCAdians are familiar with us, the Eoforwic fight practice is held in our facility in inclement weather. We study Fiore dei Liberi and also ...

Kel Rekuta

I strongly recommend Adam Smith at Sword in the Stone Crafts. He is a leather design genius as well as a brilliant carver. He can make you something memorable.

http://swordinthestone.ca/

Kel Rekuta

Lot #5 $15

Kel Rekuta

Jeff, Take Gavin's advice about rubbing down the belt. Over-dyeing is the most common reason for transfer from finished belts. Any coating picks up the pigment lying on the surface and smears it around. I am a big fan of Fiebing Leather Balm with Atom wax on belts and bags. Two light coats, well buf...

Kel Rekuta

(only reason I say this is because Ive spoken with a Cooper who confided the ridiculous amount they make for events, long after utilities are paid for...and they host several major events similar to Pennsic each year). I think you mis-heard him. If it weren't for other events besides Pennsic they w...

Kel Rekuta

Kerry, I know you are trying to be helpful but... "whonew" is an incredibly polite and sincere fellow trying to supply a number of different markets. I have no connection to whonew aside from friendship and common interest in metalwork. I comment here because a number of people have assume...

Kel Rekuta

Personally, I destroy shields at an alarming rate - wooden shields last me fewer than 6 fighting days (be that practice or tourney) and aluminum shields last maybe 6 months before they are flattened out, bent at the tip and corner, or in one instance, cracked. All of the ideas I have come up with t...

Kel Rekuta

Ok so is there not really any regs for perf plate for WMA groups or is it just a secret? No standards across the community. Every group has their own idea of what is acceptable. As there aren't many HEMA (or as you put it WMA) groups that do armoured combat, no one has that much interest in a stand...

Kel Rekuta

I wish I could post the article, but it's 11 scanned gifs, and that's just too much, I think. I'll send out the article via e-mail. Let me know what you think of it. I'll try to distill the contents of the article in a later post so the casual reader can get at least the idea of what's in the artic...

Kel Rekuta

I've been wondering about the fetish/BDSM market. I am pretty sure that that crew would pay top dollar for top quality work, but I don't know how to break into it. I am sure that, like armor, reputation is everything. It does seem like it could be the answer. Do any of you guys know anything about ...

Kel Rekuta

Anyway got a question though. Has anyone got a good source for leather in Canada? By the time things get shipped across the border and you pay brokerage fees on couriers it's not that worthwhile. Depends what you want. The allied leather trades are very fragmented into numerous niches. In addition,...

Kel Rekuta

In general I like the process of discovery the Hammaborg folks use. I'm not so keen on their application of Talhoffer's duel oriented shield plays to centre bossed rounds though. The context of Talhoffer's fighting culture, where a wound might decide the duel, is quite different from the context SCA...

Kel Rekuta

A silly question: is it possible to harden predyed vegetable-tanned leather if the flesh side has not been dyed or treated? For example, suppose I bought heavy leather demigaunts which were dyed on the outside but not hardened. Could I apply floor wax to the inside (flesh side of the leather) to ha...

Kel Rekuta

I'm less confident that pitch is similar to what might have been available in the old world. Fat Pine pitch is very light and waxy compared to other vegetable pitch. Although I haven't conclusive evidence of the source for the huge quantities of pitch traded around the Baltic, I'm inclined to guess ...

Kel Rekuta

Uh, Russ... Is it mineral pitch? Or vegetable sourced? That may be the problem. I can't imagine how a steppe people sourced and refined black mineral pitch. The stuff derived from tree sap isn't as dense. Finding suitable pitch may be the solution.

Kel Rekuta

I've probably put the chair together and taken it apart at least 10 times so far just to get all the little fiddly bits of adjustment done. Which then changes how something else is sitting so you take it all apart again... I think I walked away from the chair two or three times during the process, ...

Kel Rekuta

What, like these?

I made them for a tall, thin man so they seem very narrow.

Kel Rekuta

how bad does the heat get in the cotton one? Really hot, especially under plate. That one is okay for a costume or practicing out of armour. Its a good example of why outer clothing was linen or wool and cotton was used for lightweight undergarments. Linen arming coats are worth the extra $$. Bette...

Kel Rekuta

jesus doug why cant someone give somebody else a compliment without it becoming suspect? regards logan Hey Doug, I'm one of the guys you keep tossing out as an example. I didn't see anything wrong with Logan's comment. In fact, I agree with him. Please give it a rest, Doug. Kel Rekuta AEMMA Toronto

Kel Rekuta

Kilkenny wrote:Inspired by the picture Ari provided of the costrel in the Museum of London...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80888788@N ... 6/sizes/m/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80888788@N ... otostream/

SAAA..WWWEEET!!

Kel Rekuta

Hi James, my question stems from a saddlers ordinance that discusses the use of "white" leather. experience has taught me that this is not a color issue, but might refer to the type of hide, goat, deer, etc... and or the tanning process. I'll do a little more digging on my end. Thanks all...

Kel Rekuta

Outstanding work, James! Your attention to detail is inspirational.

Kel Rekuta

James B. wrote:Wow my thread turned really lame.

See why I suggested you let it be?

Kel Rekuta

Not really....I've not read Fiore's stuff....I've got Silvers work on my desk and he went a little into the buckler as a offensive tool....I mistakenly thought fiore would cover it.....I guess I should ask does fiore ever discusses using your weapon(the quillions, for example) as a tool for hooking...

Kel Rekuta

Thanks for posting these. m m Saw a few decent throws in this series. Are these competitive or demos, or competitive demos? These are rather old but they are competitive demos, I must say. We don't choreograph anything, just fight as best we may without killing our friends. We train everyone involv...

Re: Batting

Re: Batting

Re: Possible to harden predyed leather?