The Armour Archive

raito

I've done the Sharpie thing. It doesn't last too long. I need a better way.

raito

There's 2 balancing forces here. One is acknowledging the good blow so that your opponent doesn't keep trying to hit you, but goes on to the next guy and hits him. Letting him know his blow was good is courtesy. The other is not unduly alerting people on your side as to what's happening if they're n...

raito

Hey Kase!

Northshield griffins are passant, not rampant

raito

Stephen du Bois wrote:I was 44 when I won Crown last fall.

Stephen

You probably have me beat by a year, because I won my first some years ago. I guess I'm the oldest overall in Northshield, though. Get off my lawn (it's not yours for a couple weeks...)

raito

ALex, Interesting interpretation. I always thought of DiGrassi's philosophy as being the true art was killing the other guy, and the false art was trying to look good in preference to killing the other guy. Amuslingly enough, many years ago I happened to be fencing, and got berated by one of the loc...

raito

I don't think that there can be any more standardized lingo than there is, say, between boxing and karate in describing punching mechanics. Still, an interesting excercise. As for those blows with the other edge, I'll occasionally throw a blow (generally with my right hand), that is offside, hitting...

raito

I wear about 45 lbs. According to my historical sources, that's about what my full rig ought to weigh. Slow me down? I can't run quite as fast. My hand speed isn't any slower -- the sword slows down my hand more than the armour (meaning I can punch faster out of armour, but can't really swing a weap...

raito

It's cost me nothing that I might not have spent elsewhere. It's gained me nothing that I might have have gained elsewhere. Nonetheless, the above only show possibilities. The reality is that I've gained more than I've lost. I don't miss not being able to talk to some people about their local sports...

raito

For engraving, it's defniitely a balance between too many soft hits and too few hard hits. One of the considerations is that using more hits makes a smoother line, but as has been said,m makes the tool a little less stable in the groove. Too few hits makes a very rough line. If you're serious about ...

raito

Many chasers use pitch, because it's superior to clamping in that there's nothing protruding above to work to get in the way. But strictly speaking, chasing is a surface process, so the bulk of the piece doesn't move as much. Repoussee (and embossing, which is the same thinng from the other side, an...

raito

I definitely think the spirit is right. It would be ridiculous, in my opinion, to suppose that a real medieval knight would not know the kinds of techniques that MMA fighters use, in addition to his mastery of sword techniques, so at trying to emulate both is admirable. But, notice of course the us...

raito

Think that a fist is no good? Try getting kicked or punched in the face. You will be dazed long enough for your opponent to gain a great advantage. Fists can be good. Those weren't so much. And yes, I've been hit in the face with intent on many occasions. Usually, what it did was to keep the other ...

raito

Heck, I'll give my advice now... I've worn a kabuto/menpo combo for at least 25 years now. You can make one with the heads outside, but that's pretty uncommon. It's pretty easy to put the heads inside, and countersink them on the outside. One benefit is that you don't have to hammer inside the bowl....

raito

But if you're not him, than you can't ISO (I seek other...)

raito

50 may be too high. Maybe look at the bainite treatments (tough as all getout).

raito

This makes no sense. How is High School varisty wrestling, football or any other sport allowed where 18 and 19 years olds routinely play against and hit minors? At least around here, if you're in still high school you're still a minor, regarless of age. Now boxing, on the other hand, does allow mix...

raito

He has a Japanese persona, and his rapier garb is Japanese in style, but he fights using rapier techniques and using a normal rapier. Also, no samurai type armor, more of a martial arts Gi. Same for HRM Raito, 'cept he uses a pair of long rapier blades with big simple crosshilts. Actually, Toshikag...

raito

I own a Grizzly 1X42, and it's held up well. But I haven't used it much since I got a Bader 2X72. I don't think I'll ever go back to a fixed speed belt grinder again.

raito

freiman the minstrel wrote:The real winners start training tomorrow.

No, the real winners have been training all along. If you're just starting today, you're years behind the curve.

raito

My experience is that ABS degrades and becomes brittle an awful lot faster than Kydex. I haven't found one to be stronger than the other.

Also, prices vary an awful lot. The difference is more like 2X around here, last time I checked.

raito

The single example of nickel plating I know of was done maybe 8 years ago, and is still looking pretty good. The only problems at all have been around the rivet holes (then again, all the rivets were replaced. The replacements were plated, too.) It may help to find an industrial plater who can toss ...

raito

I have done this with limited success with HDPE barrel plastic. I turned up the edge of my gyoyo that way. I don't recommend it for larger pieces.

raito

To be more specific: I won Coronet fighting exclusively with sword and spear. Sword blades were limited to 24", spears were limited to 6', and shield were as big as you like. The forms allowed swere sword and shield, spear and shield, and sword and spear. I won my first Crown fighting whatever ...

raito

It's not a technique I'd use for armour. It's fine for panel work where you might have a bulge that's, say, a couple inches across and a tenth inch or so high. Not so good for a random bump from a ball pein. And no good at all on tool marks, which are in the surface more than in the shape.

raito

Thorbrandr wrote:There is at least one of mine that is 18 years old still on field in North Shield with one of my squires.

Yeah, but as often as he fights, that's not saying a whole lot...

raito

Hey, kute-uchi doesn't work well for me, either. To do that braid on a dai, first make sure it's a square one. You use a square one because if you look at how it's done in the hands, there's one set of loops on one hand, and one on the other. If you use a circular dai, the strands will tend to slide...

raito

My experience is that HDPE doesn't really want to do what you want it to. It's quite difficult to mold once it's been cast into barrels. The only times I've gotten it to work I've had to get the platic pretty hot (hotter than Kydex, for example). And it still may want to revert to its previous shape...

raito

I've had more troubles with ABS getting brittle over time than Kydex. I still doubt that I'd wear plastic on my hands, but others do.

raito

I bought a piece of that in the last few years. I wouldn't want to strap a piece of quarter inch thick aluminum on my arm. It's quite heavy.

raito

Hrm... I'm not familiar with metal hole plates being softened with lacquer: this makes no sense to me, particularly given how hard lacquer can dry. I belive that he means that it rounds (softens) the sharp edge of a punched hole, making it less likely to cut cords. And I agree with the statement on...

raito

Were it me, I'd look into life-casting, and only do the second half of the process (using the greave as a mold). You may not want to use the spray foam depending on the exact shape. You might want something with some flex to it.

raito

You're right, of course, Hal. But I've seen a few people who prefer a 'bevor' to a 'gorget' in use with their helms, usually because those helms bottom's stand a good way away from the face, and it helps keeping stuff from getting in from underneath. So I've seen where it can enhance the appearance ...

raito

Effingham wrote:Damn, then where did I get that "LL" = "Y" thing? Am I misremembering my French that badly?

Effingham

No, you're misremembering your Spanish that badly.

raito

There are a few problems with escrima for SCA style fighting, but also some similarities for two sword fighters. I really don't recommend it as a training path for those who want to develop SCA two sword skills. While I've found that there are elements of what I've developed over my fighting career...

raito

Angusm0628 wrote: Using crown tourney for a "Look at me.. Look at me!!!" venue is just poor taste in my mind.

Cue 18 years of invitational Crowns in the Middle.

Re: yet another kabuto thread (i at least did research 1st!)

Re: Suggestion for Speed and Reflex Drills