The Armour Archive

Strongbow

We all know archers rose in the ranks to become knights. But I will not ransom those who cannot pay- it endangers my squires who must feed them and prevent their escape. I give the dagger to all of those who cannot advance my family and give my relatives chances for political ties and possible inte...

Strongbow

If I recall, that's an English effigy from around 1370? There are some examples of English use of splinted armour (in fact, it was probably quite common mid-century), but mostly by this time there is a transition to solid plate. Arm harness developed more quickly than leg harness, at least in Englan...

Strongbow

Ok, those look nice, but dumb question... shouldn't the fauld lames overlap the OTHER way?

Strongbow

Are these chairs still available? They are SO NICE.

Strongbow

The most obvious difference would probably be manufacuring details. I own a 17th century secret (de-accessioned from the Tower of London Armouries) and is is butt-ugly . It is rougly formed of two plated joined with crudely executed forge welds. Possibly because a secrete was intended to be covered?

Strongbow

When is the Chartes harness supposed to have been made? 1365 ish if I recall? That'd be a little early for a houndskull visor, wouldn't it? Is it possible the bascinet itself is contemporary and the visor changed, or added later? If I recall at least one of the Churburg bascinets shows evidence of a...

Strongbow

It does feel like walking on rocks if you mess up Roman shoes. In the extent examples I know of the hobnails are not clinched. Roman shoes and medieval leather pattens have the same construction, multi layers sewn together and the bottom layer, which is not sew on, is held on with the nails and pos...

Strongbow

Looks great! That color leather looks nice agaiinst your harness as well. Now you can join the "turn to talk and whack someone club."

Strongbow

The trick to hobnailing turn shoes is to ensure they are properly clinched on the inside, ad then a leather insole in inserted for extra protection. Still, not sure I'd want hobnails with softish sole... sounds like it would feel like walking on rocks!

Strongbow

The image you are talking about is German and from the late 15th century You are correct, though the way the man's foot is bent indicates to me that the shoes are PROBABLY not of a stiff welted-sole variety. <shrug> I still maintain that welted shoes are not required for hobnails. Whether they used...

Strongbow

Josh Warren wrote:I can't find anyone to make me a c.1460 great bascinet, though...

Patrick Thaden would surely make you one.... just a matter of time and money, yes?

Strongbow

There is plenty of evidence for hobnailed stacked leather pattens but I don't know of one example of a hobnailed shoe or ankle boot from the era. Somewhere around here, I have a pic of a 15th century soldier kneeling so that the bottom of his shoes are showing, and they have hobnails. Got it from t...

Strongbow

Vitus von Atzinger wrote:I bet it would fit me.

do it! DO IT! Ya know you want to!

Strongbow

They apparently DID have hobnailed boots. Another solution for the lower end of the troop spectrum was apparently to go barefoot, sometimes, with only one foot (the example I remember was Welsh spearmen). But I'm pulling this from memory.

Strongbow

Weren't those the ones I ordered months ago? If so, I'm still interested.

Strongbow

LOL... well if you wanna give me one for FREE, who am I to complain!?

Strongbow

It's a decorated metal band. Not terrily uncommon, especiall late in the 14th century and early in the 15th. The padded orle supposedly comes from a padded "doughnut" worn on the bascinet as padding/fitting for a great helm, so a different lineage than the torse proper. AFAIK, the Orle was never wor...

Strongbow

gorgeous work!

Is the blade single edged?

You should make these regularly... you could sell a lot of 'em. Good ballock daggers are tough to come by.

Strongbow

I stand corrected. My question now is why are later period long bows treated with such awe, as if they were a new ultimate weapon? If they'd been around for centuries, how come all of a sudden they seemed to be regarded as the .50 Cal of their day? In what context were those larger bows found in? W...

Strongbow

definitely interested in one of these....

Strongbow

Albion swords are officially the S**t.

Peter Johnsson and their fine work.... a great match!

Strongbow

WoW! Nice kit!

Strongbow

ever thought of making one yourself?

http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00002.asp

Strongbow

Gah... it's during my annual family vacation. Have fun guys... maybe next time!

Strongbow

I did MTT years ago (like 17 years ago?) and the event in question took place BEFORE the public arrived. That year I was a 13th-century knight (head to toe mail) operating an M1917 Browning machine gun. Big fun

Strongbow

They have great-looking stuff, but like Ignvarr, I haven't gotten a response via email. They are just down the road in Indy, so maybe I just need to hit a local event.

Strongbow

Historically, the term "man-at-arms" simply refers to "knightly" heavy cavalry (mounted or dismounted), whether actually a knight, squire, or simply a guy well off enough to serve in the role.

Strongbow

Fantastic stuff.... I'll definitely get some. Editorial note: The title for the d'Aubernon bascinet pattern actually says "d'Aubernon leg harness."

Cut-n-paste error I assume.

Strongbow

That's awesome! I'd love to be there, but it looks like I'll still be recovering from surgery :/

Strongbow

Which Albion you getting? I have a Prince and an Agincourt. Love 'em! Finest production sowrds made IMO. And nicer than most customs!

Strongbow

Thanks for all the replies enveryone. What's best to prevent verdigris during storage? Is a light application of oil suitable?

Strongbow

If you want to actually POLISH the shirt (and not just clean it), I highly advise you use Steve Sheldon's service. I did mine with a brass brush... LOTSA work.

Strongbow

That's a VERY nice hat, expecially for 500 bucks!

If I didn't have my Thaden Bascinet, I'd be all over this!

Strongbow

So... got one of Patrick Thaden's awesome 14th century cooking cauldrons. Orginally intended to get a tin-lined version, but that didn;t seem to work out, so I have an unlined version. Are there any safety issues associated with cooking with Bronze and/or copper? Most modern copper cookware seems to...

Strongbow

This is the stuff I use, though any similar product will work:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=124699-39963-D00100101&lpage=none

Cooking with Bronze