The Armour Archive

Tibbie Croser

And traffic congestion occurs only in Maryland, too.

Tibbie Croser

I make my rapier jackets/coats with about 3 layers: a light- to medium-weight lining, a heavy interlining (hemp twill or canvas), and a light- to medium-weight outer layer. They have long sleeves. I wear a linen shirt under the jacket at events, but at practice I just wear a T-shirt underneath. Fenc...

Tibbie Croser

I think some of the 16th-century armor was interconnected by straps. You might look at allenantiques.com for examples.

Tibbie Croser

Perhaps you all should ask the mod to move this thread to Politics, since it's about crime, guns, laws, etc, and not really about SCA combat?

Tibbie Croser

I'm heartened by the mention of sleeves contrasting in material and color with the body of the doublet, as I have fabric remnants that are enough to make sleeves or body, but not both.

I wish we could persuade more SCA fencers to put permanent sleeves on their doublets.

Tibbie Croser

I hope foam-padded leather won't be too hot for you all. What kind of materials can you get easily where you are? Can you sew fabric armor padded with raw cotton or grass/reed mats?

What kind of armor did traditional warriors use in Thailand? How did they protect it from rust and mold?

Tibbie Croser

I've been thinking of making a brigantine for a A 15th cent brig is also on my to-do list but I think the larger plate designs are safer and more comfortable for SCA use and paradoxically probably less shaping and assembly labor. Luck! Sean Sean, are you suggesting that the larger plate designs are...

Tibbie Croser

I agree that sleeves in late-16th-century men's doublets were sewn on. James B. convinced me of this in earlier threads. I think there might be some ways for a modern person to deal with the heat in long wool sleeves and still look right. A linen lining to the doublet (over a linen shirt). Pinking a...

Tibbie Croser

Thank you, Your Grace. At this point I'm doing research on the availability and cost. If you get to some Atlantian events next spring, maybe I can see some of your samples in person, and perhaps you can measure my head directly. I also hope to ask around on the SCA fencing e-lists about your fencing...

Tibbie Croser

I have some questions about Icefalcon's Lightweight Fencing Helm (item H-001). Does anyone have reviews of it? Does anyone have better pictures of it than what's on the Icefalcon website? Duke Andreas, could you do this helm in blackened mild steel with a dull finish? Could you also do the faceplate...

Tibbie Croser

Jamie, yes, that's what I was thinking of. However, as Kilkenny noted, the plates are not uniform; they differ in size and shape.

By the way, I have no objection to the thread derailment; I had just been asking a question with an eye to future projects.

Tibbie Croser

Is the following a reasonable guide to correct terminology? Scale: plates riveted or sewn to the outside of the base material Lamellar: plates laced together, no base material inside or outside Coat of plates: fewer and larger plates attached to inside of base material Brigandine: more numerous and ...

Tibbie Croser

Does the acrylic floor wax (for hardening) work only on veg-tanned leather, or will it work on chrome-tanned leather too?

Tibbie Croser

In my Google searching, I had come across online images of a book from the late 17th century by William Dugdale, which included a (late-17th-century) engraving of Elizabeth at Tilbury wearing a cuirass. A number of later illustrations of her at Tilbury seem to be based on this engraving. So that boo...

Tibbie Croser

Excellent point about the variety of sizes and shapes. I had forgotten that.

Tibbie Croser

Numerous merchants sell scales or lamellar plates in a variety of materials. Have any of them considered offering plates for 15th- to 16th-century brigandines or jacks (of plates)? I'm not sure, but I *think* brigandine plates require fewer holes overall, and some designs require holes only on one s...

Tibbie Croser

The book "Before the Mast: Life and Death Aboard the Mary Rose" gives data for the skeletons of 16th-century sailors recovered from a sunken warship. If I remember correctly, their heights were comparable to those of modern people.

Tibbie Croser

What about Crash Pads (Audax has recommended them) or McDavid Hexpad shirts? They're low profile, as is lacrosse gear.

Tibbie Croser

Duke Gavin, what's the role of Historic Martial Arts in the SCA (under the Arts and Sciences aegis, I understand)? I thought HMA was the form for practicing armored combat, grappling, and other things from the fechtbuchs in a noncompetitive format. That's only my impression, and I don't know enough ...

Tibbie Croser

Found another early image of Elizabeth at Tilbury (http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/images/ElizaTilbury.jpg). I can't make out whether she's wearing armor in this one.

Tibbie Croser

In further Google searching, based on the term "Tilbury," I'm finding versions of an engraving of Elizabeth in a cuirass from a book by William Dugdale, published in 1681.

Tibbie Croser

Chef, do you know where I could find the contemporary image of Elizabeth I in a peascod cuirass that you mentioned? Either online or in a book. I think a few years back you also mentioned Marie de Guise having armor when she was Regent of Scotland. Do you have any more details? Thanks to all who hav...

Tibbie Croser

Bumping this as I'd like help in searching for the contemporary image of Elizabeth I in a peascod cuirass, mentioned by Chef. A quick Google Images search on "Elizabeth" and "armour" is bringing up mainly pictures of Cate Blanchett or non-armored portraits of Queen Bess.

Tibbie Croser

Ronan, have you tried your kingdom's rapier e-mail list, or any of the SCA rapier e-lists?

Tibbie Croser

Have you looked at the "15th Century Thugz" topic on the Interpretive Re-creation forum? If you really like the 15th century, go for it. We have multiple Archive members who do 15th-century Living History and/or 15th-century portrayals in the SCA. Sallet and bevor may be problematic, but t...

Tibbie Croser

If it wasn't clear in my post above, I do agree with Chef on the scarcity of documentable examples of women wearing armor and agree that women wearing armor would have worn male armor (and would have worn male clothing if they actually engaged in combat). A problem arises when SCA fighters discussin...

Tibbie Croser

I must apologize. As usual, I explained myself poorly. I was speculating without making clear that I was hypothesizing. I actually agree with Chef that if any historical women participated in combat, they wore male clothing and male armor for practical reasons among others. I do agree that the medie...

Tibbie Croser

Further thoughts and clarifications: Artwork should not be viewed in isolation. It should be compared with other artwork, with literary evidence, with extant pieces, and with archaeological evidence. So, a medieval image of an armored woman should be compared with medieval images of armored men to s...

Tibbie Croser

In my cross-post on the Historical Research forum, Karen Larsdatter pointed me to a subpage on her site of medieval and Renaissance artwork showing women in armor. Some of the armor does look fantastical, some does not. The picture that inspired my topics was a 15th-century manuscript illustration o...

Tibbie Croser

What about Norse settlers in (what's now) Scotland, Ireland, or England? Such as someone from the Orkney or Shetland Islands. Perhaps you could deck yourself with loot taken from a monastery or a defeated native leader.

Tibbie Croser

Destichado, do you have any citation information for the first three images you posted, or links? (If you have links, Karen can add them to her page.)

The last image, the one of unknown origin....very imaginative, especially the armored (?) hennin.

Tibbie Croser

Chef, fantasy images are fine for my purpose, as long as the images date from before 1600. Since very few real women wore armor, most images are going to be of mythological women, and the artist will likely have made their armor deliberately "exotic." Karen Larsdatter pointed me to her sub...

Tibbie Croser

As ever, Karen, you're amazing. If I find other images that aren't yet on your site (including the illustration from La Teseida by Boccaccio of Theseus besieging the castle of the Amazons), would you like the links? P.S. Brokk, I'm looking for art that was created before about 1600. I know of an ill...

Tibbie Croser

Thank you, Josh. Do you have citation information and/or a link for that image?

Tibbie Croser

For the GirlsClub forum for SCA female fighters, I'd like to compile links to images of pre-1600 art showing women in armor. They can be historical figures (such as Joan of Arc) or mythological (such as Amazons). So far, I found a wonderful 15th-century manuscript illustration of mounted Amazons def...

Questions about Icefalcon fencing helm

Does acrylic floor wax harden only veg-tan leather?

Does anyone sell brigandine plates?

Armored women in pre-1600 art?

Questions about Icefalcon fencing helm

Does acrylic floor wax harden *only* veg-tan leather?

Does anyone sell brigandine plates?

Armored women in pre-1600 art?

Does acrylic floor wax harden only veg-tan leather?