The Armour Archive

earnest carruthers

In the spirit of fair play and that I do owe it to Chef to put forward some more concrete evidence that a variety of options existed for helmet and other harness storage, not knowing the initial questioner's era, the following list covers a range of centuries: Wardrobe Accounts of Ed I, 1281 payment...

earnest carruthers

"IMO, your extrapolation is a poor one at best, and your sustained defense of it - for whatever reason - without serious documentation to back it up," Of a bag? Not a 'helmet bag', but a bag? "You have basically stated that because the technology existed, and because we can't prove th...

earnest carruthers

Or indeed that Marshal, or any number of combinations, that is rather the point, proscribing the portage of a single item like a helmet is not necessary. I totally agree with Chef re reference to a specific item but as that item seems not to exist that is not the same as saying why not use alternati...

earnest carruthers

Ah Chef, two issues you have combined: 1) a specific helmet bag 2) that there is no documentation that they didn't use bags to carry them. they are not necessarily linked issues and I did try to separate them. Granted there may not have been specific bags as a normal bag would do under conditions wh...

earnest carruthers

Chef, maybe not as a bag, but covers certainly, the 1480 London import lists have them, also the Hausbuch, Venus and Mars shows what appear to be cloth covered sallets that are not permanent, ie tied or otherwise temporarily attached - one man's cover is another's 'bag', or at least it doesn't negat...

earnest carruthers

Brother Logan, did you attend the University in Rayleigh year before last?

earnest carruthers

parchment was also used, oiled to give it translucency. But again, cautions re the type of oil are to be watched, I know a guy in the UK who has used them to good effect. If you don't oil the parchment it will cockle as it is hygroscopic.

earnest carruthers

Re the horn: you need green or as translucent horn as you can get, otherwise lots of thinning as James B says. Yo can soften horn at home easily enough, use a strong enough alkali (caustic soda - or lye) solution and seethe the horn in this until pliable, place between two flat boards and press and ...

earnest carruthers

The Venus and Mars, housebook has some excellent pictures of fortified camps, quite well known ones, and armies on the march. Are they inspired by or on a parallel with the Hussites etc? Because the Germans in that book seem very organised and professional.

earnest carruthers

Flittie, why not have horn panes instead? The effect is at least correct whereas a glass linen sandwich is the same thing ultimately but more fragile.
Or have a demo linen (oiled not waxed) one that is not used at night.

earnest carruthers

Actually I think that medieval England gets too much credit and its military prowess far greater respect than it might deserve. It was successful in its own back yard, it would take a couple of hundred years from the 16thc to start becoming a world player. It learned the 'great' long bow from the We...

earnest carruthers

Can't you make a removable insulated liner, so that when you need to show that really lovely box you wont have to hide the inside. Cooler box insulation plus a vinyl cover, a lid made of same that drops in, should do the trick, remove and voila, authentic box when you want. Seems such a shame to per...

earnest carruthers

"It's not like they were some fourth-rate backwater like England, barely able to take on vast military powers like the Welsh and the Scots" Backwater certainly, but remember we did beat Wales, it not being its own nation for a long time and we managed to keep the Jocks over the border most...

earnest carruthers

"I think would be the area around the crotch," As well as the lining for the top half of hose, even open hose are portrayed lined, Fouquet - Martyrdom of St Appolonia, 1460, springs to mind. Much as modern good trousers (sorry my American cousins, pants) have a lining in the same place, th...

earnest carruthers

Just noticed on the last photo, your opponent's knees are showing. Not making any direct comment on his armour, but the difference in quality is pretty clear in fit, look and finish. Anyway, enough stroking, there must be something negative we can say about you, oh yes, you are unnaturally tall and ...

earnest carruthers

If in day to day steel on steel you wont, as there is very little real contact and no head shots etc, certainly not like the SCA system. In tourneys, well some have 'full contact, which is a bit more tasty, but normal battle conditions wont be a problem, only that your kit will stand out as being ra...

earnest carruthers

That Czech stuff is excellent, cor.

Nice kit, again Robert, gives you options to play in other arenas eh?

earnest carruthers

Nice one Robert.

Ditto re the leg harness.

and yes he does have the figure dammit.

earnest carruthers

Cap'n "As you use and work with the gear, it gains its own legitimacy, its own look that you might reproduce, but is better earned. " yep. It also shows how something ages and where. Nice to see things that are regularly used wear in such ways as to give a clearer picture of what may have ...

earnest carruthers

Waxed and or oiled linen was use to make 'fenestrals', glass less windows, one recipe uses alum to treat the cloth to take some of the dyes, alum is also a fire retardent, now I do not know if that works with oiled linen (as it would be the oil that vapourises). Also re the lanterns, they may well h...

earnest carruthers

In reality painting and staining are the same thing, except that stain is a thin paint (or less pigment to medium), the medium is the same as is the pigment. Theophilus talks about reddening oak with red ochre and linseed oil, easy enough. As for patinating and creating an 'aged look', personally I ...

earnest carruthers

Yes it does mate and no need for apologies re reply, you have enough to get on with. But best wishes are sent all the same, seriously I have a few thought spots in the day when I reflect and you and yours have been in them of late. ----- Oh alright I might get the first round in. Yay, beer and histo...

earnest carruthers

Now Flosi, we didn't meet at Hastings, make sure you catch me at TORM to say hello. If you have trouble doing that, ask Nigel or Debs at her stall, they will point me out.

Sadly I wont be at NLHF, too many weekends are taken up with family based things.

You doing Kelmarsh? anyone?

earnest carruthers

I would also read Tuchman's A Distant Mirror, good for getting an idea of how one person sees the 14thc.

Second the Mol books, essential items IMHO.

earnest carruthers

Look David next time you come this way, you know that you will be stood a beer or two by someone from this side of the pond (I know your pond is the other really big one).

(Did you ever get my pm btw?)

earnest carruthers

Sorry Skev, are we acqainted?

To be honest and this should not affect things, the earliest will be 24-25 March.

Gate pass for what Skev?

email me.

earnest carruthers

Thanks Witch, I asked because I have done demo work at the Tower itself, I wondered if there were similar things. Personally more interested in seeing the displaced collection - never been to the armouries. Weekend of 16-18 March is TORM, where I am trading. If any of you guys are there please pop b...

earnest carruthers

Nathan, you an Angevin by any chance?

earnest carruthers

What demos are they Witch?/TJH?

earnest carruthers

No worries, at least you did, most don't bother.

Hope the project goes well in the future.

earnest carruthers

I just have to book a weekend up there, down side it wont be until sometime in March....too much work on.

earnest carruthers

I would, my inlaws live near Hull and siser in law lives in Leeds and I can dump, er send my wife and kids to them and I can have a drool fest and tease TH, again. TH, i have been given some pavise notes taken by my friend while we were at the Tower in the early 90s, nothing you wont have already bu...

earnest carruthers

Laavly Jubbly.

Nice one Gwen, Jeff sure do look purdy.

earnest carruthers

Can't think why they imagine it to be embroidered silk, brodierie is not my thing, but that aint threads. I have access to a full colour image, from the Mirror of the artist, it was categorically painted, they even know who by, Agnes van deBossch? IIRC. Karen, may I have your permission for a suitab...

earnest carruthers

Yes, the inherent problem with painting cloth is using too much, as you say Irish washes are the key. This kind of painting was called staining, thin washes on cloth, this can then be sealed if required with an oil varnish base, they often were not. Cracking is not an issue as long as the bits don't...