The Armour Archive

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

Makes solid stuff. Decently local to me, so I have handled most of his items before. Been around forever (aka. he was Knighted when Georgia was part of Atenvelt).

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

My fiancee was talking to me about one of these, and she came up with an interesting question. Why so many buckles? If they were produced with a mass-market in mind, adjustability would be an issue, but if it is for just one sword, do you really need all of them? The only answer I came up with is th...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

I may be interested as well. Have to check with the project owner, and see what she wants. Nice to see it with a scabbard/sword, instead of laying on the carpet. Looks great.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

Uh, InsaneIrish, I believe he is referring to the guard, and not the pommel. Though if you could come up with a cool little numbered pic for attaching hilts, that would be cool.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

Is it just me, or does anyone else see the "assorted elbows" listed in the pics? I see the legs, BP, helm, and gorget, but w/o elbows, it ain't a full suit.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

When you are standing around, and one of the sub-commanders points to you, three rows back, and says "YOU, come with me. You are in charge of the front line of shields. Let me know if I miss anyone". Unit of about 20-30, in charge of a sub-bridge.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

Echoing everyone else, I am glad you found something that is both safe, and you like the look of. This will also be a helm you can feel safe in, which actually helps your fighting (not worrying that something doesn't fit or will come loose kind of gnaws at the back of your mind).

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

It is partially sanded to begin with. I have lower grades, but there were already a lot of scratches to begin with. The problem I am currently having is that even after the rouge I am having trouble getting that mirror finish. I am still seeing some of the grain of the horn, or maybe they are scratc...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

I believe what he was referring to was the same question as I asked above. How do you stop the rawhide from getting wet and turning to mush? What sealant are you using? The same way I treat my other armour...I stay out of the rain and large bodies of water. And its dyed, painted etc. Seriously, it ...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

So nobody hand-sands anymore?

I found some information in a former post (thanks to the search function being back up) that referenced using a pharmacy emery board (for fingernails). We might try that.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

I believe what he was referring to was the same question as I asked above.

How do you stop the rawhide from getting wet and turning to mush? What sealant are you using?

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

Not sure about Freiman, but all I have is really two layers of canvas. NOt much padding up there after 3-4 years of fighting, along with vertical quilting lines...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

So I am looking for sanding materials that won't break the bank, for hand-polishing. I am in an apartment, hence the lack of a buffer. My fiancee got a horn she is working on, and right now I have 400/600 grit sandpaper, designed to be used wet. I also have some white jeweler's rouge, which is suppo...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

So if you are able to remove the leather "knee", what would stop someone from having them tighten on the inside of the thigh vs. the back of the leg? That would move the mounting tab to the outside of the hip, where people seem to like it. Seems like it would give more protection that way ...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

Unfortunately, depending on your level of historical accuracy, we have very fleeting evidence for "gambesons" being worn under maille. By gambeson, I am referring to a quilted foundation garment designed to go under maille. I have heard of people wearing two or three wool tunics under mail...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

The other easy way to do it is to inset the actual shoulder. My gambeson is based roughly off the Mac Bible, and the sleeves are set in about 1/2" from the edge. With a small diamond shape for the underarm, I have full mobility. Oswyn, I presume your wearing mail or no armour, per se? What do ...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

The other easy way to do it is to inset the actual shoulder. My gambeson is based roughly off the Mac Bible, and the sleeves are set in about 1/2" from the edge. With a small diamond shape for the underarm, I have full mobility.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

The last time Gwen had these up, I bought two different bundles. Great prices, and the fabric came exactly as described.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

The one BIG problem with rawhide is moisture. If it gets wet, it goes limp.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

Not sure about theirs, but I wear a full 12th century gambeson, w/o the mail (so technically aketon?). The thing is 2 layers of heavy canvas, and up to 6 layers of quilters batting. It isn't too hot, relatively speaking (I am also in Georgia), but is decently heavy. By that I mean that it helps take...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

Not sure how much of it is in the articles, but closer inspection of the Statue of St. Maurice may yeild some results. There was a pic of Adam barefoot in his kettle and an armoured surcoat.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

What are you looking to provide the protection, Eff? IIRC, Ullieg did some with "fake" splints, and just the rivets for decoration, out of 16oz. leather. I know people who have used 8oz. leather and rely on the splints. I believe you could get the same shaping roughly out of 8-10oz. leathe...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

If I had the spare cash (and didn't have a full hide of leather sitting in my closet), I would be all over the breastplate thingy. Hey Minamoto, any chance you willing to share a rough pattern privately? Would be willing to pay for your trouble, and would keep it confidential.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

Not sure of your overall timeline, but another option is to look at used armour. Quite a bit of helms come across this site in the Classifieds for $200 or under. If it fits your helm, you could get a gently used helm for quite a bit cheaper than new. Bascinets, Normans, spangens, all curved surfaces...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

One easy option is to put lightweight leather across the back slats, and then simply sew the maille onto the leather. I used 16ga. butted rings, and haven't had a problem with the top part after 2-3yrs of heavy usage.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

So heres a thought... what if the typical row of dots we are seeing on the knee arent for attaching the cuisee directly....but rather for a sewin in lining much like the bascinet ....note the 'holes' in the bascinet for the lining: ...other stuff... And so I wonder if the studded cuisses were even ...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

Anyone looking to do a repro of this?

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

Would be interested in one, depending on price.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

As others have said, DONT. Now, in the interest of being helpful, what drew you to that particular helm? I am guessing it is the: -SCA Legal -5% off (always save your pennies) -Overall being slightly more than $100 Do you have a particular look or timeperiod you are aiming for? What would you like i...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

And if you fight hard to gain land, and by falling buy your side more time? Or die and increase the "wall" of dead?

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

Only in the SCA will you hear: "Attack! Get close enough to the siege engines so they cant shoot us!" (This was on the side furthest from the merchant area.) OK, so you are in a medieval battle. Your plan is to stand around and let the siege engines shoot you and your war band? Or are you...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

The first step is the hardest. Beware, once you start to improve, you can't stop. Just look at Murdoch.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

All we know is that it was a hauberk specially designed for jousting. Thickness, ID/OD of rings, etc. are unknown. However, my point was that in later centuries, maille becomes less important, and QC may suffer as a result.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

As for the later style weapons being used against an earlier style armour, maile was used into the 15th century wasn't it? It had been relegated to being a secondary form of protection, but I believe the results are still valid. But was it the same quality? Were "hauberk de joute" used un...

Oswyn_de_Wulferton

I would think that if that were the rules, people would die in place more often. Going back through several ranks usually results in more people dying from the disruption (spoken as a front-rank shieldwallman).

Sanding Materials