The Armour Archive

justus

Here is a proposed suspension from the Osprey books. This is a later helm, but I think it wold work just as well in a Maj style helm. Has anyone tried a system like this for SCA heavy? I think it might be safe with a good padded coif, but I don't know if I've ever seen one in use. There must be some...

justus

As an interesting note to the biblical stuff, I recently watched a lecture about religious symbolism in medieval art. One of the main themes was of the continuation of past events into the present. As an easy example: the depictions of Jesus on the cross, surrounded by people in (then) contemporary ...

justus

On curious images, This is a good one from the same early 13th century copy of William de TyreÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Historia From what I can gather, they are heaving this intrepid knight over the walls with long poles. Perhaps the earliest depiction of air assault troops in action. I would have to complain abou...

justus

Much interest, at least from this party. And I would pay more for a larger display. If you could produce something very much like that blank above, out of a resin, or similar material, I think you would be able to sell them as fast as you could make them. Aside from personal arms, they would make fi...

justus

So IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m looking through this book on wood carving, and I see this: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justus1199/192341320/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/64/192341320_bfc4177e5f_o.jpg" width="491" height="642" alt="Carved norfolk 2" /></a> And I think, Ã¢â‚¬Å“I h...

justus

Fair enough. I'm sorry that I presumed that you know less about armour than Dr. WIlliams. You may be an armour genius for all I know. I am not. I have no idea how much Dr. Williams knows about armor. Nor do I know how much you know about armor. I only know how much I know about armor, and also what...

justus

No actually, I cannot come up with a better scientific source, primarily as I stated earlier, because of the huge amount of variables involved, I don't believe such a source could exist. The armor that our good Doctor is using as a standard was made in the 1500's correct? Do you think there may have...

justus

According to this, axes and swords can deliver only 60-130 J, and it takes 200+ J to penetrate plate armour. Looking at the site, I'm not very convinced. Just for starters it places swords and axes in the same group. I know for a hard fact that I can deliver more energy to a point with an axe than ...

justus

Before you give up on "faking early crusader helms" Look at this work of art done by Zweihammer Armoury They can be done very well indeed. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justus1199/191513193/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/61/191513193_7e94a91e45_o.jpg" width="261" ...

justus

Oddly I just posted this in another thread. This is from a french translation of the histories of outremer made in France sometime between 1232 and 1261 It's hard to tell what is the earliest date for this helm, but you could place it into the 1230's with good crediblity. <a href="http://www.flickr....

justus

An English Lord struck through both thighs. Should I assume that he was unarmoured on the field of battle while chasing down an opponent ? I believe the sword through the thighs story. There are several ways it could have happened though, first it says that the squire "piked" his sword at him, whic...

justus

I think we are in close agreement, in fact I can see little we don't agree on. I rely on the historical depictions as much as anyone, and since I portray a knight living from 1169-1230something, I rely on them more than someone depicting the 14th century has to as there is still some actual pieces f...

justus

What happens when it breaks? Will it broom like rattan? Or will it break with a jagged edge? The response of "It won't break" would not pass muster most likely. Well, if durattan would like to send me one to test to destruction I would be happy to offer my services. I am probably going to order a c...

justus

Lets hope Ursus is there to take lots of pictures, especially for those poor souls, like myself, that will not be able to see it themselves.

Skorri also takes excellent photos, I hope he is there as well.

-Justus

justus

Careful who you side with I think you could puncture a breast plate with a spear, not saying it would be light work, or even as easy as putting it through two layers of mild steel car door (which is surprisingly easy) but I certainly think it could be done. Glancing surfaces only work if the point d...

justus

I think when he said it's not for use on metal he was thinking we would use it agaist steel weapons. Rattan gets dented when you use it against metal armor too. But soon rattan blows out and it seems like this stuff won't do that. There is a question about what happens when it does eventually fail, ...

justus

It's a painting , done for decoration Ã¢â‚¬Å“That castle looks really small! It looks like they can just barely fit out the door! Ã¢â‚¬Å“ I think using this for any true idea of whether plate is proof against a spear thrust is a bit silly. The Mac bible has guys in chain getting cut in half with a s...

justus

You don't have to be big and strong, but it sure does help. Being gifted physically is a tremendous help, but it won't make you a top fighter. There are some very good fighters who are not tall at all, though most of them are very strong and thick. (thick in the good way) Something I've noticed abou...

justus

I wasn't trying to be offensive, I like shooting very much, and I've been handling weapons of all sorts since I was a young boy. Target shooting with handguns is a blast, but there is no denying the intent of the weapon. The true nature of the long barreled weapon is also to kill people. There is no...

justus

The durattan site is back up, and it looks pretty promising. You can by it in six foot staves, that would handle most of the rattan weapons we make in the SCA. It is a handy 1 1/4 diameter too. (you can order several lengths and diameters) It is a solid polymer rod, and it has been designed to mimic...

justus

Thanks Joe, The solid polycarbonate baton sounds like it would be too stiff, which is a bummer, but it's good to know now rather than after I ordered one. I would still like to handle that baton, I wonder if there is an outlet around here...and the answer is no. Thanks for the input folks, even thou...

justus

What we need is big light that mounts on top of the helm, like the ones on kids firemens helmets! it's conected to pressure sensitive sensors mounted all over the body, and it has three colors, yellow=light, green=good, red=excessive It would have to have a three way selector switch: light, medium, ...

justus

Fabric store lady: "What are you making?" Big hairy stick jock: A dress. Fabric store lady: " " Happens every time. My wife doesn't sew ("I'm not that kind of girl!") So I spend a lot of time in front of my sewing machine, and freaking out the little old ladies that alwyas seem to work at the fabric...

justus

I did not dye the shoulder strap so it would not bleed out on someone. That is a good thought, but there are ways to ensure that the dye will not bleed. Wiping the dyed surface with a wet rag, letting it dry, repeat till no more brown dye comes off on the rag. It doesn't take too long, especially i...

justus

I love all these big burly guys giving advise on sewing. Just one of the great things about our hobby.

justus

I'm getting an error message on the www.durattan.com Page.

Sounds interesting though.

-Justus

justus

A piece of naked rattan balances dead center too, a basket hilt or crossguard and pommel will bring the balance more similar to a real sword. No Ash, or any wood for that matter. The reason we use Rattan is because when it does break it turns into a bunch of fibers much like a wisk broom. When ash, ...

justus

Rattan is great and all, but IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m tired of making new swords every couple months. (funny I never used to make so many, must be the climate out here ) So I was looking through my friends Galls catalogue because all that law enforcement/EMS gear is way cool, and I noticed this: m ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a 3...

justus

I think the sword as a tool "only useful in war" carries a lot of weight. They were also terribly expensive, always an attractive feature. Like handguns, swords only have one purpose, killing other people.* Interestingly like the rifle, spears axes and polearms are more effective at killing people, ...

justus

I think if we look at manuscript illustrations our idea of the ratio of common soldiers to mounted knights will be hopelessly skewed. The illustrations almost always depict the knights, sometimes with a foot solider thrown in for good measure. I mean after all, who wants to see pictures of nasty sme...

justus

In regards to the armourers grabbing any available round-tops and attaching faceplates; the thing that gets me is that the helmet is so weirdly-shaped. I don't know if you could turn a conical or spangen into this smooth-round-topped-helmet-with-flutes sort of arrangement; it seems like it must've ...

justus

I've never seen a specific name associated with that style helm, it was a transitional step on the way to full barrel helms. Makes sense with all the conical and round top helms lying arond to just bolt face plates on them rather than start from scratch. It is interesting that they went from round/c...

justus

Ah yes, Depending on where you are in the Known world "great sword either means a six foot weapon, or any sword that is held with two hands. Some kingdoms have a seperate authorization for bastard sword, (4 feet and under) and Great sword, (4 feet and over) The techniques and styles for these weapon...

justus

Nice Work! It is exactly what I wanted to do, only 10 times better.

-Justus

justus

Just looking at the original picture on this thread, the only thing it's missing is a height chart on the back wall and a little black card with your name and social security number on it.

Air assualt

Carved wood heraldic display

"Virtually Indestructible" SCA baton, thoughts?