The Armour Archive

Cap'n Atli

An excellent question; I'll need to check my pilot charts. Here's the trick: getting there and getting back again on a regular basis. With a cog you have the higher capacity of post Viking Age ships without the versatility of the earlier vessels using oars or the windward abilities of the later vess...

Cap'n Atli

I like different height stakes for different stuff and I like alot of mass added to the stakes I use. Heres how I mounted up all Hals tools, to a 500 lb round of wood. I mount all my stakes up high because my eye sight is starting to suck, If I need more power I just put a step in front of where Im...

Cap'n Atli

I think I detect zippered closures! Look real close... but it could be velcro.

Cap'n Atli

Another year. (Still broke and overbooked.)

Cap'n Atli

Our friend, Drey, is going to fiddle around a bit with some shields and his horses this week; but he's leaning towards Rod's theory of cloth or leather. He said that he hasn't seen this form of horse armor (or decoration) in illustrations before.

Cap'n Atli

I always call it the "Hollywood" effect. >SNIP< But I have found a great many of newcommers to the SCA get inspiration on what is currently popular on TV and in theaters. So if "Pirates of the Caribean" is hot, we will have a massive influx of late 16th early 17th century personas. History Channels...

Cap'n Atli

The things we don't know about the old Norse religion, and the practice thereof, could fill books. (Which, I will note, doesn't stop anybody from filling books with their suppositions.

) This is probably a question that should be addressed to a more scholarly forum.

Cap'n Atli

I have noticed that in the SCA there are a lot more 14th century personas than 15th century personas on the field. (Let's not even talk about the ratio of vikings) >>>SNIP<<< For choreographed reenactment Viking period armor runs from simple to nonexistent. For strutting around the camp and being "...

Cap'n Atli

First words out of my mouth: "Oh; that is too cool!"

May I share it with family? (Alas, my eldest daughter (and the wif) have already picked out the wedding dress; but you never know...

)

Cap'n Atli

It has been 5 days and my eye is still painfull and red. I have an appointment with the eye Dr. in the morning. Yes, I was wearing glasses and a face shield. The spark bounced around inside and right into my eye. Safety first boys. Hal "Sometimes you go over the mountain and get eaten by a cave bea...

Cap'n Atli

Too pretty to ever use!

Cap'n Atli

Ah yes Schreiber, but you miss a very important piece. Who watches the watchman? by which I mean how the hell do i dish plate metal without a dishing form. and how do I dish the dishing form for that dishing form without a dishing form. Clout it into sand or in a bare patch in the dirt. And a dishi...

Cap'n Atli

I find it's a lot more fun for the wif and I to go to a ren fair as civilians, than it is to work at one as a spear carrier. Either way you have the vague feeling you're being robbed, but at least in the former you don't feel like you're being exploited, too.

Cap'n Atli

But did anybody ask the poor serpent as the evil king hurled heavy bodies down on them? Nooooo! At least the wolves could get out of the way. Still, a hero must have a "heroic" death. If not with a sword in his hand, then at least something memorable. It's a hazard of the occupation. I somehow doubt...

Cap'n Atli

After Gunnar died in the snake pit (playing a lyre with his toes while doing it), ALL the heros just couldn't wait to die in a snake pit! It became quite the fashion, at least with the folks who told the stories.

Apparently, it still is.

Cap'n Atli

Scale is everything!

Remind me to tell you the story of the Sutton Hoo bowl lamp and cooking chain sometime.

Cap'n Atli

No fair confusing us with the facts! So, once upon a time there was a Ragnar Hairybreeches. He raided Paris (successfully) and attacked England where he met his demise. Then there is the legendary Ragnar who marries shield maidens and princesses (perhaps he did) and fought giant serpents (perhaps no...

Cap'n Atli

I think the famous quote from the movie, by one of the Norwegian actors, was: "Ragnar t'rown to der volves!"

So it was wolves in the movie, but I remember it being snakes in the original story by Edison Marshall, based on the saga (loosely).

Cap'n Atli

Marshal wrote:Was he also described as dirty and grimy at all times?

...with cool tattoos?

Cap'n Atli

The snake pit full of Asian pythons has been the best part so far. The DVR cut that part short, so I didn't get a decent look at the serpents except to note that they didn't look like any adders that they would have in Northhumbria. So, we go from the "...worst jarl ever!" to the "...worst king eve...

Cap'n Atli

The random shaved hair bothers a great deal. Like anyone in a climate that cold would shave their head!!! Unless it was for lice or after a fever, it would be all or nothing. It would be pretty time consuming just to maintain a shaved face, let alone a head too. Well, the ones with the shaved backs...

Cap'n Atli

I loved the bishop in full late-medieval vestments. I think they borrowed him from The Princess Bride ! I kept expecting him to proclaim: "Maiwwage..." Further sins include the Norman-style "high table" for the A-S king at his meals, and the general blithering incompetence of the A-S forces. What a ...

Cap'n Atli

I have been watching this show and enjoying it as long as I can keep from picking it apart, which is hard. On the steering board being on the wrong side.... I think this may be a lost in translation issue (this is my speculation). The guys building it were told to put it on the right side and did.....

Cap'n Atli

We used to spray-paint the insides of freon tank helms in the '60s and '70s and it never had any OHGODKEEPTHEELEPHANTSAWAYFROMME effect on us. I wouldn't worry about it.

Just my tuppence.

Cap'n Atli

Hmmm; Plan "B" may be in order, but I would need softer leather! Another example of how the "missing" part of an archeological artifact can effect the view of how it was used.

(Or maybe I'm still right, and they're wrong; or we're both right, or both wrong!

)

Cap'n Atli

My sand and gravel floor in the hot-work area is my normal solution. Self leveling. But honestly, for a 1/8" rock on a stump, I'd wedge it with popsicle sticks or tongue depressors (or other items of consistant dimension and density), glued to the bottom as needed -but in the location(s) where you p...

Cap'n Atli

Check out http://www.anvilfire.com/iForge/tutor/vi_copper_c1/index.htm Most of our casting is "sword pommel" size. I use a small 2 - 3# crucible for brass and a "freon tenk size" gas smelter that Jock Dempsey put together for Camp Fenby. This is good; small quantities do less damage when something g...

Cap'n Atli

Excellent (as usual)!

Cap'n Atli

Actually, the navigational tools have some basis in reality; one of the few things they are getting right. HOWEVER; they were probably later refinements, not ground-beaking (cutting-edge?) technological breakthroughs that lead to the Viking age expansion. Not "new" discoveries, either; I was studyin...

Cap'n Atli

Scanned in:

Cap'n Atli

I pass my belt from the loop end, over the left hand side of the loop moveable loop (as pictured) and under the buckle and belt towards the right hand side, with the hook (technically a tooth, and opposed to a moveable tongue) in the holes of the belt. It looks nice, but it's not very robust.

Cap'n Atli

I seem to recall that one of the sagas mentions Norsemen keeping bears as house pets... "Authen and the Bear" is one, in which the protagonist brings a bear from Greenland to Denmark via Norway (which were at war at the time) to present to the Danish king. A delightful tale; but it leaves out the l...

Cap'n Atli

It's like a piece of modern sculpture!

Cap'n Atli

hrolf wrote:The serious advantage of coal is that it's about $0.20/lb.

If you have access in your neck of the woods. If you have to buy it bagged and shipped from Centaur Forge in 50# bags it will run $1 a pound.

Check with local blacksmiths, if any, for their sources.

Cap'n Atli

On the other claw, if you want to make something that performs like an early medieval seax, you could get some 1040 to 1060 steel and forge it from that, or laminate it onto some wrought iron, or use one of several contemporary techniques. Otherwise, I've also use lawnmower blades as well as car-spr...

Re: Sailing a cog across the Atlantic?

Re: Newbie Workbench design question

Re: Shoulder Bags

Re: Kalamazoo

Re: Front Plates

Re: Why do so many people choose a 14th century persona?

Re: Norse religion and the Status Quo

Re: Why do so many people choose a 14th century persona?

Re: Helped my Daughter with her prom dress

Re: My latest tool shipment.

Re: Imperial Heater Shield c. 1300 (#2)

Re: First Hot Work, Fireproof Dishing Stump?

Re: Ren Faire advice

Re: "Viking" Clothing from History Channel's New Series

Re: "Viking" Clothing from History Channel's New Series

Re: Knotwolf Boom-sticks

Re: "Viking" Clothing from History Channel's New Series

Re: "Viking" Clothing from History Channel's New Series

Re: "Viking" Clothing from History Channel's New Series

Re: "Viking" Clothing from History Channel's New Series

Re: "Viking" Clothing from History Channel's New Series

Re: "Viking" Clothing from History Channel's New Series

Re: "History Channel’s Vikings is just as brutal as GoT"

Re: Safety of paint in helmets?

Re: How Do Buckle Work?

Re: Tips for leveling of a stump (anvil mount)

Re: Advice wanted: Forge to try brass casting.

Re: Valgarde 5b from Knotwolf - SOLD

Re: "Viking" Clothing from History Channel's New Series

Re: How Do Buckle Work?

Re: How Do Buckle Work?

Re: Mord's Conclusions: Viking Armour

Re: Pit Bull's Acron stake.

Re: Some Forging Questions

Re: Seax Conversion