The Armour Archive

Ken Mondschein

That, sir, is awesome.

What breed is your horse? I see you raise Gypsies, but that's be a BIG Gypsy. Looks almost Friesian with his coloring, but not a Friesian build...

Ken Mondschein

Merc Tailor +1

Ken Mondschein

Thanks for any help. This isn't for me, but for the other person (my dressage teacher), who isn't comfortable riding in a closed-faced helmet. I had her wearing my Terry T mask, but it didn't look right. I'll put her in touch.

Ken Mondschein

Thanks, Aaron. I've ordered from Dave Rylak before, and he's good people. The Ice Falcon helmets seem very good, but are rather over over our budget. If you send Mr. Rylak's info, I will put my person in NJ in touch...

Ken Mondschein

I am doing an equestrian exhibition on a hurry and on a budget, and was wondering if there are any armorers near western NJ who would feel comfortable welding perf plate inside a GDFB celata.

Ken Mondschein

I just wanted to re-open the thread to thank everyone at Sommer Draw on Saturday who helped me get the necessary authorization done. I'll probably do cut and thrust at Pennsic itself, since it wasn't possible to get it done this weekend.

Ken Mondschein

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9162564&l=554311ab4b&id=668087328

Ken Mondschein

Hugh: I have no more time to waste on you.

I apologize if you took anything I said earlier as snide, but this conversation has degenerated beyond usefulness.

Ken Mondschein

Hugh: I'll reply at length later, since I just came in from riding and I'm running out to teach soon. (This is why I do not waste my time on fora such as this one: I tend to be busy. I can not similarly comment on Cliff Rogers' schedule.) Also, you're doing that thing you do where you insist you mus...

Ken Mondschein

Interesting pics, Hugh! They can go in the Powerpoint. Could you make your argument in a paper of 20 minutes or less? I don't know if you have my e-mail, but Mike does. Send me an abstract. Are you making more of a historical argument that there was more of a shift in fighting technique around 1350 ...

Ken Mondschein

Hugh: If we pay attention to the full range of sources, including Fechtbücher and chronicle accounts, rather than picking and choosing a few fanciful illustrations from romances intended to justify a preconceived notion, we can gain a fuller understanding of the subject. HOWEVER, I will not argue th...

Ken Mondschein

The short story is that SCA fighting has its own conventions. What would be a very disabling blow to an unarmored man would be ignored in SCA rattan. What works in SCA rattan would conversely be ineffective, a waste of energy, or downright disadvantageous in armor. When one fences—and I use the term...

Ken Mondschein

Ranks within the HEMA community are completely internal matters. Some groups eschew them, others cast little badges for their ranks. To continue on what Kel said, a number of people in HEMA/WMA have internationally-recognized teaching certifications (moniteur/instructor, prévôt/prevost, and maestro...

Ken Mondschein

I'll give a straight answer, based, of course, on my own philosophy, which is most explicitly not that of the Higgins (Jeffrey Forgeng and Bill Short are very capable of giving their own opinions), nor of the WMA/HEMA movement as a whole. Western Martial Arts is, as a blanket term, used to describe ...

Ken Mondschein

Mainly, we argue and generate enough politics to choke a moose. Plus ça change...

I'm writing an article on this very subject for submission to an academic journal; perhaps I'll share it informally when it's near completion.

Ken Mondschein

I can set you up with the local fighter practice and marshal local to you if you like, (they are in millbury, not far from worcester at all, but perhaps a bit of a drive for your listed location) and with them, I am sure it would be easy to get you authorized in the rattan fighting. The biggest obs...

Ken Mondschein

Thank you all. I look forward to seeing you at Pennsic.

Ken Mondschein

Mr. Gordon, Thank you for the clarification. Since I'm not interested in the battles or suchlike, I suppose I don't have to authorize at all, though I will still do so as a courtesy to my hosts if I can find my way to an SCA event where that could be done. I will be camping with a cut and thrust mar...

Ken Mondschein

I still have the red fabric-covered cuirass, it's just that I prefer this one afoot.

Here are some fencing photos.

Ken Mondschein

Kel Rekuta wrote:We keep inviting him. AEMMA has another Pas d'Arms at the Royal Ontario Museum Oct 1, 2011. You should come and play too Leo.

Yeah, and you keep scheduling them in the middle of the semester...

Ken Mondschein

Have you read Michael Cramer's Medieval Fantasy as Performance?

Ken Mondschein

If you are going to auth why not just fight in the Combat of Thirty? I would like to, but I don't have rattan weapons (I would use a poleaxe), and I think my finger gauntlets and other elements of my armor are illegal. BTW, how shall I get you cash for that ecranche? Also, do you need dimensions/de...

Ken Mondschein

Hope to see you there, Jester. I was just looking to do a "deed of arms" ( pace Muhlberger), and am very sorry for any controversy I have caused. I did not realize this would open a can of worms. To repeat, I will not do anything that is against the rules, or will reflect badly on the WMA ...

Ken Mondschein

Thank you for the clarifications. I shall check.

I hope that none of what I say or do reflects upon the SCA's C&T community, which I am not a member of.

I am actually friends with my local rapier marshal, and have already discussed authorizing with him.

Ken Mondschein

NB I am not yet authorized to fence in the SCA, though I shall attempt to become so as a courtesy before Pennsic. Either you will authorize or you will not participate in any martial activity regardless of any other organization's credentials. Martial activities in camps are not allowed as well. Th...

Ken Mondschein

My understanding is that on-site, all SCA rules apply for everyone, and, as a guest, I intend to abide by them.

Ken Mondschein

I wear a Revival linen gambeson, which I'm sure is considered adequate protection. My helmet covers most of my neck; the rest is protected by a mail standard covered by leather and linen. I hope that no one tries to push my arming coat into the ground with a broken foil, which seems unnecessary in a...

Ken Mondschein

I'm not an SCA member, but I will be attending Pennsic in order to teach and promote my newest book . I believe that my cap-a-pie 14th century armor, together with one of my helmets, which has perforated plate over the occularia, is adequate for the SCA's "cut and thrust" minimums. Looking...

Ken Mondschein

I've seen some of the Higgins Museum staff demonstrations and they too don't fill me with enthusiastic acceptance. But who am I to judge? Just an old fart who's watched a lot and done a little. If you're ever out our way, please let me know. We do quite a variety of things at the Higgins now, and o...

Ken Mondschein

So, not asking for myself (I have full steel greaves

), but how much would 3/4 splinted greaves be with the full leg harness? I bet a number of people would be interested.

Ken Mondschein

I've seen Erik's stuff in person; it is indeed Very Nice.

Ken Mondschein

If you look at the construction of late medieval saddles, such as in Fiore, they give you an ungodly amount of support, with wrap-around cantles and the like. It's not like a jumping saddle!

Ken Mondschein

Matt, are you back in the game? For value-for-price, you're one of my all-time faves.

Ken Mondschein

Anyone have a good pattern, preferably one that lets you point your legs to it?

-Ken

Ken Mondschein

André, you're saying I can get a $1500 pavilion for $300 if I buy a $70 leather Norman helm? Sounds like a deal!

Re: Jousting Practice

Re: Online stores of armor. Prompt.

Re: Armorers in New Jersey

Re: Armorers in New Jersey

Armorers in New Jersey

Re: "Cut and thrust" in armor at Pennsic?

Re: 2011, Kits...Let's see them!

Re: Cut and Thrust question (SCA/WMA)

Re: Cut and Thrust question (SCA/WMA)

Re: Cut and Thrust question (SCA/WMA)

Re: Cut and Thrust question (SCA/WMA)

Re: Cut and Thrust question (SCA/WMA)

Re: The CUlture of WMA

Re: The CUlture of WMA

Re: The CUlture of WMA

Re: "Cut and thrust" in armor at Pennsic?

Re: "Cut and thrust" in armor at Pennsic?

Re: "Cut and thrust" in armor at Pennsic?

Re: 2011, Kits...Let's see them!

Re: "Cut and thrust" in armor at Pennsic?

Re: If you could ask the 'founders'?

Re: "Cut and thrust" in armor at Pennsic?

Re: "Cut and thrust" in armor at Pennsic?

Re: "Cut and thrust" in armor at Pennsic?

Re: "Cut and thrust" in armor at Pennsic?

Re: "Cut and thrust" in armor at Pennsic?

Re: "Cut and thrust" in armor at Pennsic?

"Cut and thrust" in armor at Pennsic?

Re: If you could ask the 'founders'?

Re: WTC: Couters, Poleyns and Splinted Armour now for sale

Re: WTC: Couters, Poleyns and Splinted Armour now for sale

Re: HARD lance jousting.

Re: Review of Mad Matt's Armory

14th century arming coat pattern?

Re: WTB pavillion