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by Ken Mondschein
Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:33 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Question for fencers
Replies: 55
Views: 868

For my part, the Wallace collection blades I'm talking about were dated pre-1500 (though not much). The reason that the dating stuck with me is because I was surprised to see that cross-section on so early a blade. Are you sure those weren't estocs? As for what the SCA cutoff period is, well, that'...
by Ken Mondschein
Sun Feb 15, 2009 12:35 am
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Hanwei Practical opinions ...relationship to SCA cut n thrus
Replies: 32
Views: 667

JohannM wrote:
Ken Mondschein wrote:We've used the federfechters over here in europe...some love them, some hate them. At the last meet in Hannover I believe they managed to destroy all them in use. So indestructible their not.


They're crap steel, without a doubt. However, they shouldn't be breaking like that.
by Ken Mondschein
Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:49 am
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Question for fencers
Replies: 55
Views: 868

I just got one one of the ASA Spanish blades (based on the same requirements from Antone) mounted in a cup hilt from Dennis Graves. It is sweet like the honeyed breast of Minerva herself. I'm going to keep my aforementioned epee for strange bouts with backswords and such since the rompa punta alrea...
by Ken Mondschein
Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:38 am
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Anime armour, no not Japanese cartoons
Replies: 21
Views: 733

Norman wrote:I think it was Duke Cariadoc (or maybe he was quoting a professional historian) who said "the Rennaissance was brought to Italy on the back of Mongol horses".


Speaking of voodoo economics... and now voodoo history. :)
by Ken Mondschein
Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:30 am
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Anime armour, no not Japanese cartoons
Replies: 21
Views: 733

As soon as either of you start discussing this, you're into regionalisms. The same "all'antica" drive in Poland tended to result in folks wearing lighter (and notably less effective!) scale harnesses b/c of the "Sarmatian" past. I have seen an armorer's price sheet once in 16c H...
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Feb 12, 2009 1:04 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Hanwei Practical opinions ...relationship to SCA cut n thrus
Replies: 32
Views: 667

Norm: Alchem has a curved blade that I believe is approved for SCA use. Darkwood also makes curved blades, but I don't believe they're approved. I also keep hearing that Hanwei federfechters (the two-handers) are legal. (Legal or not, no one's told me not to use them at an SCA practice.) The other t...
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Feb 12, 2009 1:01 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Question for fencers
Replies: 55
Views: 868

My impression of the period peices That I have seen/held was just the opposite. I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. To merely say "period" is extremely unscientific. The 40" double-wide épée is a closer match to some of the mid-seventeenth century blades I've handled, espe...
by Ken Mondschein
Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:36 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Hanwei Practical opinions ...relationship to SCA cut n thrus
Replies: 32
Views: 667

Re: Hanwei Practical opinions ...relationship to SCA cut n t

I'm looking at the Hanwei Practical series Viking and Norman swords. I've used the hand-and-a-half for years. They work great. If you're wearing full armor, they're harmless. And they're so cheap, if you break them, you can just buy another - not that I've broken one, but other people have. However...
by Ken Mondschein
Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:16 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Question for fencers
Replies: 55
Views: 868

As someone outside the SCA, I've never understood the problem with epee blades. ... Ditto. Exact same experience, exact same opinions. I have been using the same 40" Triplette double-wide épée blade for over 10 years with no problem, and it is a far better match in terms of weight and feel t...
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:10 am
Forum: Classifieds / Want Ads
Topic: Review/plug: Dennis Graves/No Quarter Arms
Replies: 6
Views: 222

LR of E wrote:His website only shows rental weapons or did I miss something?

Morgan


No, he makes them, too. He usually has a long wait, though.
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:15 am
Forum: Classifieds / Want Ads
Topic: Review/plug: Dennis Graves/No Quarter Arms
Replies: 6
Views: 222

Review/plug: Dennis Graves/No Quarter Arms

Dennis retrofitted the Spanish rapier and dagger he had made for me almost a decade ago with new blades and a new cup in about two weeks, in addition to giving them a polish. His work isn't cheap, and he has a lengthy queue, but he is far and away the finest sword cutler working in the US today. His...
by Ken Mondschein
Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:07 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Nice historical maille
Replies: 8
Views: 586

I've seen authentic pieces for sale cheaper than that at the overpriced antiquities mall next to the Louvre. I also doubt that the French government lets people go digging up graves.
by Ken Mondschein
Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:05 pm
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Anime armour, no not Japanese cartoons
Replies: 21
Views: 733

I don't think that they are in any sense easier to make. I think the style is to a large extent driven by contemporary civilian fashion. Not to gainsay Mac, but I think it might have also been partially the fashion for armor all'antica. The last plate of Agrippa's 1553 treatise (the one with guys o...
by Ken Mondschein
Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:57 pm
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: DNA Testing to be used on Medieval Manuscripts
Replies: 3
Views: 191

It's a wonderful idea, but the problem will be getting clearance from stodgy state-employed librarians to take samples... and then the database work will be incredible.
by Ken Mondschein
Sun Feb 01, 2009 2:03 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Gambeson, Arming cotes, padded armor things
Replies: 12
Views: 519

What Konstantin said.

In the premodern era, materials were expensive, but labor was relatively cheap.
by Ken Mondschein
Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:18 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Gambeson, Arming cotes, padded armor things
Replies: 12
Views: 519

Your under-armour needs to do four things: Provide a base for your harness, move with you, protect you, and breathe. These are not mutually exclusive; if it doesn't move with you, it can not support your harness and thus will not protect you. The bottom of the barrel are the Museum Replicas things, ...
by Ken Mondschein
Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:44 pm
Forum: Classifieds / Want Ads
Topic: eBay/Internet sellers - can you answer a few questions?
Replies: 2
Views: 176

eBay/Internet sellers - can you answer a few questions?

So, my girlfriend and I (starving grad students both) do freelance writing assignments to pay for our incidental expenses. Her current project is a field guide to changing careers, and the publisher wants each chapter to have an interview with someone who has changed careers to work in that field. O...
by Ken Mondschein
Wed Jan 07, 2009 6:14 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Mid 15th Cent Brig work.
Replies: 37
Views: 2385

That's quite nice. For those of us without the time and shop equipment, I wonder if it the process could be reproduced cheaply by some of the Indian shops.
by Ken Mondschein
Sat Dec 13, 2008 2:55 am
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Eric Jager on "The Last Duel"
Replies: 15
Views: 524

Scorsese?!

Martin Scorsese?! HE MAKES THE BEST FILMS!!!!
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:21 am
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Show us your best Fencing Kit and a challenge
Replies: 117
Views: 5091

There is an example of a practice rapier for sword-play in (I think) the Tower of London collection that has a small metal block forged to the tip. This would make it much easier to "bate" this "foil" with a ball of leather and felt bigger than someone's eyesocket. The period st...
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:18 am
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Eric Jager on "The Last Duel"
Replies: 15
Views: 524

I just read the book earlier this year.. it's made me more interested in judicial combat in Middle Ages Europe, particularly non-Viking. Val That's a tall order. Judicial combat was legal in Catholic Europe before the Council of Trent outlawed it in the 1570s, but was not necessarily approved of. T...
by Ken Mondschein
Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:10 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Shop rules
Replies: 38
Views: 1129

Jeff Wasson should be the expert on this, as he teaches art school undergrads. From my experience thrice taking his class: 1. If you don't know it works, ask someone who does 2. If you don't know how to do it, ask someone who does 3. If you don't know how to do it safely, don't do it 4. I don't give...
by Ken Mondschein
Sun Nov 30, 2008 9:31 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Cut and Thrust Hand Protection
Replies: 6
Views: 255

I don't do SCA C&T, but I swear by my Revival kevlar-reinforced fencing gloves.
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Nov 27, 2008 12:45 am
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: some nice longsword skills
Replies: 31
Views: 754

Brynjolfr Hrafnsson wrote:
adamstjohn wrote:
Brynjolfr Hrafnsson wrote:...must be nice on occasion to live in a place not overrun with litigation


You guys should never have let the lawyers write the laws. ;)


You're preaching to the choir, brother :D


What? I did one like that recently in Conneticut. And I wasn't even transported to King Arthur's Court.
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Nov 13, 2008 11:24 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: How would you recreate a SCA pollaxe for Atlantia?
Replies: 37
Views: 1085

Cool. I like that axe. It's heavier in the hand than you'd think it is, though.
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:32 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: New Jersey Trying to Regulate/Ban Martial Arts
Replies: 48
Views: 926

It depends upon what they are certifying- The authenticity of their tradition ?, the effectiveness of their techniques vs an attacker?, their interpretation of medieval Swabian ? --clearly not competent. The fitness benefits of said training on the other hand could be evaluated by competent profess...
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:21 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: New Jersey Trying to Regulate/Ban Martial Arts
Replies: 48
Views: 926

Addendum: By the way, by the time the board sits, it will already be too late; the bill will be law. I'm basing my observations, incidentally, not on the UK sword ban, but on France, where if it's not the official governing body, be it savate or fencing or judo or whatever, it's some weird thing tha...
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:12 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: New Jersey Trying to Regulate/Ban Martial Arts
Replies: 48
Views: 926

I don't buy into the "government intervention = bad" perspective. Never have, never will. As to "normally libertarian SCA members", I'll just note for the record that I do not qualify as such. Others will have to speak for themselves. I'm not a fan of being categorized for the p...
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:46 am
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: New Jersey Trying to Regulate/Ban Martial Arts
Replies: 48
Views: 926

None of you are taking into account the nature of the nanny state. A piece of legislation intended to prevent unqualified fitness trainers can and will be used by enforcement agencies to target everything from iaido seminars held by "unlicensed" visiting masters from Japan (or New York!) t...
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:14 am
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: New Jersey Trying to Regulate/Ban Martial Arts
Replies: 48
Views: 926

ok. I read the bill. Care to explain to me what the objections are ? The cite the case of people who opposed previous iterations of this law, Miek and Diane Skoss of http://koryu.com/ teach Japanese koryu, or traditional martial arts handed down in lineages, and were personally authorized to teach ...
by Ken Mondschein
Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:04 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: A Riddle in the Classic Style
Replies: 39
Views: 517

Alex Baird wrote:Made am I from my mother's bones.
Men fight o'er me with their brother,
For within me I hold all a man owns,
And without, divide them each from the other.


Gold coin.
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:39 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: My first contact joust in 10 years....
Replies: 21
Views: 425

The best part was the horse he was riding was like, "You OK, dude?"
by Ken Mondschein
Thu Sep 25, 2008 11:30 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: velvet on armour...
Replies: 14
Views: 655

Re: velvet on armour...

Use upholstery weight and back it with something, else it rips too easily.
by Ken Mondschein
Tue Sep 23, 2008 8:51 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Sources for medieval pottery
Replies: 23
Views: 446

Found these guys in France (St. Denis, actually, by the basillica.)

http://franciade.fr/
by Ken Mondschein
Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:03 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Jousting at the Sands Point Medieval Faire
Replies: 17
Views: 510

More photos...

More photos (thanks Joe). http://www.flickr.com/photos/8392121@N02/sets/72157607275201355/ http://www.exploreli.com/entertainment/localguide/north-shore-nassau/ny-xteam-medieval,0,6460922.photogallery I'm in the red tunic on the white horse in the first set; the chaperone hat was made by Gwen of His...

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