The Armour Archive

Otto von Teich

I wore a 16 gauge hammer hardened spangen for years. It got a few minor dents, but nothing major. Never had a problem getting it passed with the marshals. I guess alot depends on the type of helmet and how its made,and the true starting thickness. I've been hit pretty hard by rattan,and a rebated 2 ...

Otto von Teich

And I forgot to add, in the days when the armour was in use, they kept the good stuff in chests and closets (armoire's)pronounced armwar's.Which were used until fairly recent times to store clothing, before they came up with the idea of building closets right into the room.Hats off to the guy that c...

Otto von Teich

I kind of agree with vermin. Armour stands like you see in museums today are a fairly recent invention.Fot the 1st few hundred years after armour fell out of use they hung it from walls and ceilings,to keep it off the floor.I bet if you looked at the insides of the plates the holes would be puched t...

Otto von Teich

Looks like one heck of a sword for 46 bucks. Enjoy........Otto

Otto von Teich

Sounds like a great time Aidan, sorry I missed it. I always liked the idea of a fight to submission, and it sounds like it went pretty well for the most part. I guess a few people will end up being to stubborn to submit, but it sounds like for the most part,the honor system worked well and most folk...

Otto von Teich

You can use foam if you want, but I swear if you ever try linen tow, youll never go back its the most comfy stuff in the world, warm in the winter cool in the summer, absorbs impact wonderfully,sucks up the sweat without getting soggy,stops helmet ring,increases intelligence,makes you lose unwanted ...

Otto von Teich

WHATTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!A MOMMY WOW !!!!!Congrats to you both !!!! Ottoman

Otto von Teich

Shes a good un , yes indeedy....Otto

Otto von Teich

There are several different wappenbuchs, usually several volumes to a set,that show the various family arms.The drawback is they are hard to find,and expensive when found. The public libray in New York has a good selection. Any major city should have a few.......otto

Otto von Teich

The best book I can think of is Heraldry of the World. by Carl Alexander von Volborth. Its a great reference that shows examples of heraldy throughout europe. It also explains the differences and similar aspects of heraldy in the different countries.A small book packed with a wealth of info and illu...

Otto von Teich

Some times German familys would difference their arms, by changing the colors or helmet crest(often using the maternal crest)for some of the different branchs of the family.Or to distingush different members of the same family in a tounament.But this wasn't mandatory or regulated in any way..Otto

Otto von Teich

In German heraldry,family members can all use the same arms undifferenced,Britain is the only country that uses the individual arms,unfortunatly most books in the librarys in the US only have english books on heraldy written by English authors,therefore most asume that individual arms are the rule, ...

Otto von Teich

Excellent work! Did Tom make the leg harness as well? The cased greaves are very well shaped.....Otto

Otto von Teich

Very nasty weapons, some had spikes ringing the inside of the collar.I believe many were spring loaded to close around the neck.Otto

Otto von Teich

I'm SICK and TIRED of being sick and tired,and sick and tired of it......Otto nod nod...wink ...wink....nudge...nudge....

Otto von Teich

These are good questions. I think what the SCA does should be called a tournament, for lack of a better description. The tournies evolved during the middle ages a great deal.At first the were more war like, using sharps and field armour,sometimes becoming quite violent,slowly rebated weapons, clubs,...

Otto von Teich

You have to keep in mind that all armour wasnt of equal thickness. Arm and leg harness and backplates were paper thin,and even though hardened by heat or hammer hardening, could still be pierced by a powerfull crossbow at close range. A lot of those rascals were had to have a lever or hand crank to ...

Otto von Teich

That looks sharp! Is there a reinforcing horizonal bar accross the bottom of the slats? Just curious, that is a GREAT design.....Otto

Otto von Teich

Man, Thats a good looking harness, the greaves in particular look extremely well shaped. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought you just making mail a year or so ago? If you have been working plate for as short a time as I think you have, your progressing at an incredible rate! Otto

Otto von Teich

I knocked one guy out,used to much force,and got a real clean shot.I felt bad about that. He dropped to his knees and swayed back and forth for a few seconds,I keptasking him if he was ok,then he came around.Once by brains were swimming from a blow with a two handed sword by a giant named Gareth.Did...

Otto von Teich

What praytell would the cost of such items be ? Thanks for the pics,they look great, Otto

Otto von Teich

I got to see and try the stuff on tonight. You do good work Sasuke! Very nice indeed. Thanks again Daniel for comming over for the show and tell...Otto

Otto von Teich

Just about all German families have them too. If its an uncommon name,everyone is probably related, and would use the same arms.If its a common name, there may be several. If you can get your hands on a Rietstaps wappenbuch, or Siebmachers wappen buch, you can find most of the variations,telling you...

Otto von Teich

I'd go with a white surcote,with the cross and wolf as in the arms. You could also go with anouther color surcote,with a small cloth sheild in the center,displaying the arms........Otto

Otto von Teich

And like the Rev. said, if your French, your family does indeed have a coat of arms. They granted them and taxed them,if you didnt have one they forced one on you,and taxed the bejeepers out of you..Otto

Otto von Teich

Yep,The Brits are the only people that are into the individual arms thing. But in fact many english just display an example of one of the old arms, undifferenced. If you get your arms regestered, you have to pay a fee, and not be a convicted felon, LOL, Then you are "granted" an old family arms for ...

Otto von Teich

For the bevor, you want a padded liner that covers the face area. If you look at some original examples, you'll see a line of horizonal rivets across the top of the beavor,on the uppermost plate. 5,6 or 7 should do the trick. The bottom should be riveted to the area around the neck, one on each side...

Otto von Teich

I often wondered if they wore a girdle with the wasp waisted armours, now I realize the armour was a "girdle" LOL Thanks Wade!...Otto

Otto von Teich

That was a nice spur, it went for a fair price too! I do think it was probably late 16th or early 17th century though...Otto

Otto von Teich

I think the best way to do it would be to have everyone fix a colored ostrich plume to the top of thier helm, perhaps red for one side, white for the other. The plume would have to be well secured of course, perhaps duct tape would work well LOL....Otto

Otto von Teich

Those are mighty nice, hard to believe its just your 5th project. I'd say you have quite a bit of talent. Keep up the good work! ....Otto

Otto von Teich

The most fun I ever had was veiwing the Harding collection back in 1981 when it was housed in a skyscraper in downtown Chicago.Karl LeTiger was the curator at the time,and gave my wife and I a personal tour.I got to handle quite a few pieces,Mr. LeTiger was really a great man and we spent many hours...

Otto von Teich

Congrats Sir Vitus! I cant think of a more deserving lord that thyself to recieve the honour bestowed upon you. Sorry to hear of your ailments, i can understand what your going through, being aged,and deteriorating myself. my computer crashed about a month ago,Im using the wifes laptop right now. Th...

Otto von Teich

On page 89 figure 5 of Fred Funckens book, Le Costume,L'Armure et les Armes au Temps de la Chevalerie vol.2(what a mouthfull)He shows some nice gauntlets that he has dated to 1325.Oddly enough they have a roped edge on the cuff.These look to be late 14th cent to me.Could his date be a typo? Any advi...

Otto von Teich

krotchpunt.......Ouch !.....Otto

14th cent Gauntlets question?