The Armour Archive

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Seems I've been labouring under some misconceptions, then. Thank you for setting me straight, Thomas.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

<~~suddenly has an image of monkeys sitting together in a tree . . .

Donal Mac Ruiseart

If executioners (hangmen) wore masks, hoods, wigs, etc., it was to conceal their identity so that the friends or relatives of their victims couldn't seek them out to take revenge. So off-duty, a hangman would dress in ordinary clothes and endeavour to look . . . ordinary. He wouldn't go about advert...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

So far, all I have is the drawing . But I hope to start construction fairly soon. The main advantages of this design are that: ⋅ It all folds up into one unit; there is nothing to take apart. ⋅ The hollow construction of the center post makes it lighter than using a 4 X 4 - and i...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

MJBlazek wrote:[W]ho doesn't want to be an Italian Nobleman while gardening...

Wasn't gardening considered a gentlemanly diversion in that period?

(Although I have to admit having an image of "(s-s-s-s-uck) . . . far out, man!"

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Not as a bolo, but it could be cast, if the user holds the thongs fairly loosely. Rather like a sling, but the "launcher" stays with the projectile.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

I wonder if Fourth Street in Philadelphia is still a treasure trove. My wife bought all the fabric for her wedding gown there, from among places that usually sell to designers, little hole-in-the-wall stores with million-dollar inventories . . .

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Heh.

My allusion to the ballplayer was closer to the mark than I thought!

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Having never been, I find myself wondering just what it is. I suspect that Atlantia's "Holiday Faire" is a similar event - mostly a big Merchant's Row with some fighting available to give the guys something to do while the ladies shop.

Is the fighting indoors or out?

Donal Mac Ruiseart

That's kinda what I thought.

But as a wordsmith, I'm curious about . . . well, where it comes from. How does the name of a baseball infielder transmute into such a meaning?

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Wolf wrote:if i didn't know your wife I'd sware you were a catcher

Will someone please 'splain that expression to this old fart?

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Expense, probably.

And silver tarnishes; bronze doesn't.

Bronze is also by-and-large harder than silver, if what I've read is correct.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Shoot before the scan stops!

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Ahh, now on reflection I knew those elements looked familiar somehow.

Their Graces once resided - and reigned - in Atlantia.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Very impressive.

I conclude that the ram rampant represents Gleann Abhann and the bear pawprint and compass stars represent Small Gray Bear.

The one coat of arms on the back is Hanne vestfirzka; I cannot trace the other one.[/b]

Donal Mac Ruiseart

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When I first saw the topic title I caught myself wondering, "What about the left leg?"

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Donal Mac Ruiseart

Cool! I've never seen plates and bowls made of horn.

how do they do that . . . cut the horn and then soak it to soften it so it can be shaped?

Donal Mac Ruiseart

EX-cellent!

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Anyone have contact with Eric the Armourer, of James River Armoury, ARMOURERERIC on here? I've been attempting to contact him via email and pm to no avail.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

I think a big part of the confusion here is a matter of terminology. Many people tend to think of any heraldic over-garment as a tabard when they should be speaking of surcotes, or cyclas, or arming coats . . . For my own part, I use "tabard" almost exclusively for the ceremonial garment w...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

On the subject of the value of life, I offer an opinion that formed in my mind many years ago. We were rehearsing The Alchemist by Ben Jonson, a friend and contemporary of Shakespeare. My character was that of a hot-headed country gentleman come to London to become a city gallant. The character's ha...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

As testimony of real (though not dangerous) injury, I've had two fingers broken. Small stuff, and both happened due to misaligned hand protection while fighting with a two-handed weapon. It's part of the risk one runs as a glaivier, I suppose. Of course, that's over a period of about 36 years . . .

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Karen Larsdatter wrote:Here I go, leading a frickin' horticulture again.

(As in, 'You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think.')

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Years ago I saw the Treasure houses of Britain exhibit at the National Gallery of Art in DC. Among the portraits there was a portrait of a gentleman or nobleman with very long hair - a courtier in Queen Elizabeth's court. The commentary stated that he had been criticised for wearing his hair so long...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Back in the day before the flat snap was commonly known, I think we just didn't KNOW how to hit as hard as we do now. Add that to the fact that we weren't all that well armoured. There have always been the ones who hit like sledgehammers and expected you to do the same, but I concur that the "r...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

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@Baron Alcyoneus, are you basing your belief that they're Stations of the Cross on the fact that there are 7 beads/14 images?

Donal Mac Ruiseart

You'd have to ask a Catholic (or look it up ) to be sure, but I'd bet on Stations of the Cross. I'm an Anglican Catholic, and the Stations of the Cross are part of our liturgical culture. I can say with some confidence that those are not the Stations of the Cross. I reiterate my belief that they're...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

At first view it reminded me of an illumination I cannot recall well enough to quote, that showed knights and men at arms fighting on foot over a bridge... I believe you are thinking of an illumination from the Grandes Chroniques de France. the manuscript post-dates the kit pictured by 30+ years, b...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Each skull opens to reveal an intricately carved religious scene, backed with iridescent feathers. Appears to be scenes from the life of Jesus. I've added what I think each image represents. Some I'm pretty sure of, others less so. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/2385055713_0aff8eb864.jpg The N...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

FWIW, I suspect the "fatal confinement" reference above is a delicate euphemism for the death of his wife during the later stages of a pregnancy. I concur except that I think it refers to death in childbirth. I've seen several cases of "confinement" used to describe going into l...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Christian Darmody wrote:Here are two photos of me with Master Galleron's Pole Axes.

Were those images from the Tourney of the Lily?

Donal Mac Ruiseart

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The Herald in Late Mediaeval Europe

It would have to be from a very generous donor, 'cause it goes for almost $100.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

For some time I believed that their armour actually dated to the 15th century but I recently read that it was improved (probably made lighter and easier to wear) by a 19th-century commander. It's possible that the old armour was modified, or they may have had entirely new kits made. They only wear t...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

If they did contain little sachets, the scent might escape through the eye-holes.

Rather an ironic twist on the smell of death.

The Spanish, it seems, have long had a rather macabre sense of humour about death.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

I'm not going to touch that one. Not with an eleven foot Hungarian.

Armour Stand

Re: Tryign to Help a reforming rennie...

Telling on Myself

Found Whom I was Looking For.

Re: What's With the Tiny Skull?