The Armour Archive

Donal Mac Ruiseart

rob(in) wrote: . . . or possibly a paternoster, . . . here's a neat one from Spain. late 16th c.

It appears that each of those little skulls is a locket of some sort, with hooks to hold them closed. What sort of mementos did they once contain, I wonder?

Donal Mac Ruiseart

In another thread, this image: [img]http://www.marco-borromei.com/images/art/1530GARB08portra.jpg[/img] was used as an example of the kind of doublet the poster wanted to make. I noticed that the little cluster of "stuff" around the subject's right hand includes a tiny skull. Anyone know w...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

And their working uniforms are starkly plain - Royal blue pants and tunics with white collars (red for officers), tall boots and black berets. When they do traffic control or other non-ceremonial duties, that's how you'll see them arrayed. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/swiss_guard/swissguard/pop...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

The unit in the foreground, with their backs to the camera, are the Papal Swiss Guards. They're one of the smallest armies in the world, and they actually are all Swiss. The ones opposite are elements of the Italian armed forces. Best I can determine, from left to right: Guardia de Finanza - in gray...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Christophe de Frisselle wrote:"Kill the Monster! Kill the Monster! Kill the Monster!"
"WAIT! Did anyone bring their pitchfork? Come on, People, don't you know how this works?"

Shrek: "Psst . . . This is the part where ye run awayyyyy."

Donal Mac Ruiseart

For anyone who wants to go kilted, in the modern style, I highly recommend So You're Going to Wear the Kilt by J. Charles Thompson. The book gives common-sense advice to any man who wants to wear the kilt properly, including some economical alternatives to the rather pricey gear you find at Highland...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

I wonder how many FitzFranklins he left in his wake . . . .

Donal Mac Ruiseart

I recall hearing from a docent in a museum that 16C English seafarers wore an earring to signify that they had sailed all seven seas.

Of course, just what constitutes that seven is a matter of debate, it seems.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Never knew that Ben Franklin's kite-flying experiment got published by the Royal Society.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

The kilt as we know it in modern times is not period, and only in the latter part of our time is the belted plaid period, and then only for Highlanders, who were and are relatively rare. Lowland Scots tended to follow the fashion of England or France, though they usually lagged a bit behind the late...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

"We're not going to say you can't do it, but we are going to say before you do it, you have to come to us for approval, and good luck getting that approval" Probably tarred by the brush of the R&D'ed king. Too bad, sounded like a good idea. From the viewpoint of one who was there . . ...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

More often than not you simply can't fight an impromptu war outside in late autumn in the Midwest... Considering that the armies would be made up of those fighters who had fought in the tournament, I don't see the war being extremely large. Indeed, one of the stumbling blocks to the idea in Atlanti...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Really, Leo . . . you should leave your erotic proclivities out of the discussion.

They ARE bitchin' though, no bout adout it. If expensive.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

War crowns, hmmmm. I recall thinking a long while back that it would be interesting to make the Crown Tourney a melee, with each entrant allowed to bring a fixed number of retainers. This would in a way be more equitable because it prevents someone with a well-organized "household army" fr...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Heh, horses have been foaling for centuries, and I'm sure a lot of owners lent a hand (again, literally and figuratively). I suspect the knowledge and practices haven't changed all that much, though they have with people.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Heh, horses have been foaling for centuries, and I'm sure a lot of owners lent a hand (again, literally and figuratively). I suspect the knowledge and practices haven't changed all that much, though they have with people.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

How funny, I also assumed the holes were art work! Hmmm, I could see someone thinking that with the first couple of pics, but the ones where you can see the vegetation through 'em? I've definitely learnt something from the description of the effectiveness of the wattle pavise. Its appearance is dec...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

I've seen a "jaw-dropper" somewhere; I think that would convey your sentiment, Sir Vitus.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

The only exposure I've had to large-animal birthing is written accounts, including James Herriot's and now yours. I've midwifed some kittens but that's a small matter, literally and figuratively. You have my admiration for your technical knowledge and your emotional and spiritual understanding of th...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

The wattle pavise - - - what was its usage? Seems that it would protect against thrown rocks and the like, but would not be much good against arrows or anything narrow and pointed.

But that's just from observing. I've no idea how effective they'd really be.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

raito wrote:I'm not sure the SCA is ready for a female King.

No, we're not. But we're more than ready for a Queen by Right of Arms!

Wake up, Raito - we're not as Medieaval as the activities we pursue!

Donal Mac Ruiseart

I don't know how much it matters, but from seeing Royal Copenhagen Christmas plates, I know that in Danish, the word for Christmas is "Jul," which is pronounced "Yule." I can only think of two instances where "Yule" is used in English: ⋅ One is in the carol &...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

I'm particularly impressed that you went straight from loaners to that.

Like going from crawl to run without walking.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

The link doesn't work for me either, and my Bodleian-fu must indeed be weak, because I have been unable to find any online imagery such as described.

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Donal Mac Ruiseart

I know I'm a latecomer to the thread, but on my honour, as soon as I saw the arms, I murmured, "Bertrand de Guesclin"

Everything I've ever read about his appearance makes me believe the figure is nowhere NEAR ugly enough.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Here's where having been to so many Pennsics trips me up. I can remember aspects of many but can't pin them down. The "old woods battle area" was on the south side of the site - thick woods traversed by a causeway, with a couple of small open areas along the fenceline. Thinking about it, i...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

I had been wondering if that image depicted devotions at the shrines of Christian saints or a supposed image of ancient Greeks or Romans worshiping some of their gods. Seems it's the former. Would the figure on the right, holding a bow, be St. Sebastian? He's more commonly shown wounded by arrows, b...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Whoof, now those are some splendid pieces of work.

A friend of mine, Sir Aradd, recently got one of your sheathes for a dagger. His is not embellished but its workmanship is inspirational.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Thinking about building a full size greatsword just for the intimidation factor. There was a knight in Atlantia (IIRC his name is Hyram), a smallish, wiry man, who fought with a great sword of maximum allowable length. And he didn't just use it like a spear. He had figured out how to strike without...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

I feel stupid, don't know why I'm confessing this, but . . . When I first started reading this I thought the reference was to a style of body armour that was used in ancient Greece (such as what the Spartans probably were wearing at Thermopylae). No, no . . . that's a LINOTHORAX! D'Oh! (slaps self u...

Donal Mac Ruiseart

.

Nice scimitar!

Donal Mac Ruiseart

It was because of events like that, where you have to sling the gear around, that I built mine with wheels. I don't like to have to ask others to help me tote my gear.

Donal Mac Ruiseart

@Cian: How do you get it around? Do you just pick it up by the handles, do you have a wagon or handcart . . . ?

Donal Mac Ruiseart

dacovalu wrote:I have the . . . book which has 8 different styles of coats of plates, if you like I can post pictures of them.

Please!

Donal Mac Ruiseart

Whoof! The evolution continues. Before long I'll have to build a better chest to keep pace with the beautiful ones like Cian has made.

What's With the Tiny Skull?

On Wearing the Kilt in Modern Style

War Crowns

The Year the Bees Won the Woods Battle