The Armour Archive

Hey ladies and gents,

New to the SCA but loving every minute of it.

Question: currently running around in loaner gear and clanking my way to concussions. I'm ready to put down some money for an armour set. I came across the Dark Victory armour deal they have set up here:
http://darkvictory.com/html/order_form.html

It looks fine to me but, as my title shows, I'm new to this. Is this set a good starter set? I don't really mind looks (or bruises), just wanted something with functionality that I can get out there. I wanted to get some experienced opinions. Pros/cons to the material from you guys? I liked the idea that it allows customization and low maintenance (according to the site).

Thanks! You guys rock!
-Gryph

Do a search. Dark Victory is possibly the least liked armorer around these parts (but for reasons of style). Talk to stone keep: http://spiers-saddlery.stores.yahoo.net/test.html I know he used to do sets for a pretty reasonable price.

You already got the stock answer. Here's mine:

there's nothing there that you can't do yourself with a plastic barrel, a jibsaw, a drill, some cord, and a weekend. At a lot lower cost, even if you have to buy the tools. And you'll be better off, because you'll have learned some idea of how to maintain what you have.

Craigslist is a good spot to get those 55 gallon plastic barrels. Just make sure they are food quality, and not the ones that were used to carry toxic chemicals.

Welcome and well come, Gryph.

Wot they sed.

Cutting up plastic takes little in the way of investing in tools, and the thing you'll notice about the SCA is how the locals in the Barony are happy to have you over to use things they have and make yourself stuff. Almost every new fighter does some variation on buy the complicated stuff and make the simple.

Try also a search on "standalone gambeson". [ETA] Search button on-site, that is; not so much on Google.

Aye, thank you for the quick responses.

Cool, these are the answers I was expecting to hear, not surprised in the slightest. I was mainly checking to make sure I wasn't missing something here.

Standalone Gambeson, eigh? I will definitely take a look.

Appreciate the welcome and the quick information, you guys are da best.

Where are you located?
Usualy we can network you with someone local or walk you through some basic armour.

Don't abuse the tools and ask questions if your not sure of proper usage.
Yes there are people that do stupid things that lead to problems includeing broken tools and medical bills Don't be that Guy. It helps to showing up with your own saftey glasses and earplugs.
Ask about materials before hand and expect to cover material cost or provide your own.
The black plastic barrels usualy have cleaning chemicals or solvents it can take a bit of leg work to find a source for clean barrels.

I find small gestures help get me invited back, usualy baked goods or a beverage.

At this point you probibly are still developing your persona, instead of buying armour you will upgrade with in a year invest in a quality helm or decent gauntlets.

I'm located in Northern FL.

Of course, if there were anything I'd hate to do more would be to ruin the tools of others that are extending their generosity out teach me something new.
Of course, I would supply my own materials - my materials included beverages and usually food for both myself and my new found friend(s). I do live in the South.

Agreed with the investments. I'm mainly looking towards long term use here - so stainless is where I plan to invest my money. The above inquiry on the plastic armour does kind of defeat that purpose any way I choose to look at it. Have some guys running to the Gulf war and will relay some prices back to me. I was unable to make the war this year... saddening. However, I would expect prices to drop after the war, correct? People replace their old gear with new gear, need to get rid of it.

Have you been going to your local fighter practices? See if they have some loaner gear you can use while you put together your kit. As to Dark Victory as a vendor. From all I here he is a good merchant. Fast and good communication. If your going to buy plastic, then buy it from him. However as other have said you could most likely make the plastic your self for less money with a few tools and a few hours work. Do some snooping here on the Archive for reputable armourers and put together a plan to get your kit.

There are other, better alternatives. These gents are guiding you to it.

Gryph wrote: Of course, I would supply my own materials - my materials included beverages and usually food for both myself and my new found friend(s). I do live in the South.

You will go far in the SCA.

losthelm wrote:Don't be that Guy.

Be this Guy.

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=3024

Well, if you have to buy anything from DV I'd say the body armor items are OK but stay away from the legs and arms.
Like the others have said you can make most of that stuff on your own with regular household tools from the garage. The one thing I'd recommend you get is a propane hand torch to “melt smoothen” around the edges of the plastic you cut.

Good luck and welcome…

raito wrote:there's nothing there that you can't do yourself with a plastic barrel, a jibsaw, a drill, some cord, and a weekend.

I don't think I like the cut of your jib, sir.

Ingvarr wrote:

raito wrote:there's nothing there that you can't do yourself with a plastic barrel, a jibsaw, a drill, some cord, and a weekend.

I don't think I like the cut of your jib, sir.

Maybe it's a saw for making triangular pieces. With dishing.

RoaK wrote:Well, if you have to buy anything from DV I'd say the body armor items are OK but stay away from the legs and arms.
Like the others have said you can make most of that stuff on your own with regular household tools from the garage. The one thing I'd recommend you get is a propane hand torch to “melt smoothen” around the edges of the plastic you cut.

Good luck and welcome…

I just take a rotary tool with a barrel sander to the corners. A dremel or equivalent will smooth a corner in a single pass.

I would suggest easily if you really on a low budget to hit up armourer eric

http://jamesriverarmoury.com/

his stuff isnt gonna make most higher end armourers happy but itll do as its fine craftsmanship for a budget armor

Minus shipping I think I paid around 300 for mild steel arms legs and shoulders though I would suggest stainless if you can wait but if you cannot make sure to get wax or oil to upkeep the armor


if you have a decent budget lets say 1.5k about (yes for some thats a very nice budget) I would pick up the arms shoulders and legs from http://jamesriverarmoury.com/ leaving you 1.2k then drop the yes high amount on a Duke Andres Helmet http://store.fastcommerce.com/icefalcon/home.html as while it is certainly a high price the attached "If it breaks Ill fix it" warranty Boss offers is worth it (he does have a not so pretty helmet on there at the moment for 195 which is a blued great helm, not sure if hell warranty that but it is from him so I doubt he'd willingly sell something defective) and then for breastplate I would also hit up Duke Andres for unless you really wanna save the rest of your budget for clothing/arming stuff then I would suggest grabbing up a cheapo plastic barrel of Kydex or similiar plastic and cut it into a toso armor and throw a tabard over it =)

Specifically, Gryph is in Barony of Oldenfield.

Gryph, for doing a standalone gamby, you want a sewing machine. Just think of cloth as just another material; you don't need to be in a priesthood of sewing mavens and couturers to make creditable use of a sewing machine. The mavens are very helpful, though, in pinning and test fitting and style advice. A gamby can be made in the menswear styles of a given nation and century, so it can even sport some pizazz. Late fourteenth century fabric armor looks a certain way; early, middle, and late fifteenth, others, though they often share a wasp waist and puffed chest. But a basic yet good looking fourteenth century bascinet is easier to come by than a lot of fifteenth century hats -- and can look every bit as German as you might like! Though fourteenth century armor is also called "international" by some because it was mostly variations upon a theme, all over most of Europe -- England, France, Burgundy, the Germanies/Holy Roman Empire, Italy.

But also, what do you have for tools now, including tools/shop you can reasonably gain access to? Cutting and whittling at plastic doesn't take much, and leather takes little more, to start out, anyway. Butted mail takes few tools at all, riveted mail wants a heat source but otherwise only a couple more tools than butted. Working steel takes a big hammer, a little hammer, a medium hammer; files; clamps in profusion, Vise-Grips at least; a saber saw and a fistful of blades; electric drill, bits, wire brush head, extension cord. A work bench with a bench vise makes a thousand things much easier. You can use an anvil if you have one, but you can do plenty fine without. If you have to you can dish sheet metal into a bare spot in the dirt.

Re concussions: speaking of your own personal head, what sort of helmet or helm do you think is really neat-o?

If you want to make a set plastic barrel armor here's some info

http://www.angelfire.com/oh4/Boris/armo ... carmor.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpkBKJLjEvI

Just plan from the beginning to put clothing over it, if you enjoy making it, get some metal and go learn from the locals, or save up for better fitting thinner armor that you can show off.

another cool idea for do it your self armor, my son made some when he was 11, with almost no guidance

http://www.plasticlamellar.com/