Forge of Svan

[Tricket56]

Hello all,

I'm still perusing the various armor websites for my first kit, and it's a long process. I recently stumbled across the forge of Svan and I was searching the archive here and found a few posts detailing how good they are to deal with. I was curious if anyone else had done any dealings with them and how they were to deal with?

I was also looking at a kit from armstreet and was very interested in it, but have been told by a few of my friends in the SCA group I was in that their stuff isn't always up to par, and that the quality wasn't great.

Was just curious to know what people's thoughts were on Arm Street and Forge of Svan in terms of quality?

And were their any other armorers you'd recommend? Thus far I can recall checking out:
Steel Mastery
West Coast Armories
Windrose
Forge of Svan
Arm Street
Smiling orc Armories? (I think that was what they were called, I apologize if I messed up the name)

Mainly I'm finding it difficult to find something I like, the thing I've most enjoyed looking at was this:

http://armstreet.com/store/armor/prince ... ds-greaves

I have tried to contact WCA about the above piece but their communication leaves something to be desired as I have not heard from them in some time, and I may just send them another email inquiry to see what is going on. I think I will also contact FOS to see if they will be able to do something similar as well as I really like the simplicity of the above link.

But again, I'm curious to know what experiences people have had with AS and FOS.

I look forward to whatever responses I get.

[bigfredb]

Depending on exactly what you are looking for and where you are located, here are some additional armouries to consider:

James River Armoury http://www.jamesriverarmoury.com/
Anshelm Arms and Armour http://www.anshelmarms.com/
Stonekeep Armoury http://www.stonekeep.net/index.html
Ironmonger Forge http://ironmongerarmory.com/
Bokalo's Armoury http://bokalosarmoury.com/
Icefalcon Armoury http://icefalcon.com/
Windrose Armoury http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/

Not in any particular order. All very skilled and reputable.

Reviews of many armourers can be found in the classified thread.

[Sevastian]

Aesir Metalwyrks, Shamrock Armoury.

[Konstantin the Red]

Is this to go with the Greek-type harness you were working on getting up last January?

I'd be inclined to mutter that the metalwork had better be pretty durn fabulous, form and decoration, for broad-splint-greaves of the Turkic/later Russian persuasion to be worth $570.00 US. That's an outlay like for a very good set of articulated gauntlets.

[Tricket56]

As much as I'd like to get a Greek kit together I have been finding myself drawn to other pieces of armor. As I said the one I've most desired is the one linked to above from arm street. Mainly because its got essentially everything I need gorget and helmet excluded of course. I also like the simplistic nature of the armor I want to get something that is quick and easy to get on and off instead of having to spend a laborious amount of time getting into kit.

Now you are saying that the pricing is a bit high however on that particular set?

[Gerhard von Liebau]

I don't think the pricing is high at all. I've seen Michael's enthusiasm for creating quality SCA armor that has a high level of detail compared to most of what's seen on the field, not to mention an Eastern flare that's rarely replicated. That harness has a lot of advanced etching and trim work that couldn't possibly be replicated by any other armorer for the same cost. Armstreet's leather strapping, rivets and buckles are all made up to par with stout combat armor. This particular setup covers all of the vital areas well enough, although you'd probably have to hide a kidney belt under whatever you wear behind the breastplate and there may be a need to supplement the bazubands with their less accurate but higher profile version. >>>They even do them etched and they cost less than the model advertised with the set.<<< This harnesses does indeed look as though it would be quite mobile and easy to take on and off, as you suggest.

I'd say go for it. It it be an excellent array of finely crafted armor that I'm sure most SCA fighters would be proud to wear on the field.

-Gerhard

[Tricket56]

I don't think the pricing is high at all. I've seen Michael's enthusiasm for creating quality SCA armor that has a high level of detail compared to most of what's seen on the field, not to mention an Eastern flare that's rarely replicated. That harness has a lot of advanced etching and trim work that couldn't possibly be replicated by any other armorer for the same cost. Armstreet's leather strapping, rivets and buckles are all made up to par with stout combat armor. This particular setup covers all of the vital areas well enough, although you'd probably have to hide a kidney belt under whatever you wear behind the breastplate and there may be a need to supplement the bazubands with their less accurate but higher profile version. >>>They even do them etched and they cost less than the model advertised with the set.<<< This harnesses does indeed look as though it would be quite mobile and easy to take on and off, as you suggest.

I'd say go for it. It it be an excellent array of finely crafted armor that I'm sure most SCA fighters would be proud to wear on the field.

-Gerhard

Why do you think a kidney belt would be required? And what is wrong with the bazubands in the kit originally? Do you think they would not be sufficient to pass SCA requirements?

[Gerhard von Liebau]

You'd need a kidney belt to protect your kidneys, which are most vulnerable from the back. This armor set does not provide back protection at all - the mail is not included, and is also not sufficient protection for the kidneys in SCA combat anyway (rigid protection is required). The bazubands do not protect the points of your elbows well enough, as they're too shallow to do so. You'll need more flare to them around the back corners, and the rondels attached to the pair I linked will be helpful, additional protection. Michael (the owner of Armstreet) designed that pair specifically with SCA combat in mind, I do believe.

Cheers!

-Gerhard

[Jan van Nyenrode]

Gerhard,

Since when are your kidneys in your bottom? Else that kit, which includes a backplate offer sufficient protection imho.

Cheers,

Jan

[Gerhard von Liebau]

Gerhard,

Since when are your kidneys in your bottom? Else that kit, which includes a backplate offer sufficient protection imho.

Cheers,

Jan

My apologies regarding the kidney armor. I looked at the small photo of the armor in question and saw only the mail - I didn't realize a back plate was integrated until I checked again. Absolutely my mistake! No need to add more to that; the back side of the abdomen is amply protected by the harness offered by Armstreet.

-Gerhard

[Tricket56]

Alright so we've established we are good in terms of kidney protection so the only issue is the elbow protection then? Again disregarding the lack of head and neck protection?

[Konstantin the Red]

Now you are saying that the pricing is a bit high however on that particular set?

If that's actually the price for the entire harness, I'm quite off base... still it looked like they were charging over five hundred bucks and shipping for a pair of greaves. (?!!)

Mmm... I will say that starting from nothing except for a little room to work in you can probably build splint greaves that look like those, minus the etching, for less than $50 in materials and like enough no more than $40 in tools if you get a cheap/used saber saw to cut out forming-whackers (wooden slappers, tools for shaping gentle curves in sheet metal, and maybe some other poundin' stix) and a hammer or two. Greaves in broad splints and leather lining are less trouble to make and form than the full-plate equivalent, which is demanding to get right and to fit like a pair of thick tights so they don't chew holes in your insteps from you walking. It's not the materials that cost for armor pieces, it's the skilled labor. Acquiring that demands the bench time.

If you're starting from something better than zero, that ninety to one hundred bucks can go to getting fancier tools as well as the sheet metal and leather, some of which will be for strapping greaves on. Of the two, the leather will cost more per square foot, new.

Which leaves more than $447.00 over to buy gas to drive to tourneys and fight practices where you can grow mighty in the way of the sword. You're willing to throw a lot of money around, but are you doing it as cannily as you might? You've noticed SCA armor somewhat deemphasizes greaves except as safety gear because the legal target area starts above the knee; many's the well-experienced fighter, and the newb as well, that dispenses with lower leg armor altogether, in contrast with those certain ones among us willing to go to trouble and expense to wholly complete the look of cap-à-pie arming.

You haven't mentioned going to practices or events with intent to do combat. One mustn't get stuck on the notion of being perfectly, heavily, and expensively kitted out before taking the first step onto the field: start in munition-grade, even used stuff, somebody's leftovers, and work your way up to your ideal. (Otherwise, you'll never strike a blow, nor have one struck.) You'll be doing that regardless, since armor maintenance is a perpetual, uh, activity. Oh all right, a chore. Rivets blow, straps rip, giant Dukes make giant dents, long-abused metal finally rips. And you're the maintenance staff. Fix-ups lead pretty directly to construction projects, suited either to one's skill, or planned to stretch said skill further. Until one arrives at mastery of metal-shoving.

[Konstantin the Red]

Latest from Armstreet's site has these greave/cop pieces going for $478.49 plus ship -- I guess. Couldn't manage a look at their shipping rates. Page: http://armstreet.com/store/greaves-cops/