Is scale any good for SCA combat?

[Jake Stallion]

I heard somewhere that scale armour is no good for SCA combat, but it looks somewhat simple (if not tedious) to make, and if I made scale then I could use much cheaper leather scraps, as opposed to whole hides.
Any comments? Or am I better off just biting the bullet and making a coat of plates like everyone else in the barony?=)

[Dmitriy]

My roommate's first SCA armour was scale, and he didn't get a single bruise until he switched kits -- so it works.

It was real heavy tho...

-D

[Saverio]

I'd use 2" by 3" scales and overlap the rows by 1/3. 18 gauge mild might be enough, but stainless would be better, or you could just use hardened leather.


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Saverio
http://members.tripod.com/~SantoBuobo/

[Tuomas]

I happen to use scale armor I used unhardened leather scales and it protects VERY well and it's comfy. So dont let any one tell you that scale armor isnt good for SCA combat because it is very good for SCA hey its what I do.

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Tuomas
I like things that go thump.

[Edric]

Make a coat of plates, you can use canvas instead of leather if you are wanting to keep it cheaper. You can buy some good heavy weight canvas at walmart. This is period and if you think it is too ugly paint it or wear a fighting tabard over it.

Edric

[Thorgrim]

Well made scale is very good for SCA combat, especially when made with heavy leather scales. Another similar armour is leather lamellar, which I've been fighing in about four years. Mine is wax-hardened sole leather and thus heavy, but it otherwise is ideal for soaking up punishment while still transmitting enough of the blow to allow proper shot-calling. It is time consuming but simple to make, and you don't need a lot of pattern-making or tailoring skills to make it fit right.

As far as making a coat of plates, which would be more appropriate for your persona, or the rest of you kit? I'm currently making a coat of plates, not because I don't like my lamellar but because the coat of plates is more correct for my persona.


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Deus Suos Cognoscet
Company of Saint Olaf

[Jake Stallion]

Heck... I don't even have a persona.
I'm going "barbarian" until I come up with something right for me. I'm not going to a tourney for at least two years, anyway, since I'm only 16 and my parents won't go to events with me.
I just want something to practice in besides plazztek.=)

[yoshimitsu]

i have been fighting in scale for about a year now. the only problem i had when i first started was that it binded alittle. i fixed that by removing a couple of the scales in the chest area.

yoshimitsu san

live long enuf to win the fight