Plate armour $$$?

MattTheViking · Post by **MattTheViking** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 9:29 pm

How much would a full suit of armor cost?

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KD7NFY
Gogetter350@aol.com
Its not the size of the guy in the fight, Its the size of the fight in the guy. (lucky me, I have both)

twoswords · Post by **twoswords** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 9:41 pm

Matt - Describe what kind of armour you are looking for and what level of craftsmanship you want.

There is a huge difference in price range if you want a basic SCA full plate suit made by a general hobby armourer or a high gothic plate suit made by a full-time professional armourer.

The more info, the better answer.

MattTheViking · Post by **MattTheViking** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 9:49 pm

like, sturdy but cheap. Steel 17 or 18g.

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KD7NFY
Gogetter350@aol.com
Its not the size of the guy in the fight, Its the size of the fight in the guy. (lucky me, I have both)

medieval misfit · Post by **medieval misfit** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 9:54 pm

you would need to tell us what type of suit you want.viking,norman,crusader,gothic,etc.

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mcrs(medieval chivalry reenactment society]

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 11:21 pm

$500-$50,000, +/-.

Angus Bjornssen · Post by **Angus Bjornssen** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 12:54 am

more than your allowance. wait 2 years and get a job. then wait another 6 to 10 months to get the cash from said job to get a basic fighting kit together.

oh, yeah, that maille project (the 8in1 completely overwieght but smashing against a pencil wielding ogre) you were talking about before should last that long and solve half your armor needs. also it's an affordable project for someone who is not old enough to get a job.

cheers.

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Angus of the White Mountain (formerly MageDogTag)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 1:11 am

Matt: The only full suit I have seen quoted was Chef de chambre's MASTERPIECE, priced at around $5k

My advice is buy it piece by piece. Chef took 5 years to complete his

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"Is minic a gheibhean beal oscailt diog dunta" - An open mouth often catches a closed fist

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 5:27 am

Hey Wes -

That was ONLY the cuirasse, arms, and pauldrons that cost "nearly 5K". Add in the legs, the gauntlets, and the helmet and it's nearly double that. Historicaly correct complete plate armour starts at about $10,000

(which is why it took 5 years to put together).

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Bob R.

Cedric · Post by **Cedric** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 7:49 am

You might as well ask how much a car costs...

There's $100 cars and $100,000 cars.

Steve S. · Post by **Steve S.** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 1:19 pm

Not much to add, only to say that your question really can't be answered as given. Best advice is to start calling up various armouers' web pages and start aquainting yourself with prices for different pieces of armour. Problem is, if you don't have a feel for prices you probably don't have a feel for quality of pieces, either, which is a dangerous spot to be in as you may find yourself gleefully throwing money at what you think is something great only later to find out it wasn't so great (I did this, too).

In order to give even the most vague of price possibilities, we need to know what sort of armour you are interested in (i.e. time period) and what requirements the armour is to serve (SCA combat? show?)

For an SCA suit of armour, count on a minimum of $100 for a helmet. My guess is the average price for an SCA helmet is $250. My guess is most people top out around $500 for an SCA helm. You can, of course, spend more.

Limb armour: If you just want simple elbows and knees you can get them for under $100. I personally would not fight in such a minimal kit. If you're looking at a 14th-century or so arm and leg harness with vambrace, rerebrace, cops, lames, greaves, cuisses, etc., count on a minimum of $150 for leg armour and $150 for arm armour.

Body Armour: Bare minimum you are going to need a beefed-up weight lifters belt. Count on $50. You'll probably want some kind of padded garment. Minimum $100. Shirt of butted maille, say $200. Coat of plates, say minimum $250, probably more if it's a good one.

Gauntlets: $150 and up.

Gorget: $50 and up.

These prices are all generalities. You can probably find cheaper prices. Remember, though, that you usually get what you pay for.

Steve

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Forth Armoury
Highly authentic, affordable riveted maille.

The measure of a man is not in the steel of his skin but in the steel of his heart. - S. Sheldon

Wolf · Post by **Wolf** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 2:40 pm

depends on style and what you want it for. i got a full stainless minus the helm and guants in stainless steel for 1100 and its great for sca (all 16 guage) but historic enterprises starts at 10 k and Mac starts at 18 k

so deside on style, price and what you want it for then come back and ask again

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Wolf
"Long time, no siege!"
http://www.angelfire.com/realm/Avalon

Will Knight · Post by **Will Knight** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 3:04 pm

Well, you could always pawn a new Lexus and buy a MacPherson harness.
But yeah, it varies.
For a full suit of plate armour, you're probably looking at more than a thousand, as I'm assuming you mean you want full armour, not just SCA minimum.
I know the price can be a shocker; that's how I felt when I started looking at just a breastplate.
-Will