The Armour Archive

In an attempt to show a maille making friend a few examples of gambesons, would anyone and everyone care to e-strut their stuff? The essay could only show so much. Combos of chain and leather over said gambesons get bonus points.
michael.

If I recall, Dmitriy, you have gear that comes to mind, but I couldn't find any of your old photos posted here before. Thanks all..

http://www.novae-militiae.com/Pictures/miscellaneous_photographs.htm

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

Any other color available besides black, Rainald?

thanks
anton

I emailed the folks at Revival Clothing a few weeks ago with that very question. They said it only comes in black.

That's too bad.

Keep looking I guess.

I do custom gambesons starting at $200.

I have one open slot right now, although I can notify people when I get another slot open. I only take two orders at a time, this would be a third, but I am at the finishing one up right now. Email me if you are interested and I can give details.

Here is the first one that I made for myself.
http://www.edricsrose.com/jupon.htm

One I did for Ivar:
http://www.edricsrose.com/unusedpics/ivargamb.JPG

Arming Doublets:
http://www.edricsrose.com/unusedpics/doublets/atkinsdoublet.JPG
http://www.edricsrose.com/unusedpics/armingdoubleth/

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--Edric de Aldebury--
edric@edricsrose.com
http://www.edricsrose.com

Flos est puellarum, quam diligio, et rosa rosarum, quam sepe video.
"My love is a flower among virgins, and a rose among roses"

Hey steve!

Question for you.

What is your shield edged with in this shot?

Rainald... how is the quality of their quality? They look good.

[img]http://www.novae-militiae.com/Events/MTT2003/MTT5.JPG[/img]

[This message has been edited by Drake Orion (edited 06-11-2003).]

Here is one of my vests that I got a few years ago.

Don't mind my grumpy look I wasn't feeling well when I took the pics!

http://home.armourarchive.org/members/drako/forsale/

[This message has been edited by Drake Orion (edited 06-14-2003).]

Drake:

The shield is made as follows:

First, I had a blank constructed using birch planks that were biscuited and glued together, fashioning the shield in plank style. This was formed into a curve, and cut out into the heater shape. This was done by a master carpenter with his own saw mill, who's son is an aborist who harvests his own trees.

Upon receiving the blank, I coated the inside of the shield with woodworker's glue, and covered it with linen.

I then took a large piece of leather, and laid the shield out on it. I traced out the shape of the shield, allowing for excess to fold over the edge to be nailed down.

I then wet the leather in cool water in the bathtum, stretched it over the shield, and tacked it in place temporarily with brass tacks. I let it dry for a week.

Then I removed the leather, and spread woodworkers glue all over the face of the shield. I then re-fitted the leather to the face of the shield. The edges of the leather were again wrapped over the edges of the shield, and nailed down using black carpet nails, to approximate hand-forged nails.

After this, I added padding for the arm, made of doe skin and padded with scrap linen. The strapping is leather, with period-appropriate buckles.

So, there is no edging - it is simply a leather-faced shield with the leather wrapping over the edge to be nailed down on the inside of the shield.

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

My gambeson is the cheap version that Therion Arms sells.
http://history.westkingdom.org/Year37/Photos/MSC08.htm

Jarl Thorfinn has a great 14th century gambeson:
http://history.westkingdom.org/Year37/Photos/JC11.htm
Previous iteration:
http://history.westkingdom.org/Year36/Photos/E41.htm

Fantastic collection, thanks all. Are any of the items here disclosed as patterns somewhere, or maintained as trade secrets? I'm planning to start from the ground up, or the skin out, what please you. Thanks again everyone,
michael.

A good way to make a gambeson that fits well is to find a suit jacket that fits well. Goodwill, salvation army, St. Vicents... are good sources for starters.

Gut the jacket, take off the sleeves, collar, pockets and lapels and lining. You should be left with a shell that still fits well. Take measurements while weaaring the shell on how far down you want the gambeson hem to be. I aim for mid-thigh. take note on how the left/right side overlaps and how many inches you need to add to button up or lace as desired.

Now split the shell into three pieces. You should now have a back and a left and right front. If the back piece is vented/split, sew it together. Toss one of the front pieces away. Transfer the cloth pieces onto cardstock orwhatever andyou have your pattern. Scoop out the existing armholes deeper than you think and your good to go.

OK, I'm in. How's this?


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Miror Otium Negotium Multum Requirere
Charles Fleming A.D. 1346

Mine is similar to what toweyb did, however, I made the inner shell first with a bit of padding, and then sewed one roll down at a time by folding the outer shell over it. It still took a Loooooooong time but I knew the fit would work because the inner lining is mostly flat.

Jacob

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SCA: Edric of Scardeburg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/jselmer/

"Those who look upon a collection of Ancient Armour as a mere assemblage of curiosities have formed a very inadequate idea of its purpose and usefulness."
J. Hewitt
Catalogue of the Tower Armouries, 1859

I made mine with cotton (or cotton/linen mix, I'm not sure) inner and outer shell, with a few layers of wool and cotton in between (little extra on the shoulders and the arms, little less in the rest of it). The closures are a bit iffy, authenticity-wise, but it fits well, breathes well and works great!

http://131.211.220.145/users/marc/fotos/simon5.jpg
http://131.211.220.145/users/marc/fotos/simon6.jpg

Edit - You can see me strut some chain and other stuff over it as well on my site:
http://131.211.220.145/users/marc/manatarms.html
I've since added a lot, like cuir boilli arm defenses, a kettle hat, riveted mail shirt, etc.

Marc.

[This message has been edited by Red Simon (edited 06-13-2003).]

Dude how can them skinny legs hold up all that mail!!??



Thanks Steve! It looks awesome!

[This message has been edited by Drake Orion (edited 06-14-2003).]

Has anyone made one (they could bragg about) out of a moving pad? I heard it could work good but I cant picture it looking good.

James