The Armour Archive

A while ago someone posted a URL that had lots of period-looking ironwork for chests, such as hinges, clasps, etc.

Anyone have the URL?

Thanks!

Steve

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Forth Armoury
Highly authentic, affordable riveted maille.

Steve:

Why didn't you bookmark the Van Dyke's Restorers Webpage the first time?



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<B>Robert L. Coleman, Jr.

<font size=-5>Known as Fra Robèrt de Tyre, Ordo Templum Solomani</font size></B>



[This message has been edited by Templar Bob/De Tyre (edited 11-03-2003).]

Yep .. that's the one Steve. Lee Valley also has some, but I've found Van Dykes to have better selection. Especially for sturdier hinges and handles.

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"His troops would follow him anywhere ... but only out of morbid curiousity!"

Thanks ya'll!

Steve

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Forth Armoury
Highly authentic, affordable riveted maille.

Another one:

http://www.horton-brasses.com/products/parts

Pad

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L'Armurerie du Roi
webmaster@armurerieduroi.com

I would suggest that you see your local blacksmith. Most of what I saw in those sites was somewhat less than impressive for a medieval context. Why wear dead-on armor, and then ruin things with a hokey chest?

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Full time civil servant, part time blacksmith, and seasonal Viking ship captain.

Visit your National Parks: www.nps.gov

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Markland Medieval Mercenary Militia: http://www.markland.org

I'm no expert on "medieval" furniture, but some of it looks just fine to me:

http://www.vandykes.com/images/products/02004569-lg.jpg

http://www.vandykes.com/images/products/02004559-lg.jpg

http://www.vandykes.com/images/products/cn1300101-lg.jpg

I would imagine it's hard to screw up simple hasps and hinges.

Further, they have some very nice rosettes, for armour/belt use, here:

http://www.vandykes.com/subcategory/65/

Steve



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Forth Armoury
Highly authentic, affordable riveted maille.

Steve, et al:

Order the hardcopy catalog.

It has much, much more than what is shown on the Van Dyke's Restorer's Webpage.

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<B>Robert L. Coleman, Jr.

<font size=-5>Known as Fra Robèrt de Tyre, Ordo Templum Solomani</font size></B>

[This message has been edited by Templar Bob/De Tyre (edited 11-04-2003).]

Oooohhhhhh; I guess they're passable.

Still, if you can find something dead-in-period, a smith could really make a difference: corner braces, hinges, hasps, ring handles... All sorts of good pieces.

My wif says I can't take on anymore until I finish my Daughter-in-Law's 2' X 2' X 3' chest, and another pair of hinges to pay my friend for extensive help with the wood-working. I'm trying to finish by Christmas!

See:
http://www.anvilfire.com/bookrev/atli/Medieval/geddes.htm for some ironwork possibilities!

I've purchased most of what you pictured. The one hasp is built the same way as I was making mine, but the Indian smith was better. The hasp is strong enough to take a sledgehammer blow, and is what I normally use on my chests.

The hinge & hasp that match are about 16 guage and painted black. They were a disappointment.

The rosettes are as thin as the Tandy conches and are junk. I have a package of the second-to-last that I'd give you if I didn't already throw them away.

Looking at pictures in a catalog is quite a bit different then actually using the pieces in a project. Some of Van Dykes' is good, but some is pretty lame. You'd triple (or more) your price to have them hand-forged. Matching the quality of your woodwork would be the most practical idea. I would use this stuff with veneer or pine, but I think I'm going to find a blacksmith for my solid hardwood chests in the future. The Indian stuff looks inadequate on high-quality pieces.