The Armour Archive

I live in the North of dallas and play in the Canton of Glaslyn. I have fought off and on the past nine years and I am ready to get back into the swing of things. I am making armor but I am torn between the armor I really want and the armor I can make to begin fighting as soon as possible. I am presently working with a armorer that is located here. I have bought a helm from him, but it will be until May before I get it. I also am hoping to get a Muscalatta Cuirass made from him as soon as I get the money together or work it off helping in the shop. For my legs and arms, I will probably make curbolli leather greaves and vambraces. If I don not have the time to make them, I wll buy them from GAA Armorer. My question is that should I wait until the armor I want is made or should a get some quick fix armor sort of speak to get me back on the field?? Loner armor is a possiblilty if it fits right. I despise loner armor since for me it never fits right and is always uncomfortable. I guess no Gulf War this year but hopefully I will be fighting soon somehow.

Make good, quick armour. It's not any oxymoron. Good looking servicable armour can be made out of leather and steel in a weekend. The hardest part is the helmet. A greathelmish helm can be made fairly, or someone might have a starter helm for cheap.
If you can't find a helm, my adivce is to wait. The helm sets the tone for the rest of the armour, you wouldn't make a coat of plates to use with a Greek Corinthian or a chair-aine with a greathelm.


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Slainte,
Fearghus
How long will we fight? We will fight until Hell freezes over; then we fight on the ice.
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Make some munitions grade armour to start with. Chose a simple time period so your kit is reasonably coherent. While fighting in that, build your dream kit.

That would be great except time and money dictate what I can and cannot do. Time actually is more of an isssue since I have been spending most of my free time working in the forge to learn as well as help get my armor going. It wll take a lot of time, but I also want to start fighting. So I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. I plan on buying leather for the greaves and vambraces. I might make some leathers paldurons and a plain kidney belt so that I can fight in. More time and money but at least I can fight and maybe borrow a helm or loner helm. Well seems like I have my work set out for me.

[This message has been edited by ronnin (edited 01-17-2004).]

get on the field as fast as you can. it will incurage you to work toward the kit you want.

Start practicing now, with the loaner gear if necessary. You will learn things from fighting that may affect the armour decisions you make. Also, it is never too soon to start learning.

Write out an armour plan that includes all of the pieces you want. For the helm you may want to plan on buying a cheap one for now and selling it later when your good one is done. A torse and mantling on a cheap barrel helm can look pretty good.

Ugly/ill-fitting loaner gear will help keep you motivated to get your own armour done.

I have to agree... get out and fight. BTW, if you make the trip on Sunday's down to the Steppes fighter practice, we have a lot of decent loaner gear... Glaslyn is after all one of our Cantons, and I like to support all members of the Steppes, wherever they live. [img]http://forums.armourarchive.org/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Morgan, Knight Marshal, Steppes, Ansteorra

Great to meet people that are in the area. Another problem I have starting to fight is that I work Sunday and Monday nights. Seems like those are the days that Glaslyn and all the other practices are on those specific days. Is there any practices on Saturdays?? I can take off work at times to go to practice on Saturdays and Mondays, but I could not be consistent at it. Another obstacle I have to overcome. I am making a pell and getting my sword and shield done as soon as possible. I guess I am a bit overwhelmed, wanting to get back in and starting from scratch. I will figure it out somehow. Thanks for all the great replies.

You could always start by making the helm of your dream armour and then adding the pieces to your kit, like arms, legs and stuff. Most people cover their armour with a tabard so it won't be too hard to upgrade when you have the time and materials. Later on, just take off hte tabbard.