Leg armor pictures

Livia Tasia · Post by **Livia Tasia** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:07 pm

Ave!

I've been trying to do searches through the site on leg armor pictures. Many of your legs are covered in fighting pants or other forms of garb.

I'm trying to get some insight on different kinds of leg armor to see if a different style would work for me.

If you have good pictures of just your leg armor (and in particular if you are wearing them so I can see how they hang) I'd appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!

Tasia

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:31 pm

"Archer knees", two straps below the knee on top of wider straps, one above.

Tights above the metal you see, that's all.

audax · Post by **audax** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 7:18 pm

liviatasia wrote:Ave!

I've been trying to do searches through the site on leg armor pictures. Many of your legs are covered in fighting pants or other forms of garb.

I'm trying to get some insight on different kinds of leg armor to see if a different style would work for me.

If you have good pictures of just your leg armor (and in particular if you are wearing them so I can see how they hang) I'd appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!

Tasia

What problems are you having with your leg armor? Do you wear greaves or are you doing the SCAdian thing of upper leg only? One thing a properly designed leg armor will do is rest some of the weight on the greave, reducing stress on your low back, etc.

I used to wear a leg harness attached to an old weightlifting belt. However I now wear only lower leg armor (knees and greaves) and my upper leg is protected by football pants with hardened leather pieces padded with a little foam. Cuisses annoyed me by not being part of my body, thus impeding my natural movement. I will probably make some gamboised cuisses at some point. If you are doing late Roman, you could just wear something like these http://www.cambriabike.com/shopdisplayp ... =Leg%2FHip and not worry about leg armor. I still advise wearing greaves but thats just because i hate getting whacked in the shin.

Livia Tasia · Post by **Livia Tasia** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 7:27 pm

I don't use greaves. My current legs are a very basic style, saddle leather, some foam on the inside. I'm just looking to see what other styles are out there. I made a new belt per Sir Cedric's design of the c-belt and the legs hang a bit 'funny' now. Meaning, they literaly hang rather than form fit like they did - and maybe that's how legs are supposed to fit (hanging somewhat).

I'd like to get more coverage on the side of my hip/thigh area or figure out how to hang something else from the belt to cover that area until I learn how to block it correctly with my shield.

In this picture I marked the area where I don't have good coverage but get hit often. Again, it has to do a lot with lack of skill at this point, but I'd like to have something there that would help until that skill comes.

Edit: This belt is not the new one I made - it's a picture of the old belt.

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 7:49 pm

Tassets hanging from the torso armor are the best solution. But if you were wearing a padded gambeson, you could put some plates in pockets to cover that area.

SyrRhys · Post by **SyrRhys** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:40 pm

Based on the Charles VI legharness but with an extra lame. Made in hardened spring steel:

SyrRhys · Post by **SyrRhys** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:43 pm

And the sabatons:

Oswyn_de_Wulferton · Post by **Oswyn_de_Wulferton** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:10 pm

I have my gambeson (made heavier, as it is all I wear). That and Painter's Knees.

Angusm0628 · Post by **Angusm0628** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:11 pm

Alcyoneus wrote:Tassets hanging from the torso armor are the best solution. But if you were wearing a padded gambeson, you could put some plates in pockets to cover that area.

I'll second Alcyoneus on the tasset nomination. My own leg rig is similiar to yours and I love it. Great freedom of movement etc. If your worried about the gap, tassets are the way to go

audax · Post by **audax** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:38 pm

SirRhys,

The legs and sabotons are armor porn. Where'd you get them?

Iain (Bunny) Ruadh · Post by **Iain (Bunny) Ruadh** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:43 pm

This is an earlier kit of mine using a pair of Mandrake's 3/4 legs suspended off a pourpoint. Mainly designed to get the snot beat out of them at the Detroit practices.

audax · Post by **audax** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:09 pm

liviatasia wrote:I don't use greaves. My current legs are a very basic style, saddle leather, some foam on the inside. I'm just looking to see what other styles are out there. I made a new belt per Sir Cedric's design of the c-belt and the legs hang a bit 'funny' now. Meaning, they literaly hang rather than form fit like they did - and maybe that's how legs are supposed to fit (hanging somewhat).

I'd like to get more coverage on the side of my hip/thigh area or figure out how to hang something else from the belt to cover that area until I learn how to block it correctly with my shield.

In this picture I marked the area where I don't have good coverage but get hit often. Again, it has to do a lot with lack of skill at this point, but I'd like to have something there that would help until that skill comes.

Edit: This belt is not the new one I made - it's a picture of the old belt.

Change the position of the straps at the tops of the cuisses until you get them fittiing how you'd prefer. Tassets work well on men and smaller bodied or androgynous women and I'd third the nomination but for one thing: most girls have hips. Big, broad, child bearing pelvic girdles. Which in tasset-land look about one hundred times bigger, which, if you're at all vain like I am, will simply not do. (Honey, does this armor make my butt big?) It is hard to articulate armor to conform to our bodies sometimes. A gambeson is a good alternative, as you can use smaller plates in strategic places. Other options include the mountain bike shorts in the link I sent you and these http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/produ ... 7445320961 which are what I wear. I made hardened leather plates to go in the pockets and i will eventually make a pair of these http://www.cs.ndsu.nodak.edu/~malarkey/ ... _large.jpg to go over the football pants. I want to look period but keep my butt protected. Period leg armor did not cover the hip, if you look at the fine repro sets like those of Murdock, Jehan de Pelham and the stuff SirRhys posted, they don't have hip pointer coverage hence the use of padded undergarments and ultimately the invention of tassets, tonlets and faulds. Also when fighting from horseback, the war saddle often provided alot of protection for the hips and tush.

If you don't have to worry about getting hurt when you get hit, you can concentrate more on form, technique, defense, ect., despite the over-used philosophy of "pain make good teacher, gruntgruntgrunt!". Only when used intelligently, is pain ever a good teacher. Protect the really painful parts and you'll get more out of your training. Especially when just getting started.

If you add greaves your legs will look more finished. You can also put a bit of the leg harness weight on the greave making it more comfortable to wear. However, leg armor (what you have anyway) is not period for you, so you can also simply switch to hidden armor with some padded britches. Like Broinfinn or D. Sebastian or Mord or quite a few other early period folks.

audax

Chris Gilman · Post by **Chris Gilman** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:44 pm

audax wrote:SirRhys,

The legs and sabotons are armor porn. Where'd you get them?

Forget the legs, look at that belt :shock:

Legs are Mac.

Kenwrec Wulfe · Post by **Kenwrec Wulfe** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:51 pm

Here are my recently finished legs.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kenwrecwu ... r=/bc53re2

I would make a few minor changes, mostly for comfort, but they look great!

Livia Tasia · Post by **Livia Tasia** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:00 pm

your pattern is exactly laid out like mine Wulfe. I like the style of them!

Thanks for all the input, I'll see about some tassets and look at the strapping from my new belt. I'll try and get a picture of it and post.

Ewan · Post by **Ewan** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:45 pm

Tasia,

I would not suggest the mountain bike shorts posted earlier. In your/my area they are not enough armour for a newer fighter.

Under something rigid they would be great but not by themselves.

Livia Tasia · Post by **Livia Tasia** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:52 pm

I'm also thinking I might not have enough padding under my current legs. I just have a small 1/4" piece of closed foam under single thickness saddle leather. But then, they are based off what the guys here use.

So, perhaps like you suggested, using both. The biker shorts looks like they'd be comfy for the wrap shots these guys are known for giving! :shock:

Josh W · Post by **Josh W** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:18 am

http://josh.mediumaevum.com/Picture%20019.jpg

http://josh.mediumaevum.com/Picture%20008.jpg

My legharness don't "hang" really. They point to the arming doublet, but that's more to keep them in rather than up so they don't catch on the tassets. They stay up on their own.

Livia Tasia · Post by **Livia Tasia** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:24 am

Yeah! That second picture is the one I was trying to find! You had posted that one before.

I hope this isn't too forward but you don't get hit in your butt cheek at all? Or are just able to block it?

That spot hurts when you get hit. Which I do a lot because my shield isn't where it's supposed to be.

Makes you start doing an Irish jig.

Right in front of everyone. :oops:

Kaliban · Post by **Kaliban** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:19 am

made this for a young lady

Winterfell · Post by **Winterfell** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:33 am

These are mine.
They are HE spring steel legs, pointed to distibute weight on the front and the sides, following the muscle bands.
Front view:
http://home.armourarchive.org/members/w ... ar2005.jpg
Side view:
http://home.armourarchive.org/members/w ... ancon1.jpg
Back view:
http://home.armourarchive.org/members/w ... ancon2.jpg

Murdock · Post by **Murdock** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:14 pm

greaves Winterfell?

audax · Post by **audax** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:44 pm

Ewan wrote:Tasia,

I would not suggest the mountain bike shorts posted earlier. In your/my area they are not enough armour for a newer fighter.

Under something rigid they would be great but not by themselves.

Ewan,

She has nothing there at all right now The shorts provide her with something better than nothing at all. The foam in them is high density and some of them come with plastic inserts. Those who use them find them effective. The point isn't to eliminate all the pain, just reduce it to a manageable level. That was the point of my suggestion. Please don't go behind me and suggest she not protect her hip bones with something that will fit her, work quite well and be low profile.

Regards,

audax

Ewan · Post by **Ewan** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:02 pm

Audax,

Please note:
A) I did not go behind you. :roll:

I said this where you can see it.
B) You suggested she get a set of these and "forget about leg armour".

In An-Tir, for a new fighter these simply would not be enough, by themselves. (unless they really like lots of deep bruising)

I did say they would be great under something rigid.

audax · Post by **audax** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:47 pm

Ewan wrote:Audax,

Please note:
A) I did not go behind you. I said this where you can see it.
B) You suggested she get a set of these and "forget about leg armour".

In An-Tir, for a new fighter these simply would not be enough, by themselves. (unless they really like lots of deep bruising)

I did say they would be great under something rigid.

Ewan, I think you misunderstand. I meant behind as in after, that you came in after my post, to give her advice that I think did not address her needs. These shorts, which you may not be very familiar with, are surprisingly effective at preventing injury, all by themselves. They are meant for insane mountain bikers, afterall. The foam is very dense and certain models have plastic reinforcements as well. In other words, they are armor. Bryn Gwlad is populated by many upper level fighters that hit very hard, as is much of Ansteorra. If they work here, I imagine they'll work in An Tir. Not to mention 14th/15th century leg armor is completely anachronistic for her period. These offer an elegant, low profile solution to cover a gap in her armor, in a place where she is already recieving deep bruising.

I also said, "However, leg armor (what you have anyway) is not period for you, so you can also simply switch to hidden armor with some padded britches." Maybe you missed that point of clarification. :wink:

I am a female fighter and have intimate knowledge of the unique armoring and fighting problems presented by our bodies. From this stems my opinions and advice.

I do not doubt that you have Tasia's best interests at heart. So do I. I also think you are an honorable man and would not "go behind my back" as it were. I simply want to see more women get on the field and stay there. Anything I can do toward that end I will, including stating my thoughts and the reasoning behind them, when asked.

I hope this clarifies and that there are no hard feelings.

audax

Ewan · Post by **Ewan** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:59 pm

No harm no foul Audax.

Tasia

If I were you, I would go to a set of "lost viking legs" like these:
http://www.plasticlegs.com/leg/gear-leg-round.htm
without the cop. Do a 360 degree wrap cuisse though. Then put the mountain bike shorts under them.

Cover them up with some baggy pants and you are more inline with your period. The system of rigid over foam will take care of all but the stoutest shots causing a bruise. These things protect, very, very well.

audax · Post by **audax** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:16 pm

Ewan wrote:No harm no foul Audax.

Tasia

If I were you, I would go to a set of "lost viking legs" like these:
http://www.plasticlegs.com/leg/gear-leg-round.htm
without the cop. Do a 360 degree wrap cuisse though. Then put the mountain bike shorts under them.

Cover them up with some baggy pants and you are more inline with your period. The system of rigid over foam will take care of all but the stoutest shots causing a bruise. These things protect, very, very well.

Good call, Ewan. I think these would work well.

Livia Tasia · Post by **Livia Tasia** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:16 pm

I've seen those in pictures before. I've heard they were comfortable.

I see a lot of fighters use greaves. Is that more for decorative purposes or do they have a purpose in working 'with' the leg armor? My persona would have only used greaves as far as 'leg' armor.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, I appreciate them.

audax · Post by **audax** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:34 pm

liviatasia wrote:I've seen those in pictures before. I've heard they were comfortable.

I see a lot of fighters use greaves. Is that more for decorative purposes or do they have a purpose in working 'with' the leg armor? My persona would have only used greaves as far as 'leg' armor.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, I appreciate them.

They protect your shinbones from the odd whack. I know they aren't a legal target but given the fluid and often chaotic nature of combat, getting hit in the shins will happen on occasion. On 14th/15th century legs they also take up a little of the weight distribution. Plus they make your armor look complete. You should get a piar of Duke Dirk's or Sir Brand's beautiful Graeco-Roman greaves. That would look great for your presentation. I sometimes wish I did Roman stuff just so I could get a pair. Le sigh. So much armor, so little money.

Winterfell · Post by **Winterfell** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:17 am

Murdock wrote:greaves Winterfell?

[img]http://jcr.chu.cam.ac.uk/forum/images/smiles/haha.gif[/img]
http://home.armourarchive.org/members/w ... rabel1.jpg

http://home.armourarchive.org/members/w ... rabel4.jpg

http://home.armourarchive.org/members/w ... rabel5.jpg

http://home.armourarchive.org/members/w ... rabel7.jpg

Josh W · Post by **Josh W** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:43 am

liviatasia wrote:I hope this isn't too forward but you don't get hit in your butt cheek at all? Or are just able to block it?

Yes, I get hit there sometimes. In fact, I just re-mounted my butt-tasset on my cuirass again for that very reason; here's a very old photo of it:

http://josh.mediumaevum.com/KSU%20Demo%20031.jpg

There are also two small tassets that mount on the sides that aren't pictured.

Murdock · Post by **Murdock** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 12:18 pm

the contrast in that picture is striking Josh

Oh and Kudos on the cased greaves Winterfell

Nissan Maxima · Post by **Nissan Maxima** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 2:19 pm

solid greaves (suneate) and flexible lamilar cuisses on a padded backing(haidatae) No armour on my inner thighs as I am supposed to have a horse there for padding.

Jehan de Pelham · Post by **Jehan de Pelham** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:08 pm

Josh, has anyone told you today how much you rock?

You too, Nissan. Just outstanding.

John
Jehan de Pelham, esquire and servant of Sir Vitus
www.mron.org
Proprietor, The Compagniye Store

Livia Tasia · Post by **Livia Tasia** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:23 pm

Josh your armor looks really good from the backside. I haven't seen the type of armor you wear on your calves - that go all the way around. I agree - that is a great picture.

Nissan your amor is wicked! I imagine it's very intimidating!!

One of our guys here in An Tir just made a helm that sort of reminds me of the creepy version of Voldemort in the first Harry Potter movie when 'V' was in the back of the guy's head. Makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on end!

Nissan, is it hard to see out of your helm? How did you form it to your face? It is comfortable?

Leg armor pictures

Leg armor pictures

Re: Leg armor pictures