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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:59 pm
by Kilkenny
freiman the minstrel wrote:The thing about using concealed metal knees is that we knee fight. If you grind cloth energetically between metal (even aluminum) and concrete, or even just grass, the cloth is going to lose. This isn't a huge problem when you are wearing and old pair of sweats at practice, but when you go all out to swing the right thread count and the right materials for a nice pair of trousers or breaches, this can get to be a pain in the butt pretty quickly.
I really think that plastic is the way to go for concealed knees. I need to make some, but I am just balking at the idea of wearing plastic armor. There is nothing really wrong with it in a concealed application but I haven't been able to get around to doing it.
f
Doesn't matter what the hard knee protection is - metal, plastic, leather.
In fact, it doesn't matter if there's anything harder than the knee itself grinding the fabric against the ground/floor/pavement.
The fabric will lose when it gets ground against the ground
Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:29 pm
by spearweasel
Kilkenny wrote:freiman the minstrel wrote:The thing about using concealed metal knees is that we knee fight. If you grind cloth energetically between metal (even aluminum) and concrete, or even just grass, the cloth is going to lose. This isn't a huge problem when you are wearing and old pair of sweats at practice, but when you go all out to swing the right thread count and the right materials for a nice pair of trousers or breaches, this can get to be a pain in the butt pretty quickly.
I really think that plastic is the way to go for concealed knees. I need to make some, but I am just balking at the idea of wearing plastic armor. There is nothing really wrong with it in a concealed application but I haven't been able to get around to doing it.
f
Doesn't matter what the hard knee protection is - metal, plastic, leather.
In fact, it doesn't matter if there's anything harder than the knee itself grinding the fabric against the ground/floor/pavement.
The fabric will lose when it gets ground against the ground
He speaks truth. I wear my knees under a hakama, but I almost never get hit in the leg any time besides singles. If I get hit, it's almost always above the waist, usually head and shoulders. The only thing I can suggest is maybe to reinforce your pants around the knee with something tough.
Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 3:31 pm
by Alec
Here is my late Roman kit on:
And here are all the pieces laid out:
The legs have ss cops without fans and aluminum quises divided vertically into several sections and covered with cloth. The arms are all 18 ga mild steel covered in cloth. The cops are also fanless.
Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 3:38 pm
by Sigifrith Hauknefr
I have pants with reinforced leather knees over plastic.
I don't wear the overpants at practice (after a few times to get use to them), the pants just get destroyed.
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:03 pm
by Eirik
Baron Alejandro-
My apologies, your Excelency, but I was in such a hurry to hit folks with sticks, I left my camera at home today. It was miserably raining anyway.
I will be at Rising Stone's fighter practice Tuesday, and Menhir next Saturday... surely I will remember one of those two.... and will post pics promptly.
Eirik
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:47 pm
by Eirik
Baron Alejandro wrote:Eirik, I'd love a pic of those knees under your current kit, please.
My apologies for the delay, your Excellency. If you need better pics, just let me know...
Me, as I am heading out to fight today at Menhir. (GREAT event, by the way.)
The legs worked well today. Very comfortable on my knees, if that tells you how the day went
.
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:48 am
by kenrickb
spearweasel wrote:Kilkenny wrote:freiman the minstrel wrote:The thing about using concealed metal knees is that we knee fight. If you grind cloth energetically between metal (even aluminum) and concrete, or even just grass, the cloth is going to lose. This isn't a huge problem when you are wearing and old pair of sweats at practice, but when you go all out to swing the right thread count and the right materials for a nice pair of trousers or breaches, this can get to be a pain in the butt pretty quickly.
I really think that plastic is the way to go for concealed knees. I need to make some, but I am just balking at the idea of wearing plastic armor. There is nothing really wrong with it in a concealed application but I haven't been able to get around to doing it.
f
One thing that I've done with some success is to glue felt to my hidden knee cops. It dulls the effect of the metal grinding the fabric into the ground and when the inevitable holes do develop, you don't see ugly stainless underneath.
Kenric, East
Doesn't matter what the hard knee protection is - metal, plastic, leather.
In fact, it doesn't matter if there's anything harder than the knee itself grinding the fabric against the ground/floor/pavement.
The fabric will lose when it gets ground against the ground
He speaks truth. I wear my knees under a hakama, but I almost never get hit in the leg any time besides singles. If I get hit, it's almost always above the waist, usually head and shoulders. The only thing I can suggest is maybe to reinforce your pants around the knee with something tough.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:06 pm
by Owyn
Hjlmr inn Danski wrote:For the folks who wear the moto/lacrosse knees, do marshals hassle you for wearing them? Do they cover enough of the knee to easily pass inspection?
This is my big concern, as well. I don't want to spend $50-80 on a set of knees and then have someone tell me they aren't OK. Even if it only happened at *some* events, not all, it would still be very annoying. It's why I've held off on buying anything of the sort, even though they really WOULD improve the kit look by being more easily hidden.
It is all about coverage
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:11 pm
by Corby de la Flamme
If the moto knees cover what they need to cover, you are fine.
No one has ever even raised a concern with me about them, and several other people locally have started using them. I've never heard of any of them having marshal problems either. And since some of those guys are not knights, it isn't just white belt fear keeping goob marshals quiet.
Of course, nothing can protect you from a truly goob marshal. If you fear you will be victimized by such, I suggest that you take your brand new from the box moto knees to your Kingdom Earl Marshal for his inspection. If he likes them, when the goobs down check them, you have another card to play.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:19 pm
by Eirik
Owyn wrote:Hjlmr inn Danski wrote:For the folks who wear the moto/lacrosse knees, do marshals hassle you for wearing them? Do they cover enough of the knee to easily pass inspection?
This is my big concern, as well. I don't want to spend $50-80 on a set of knees and then have someone tell me they aren't OK. Even if it only happened at *some* events, not all, it would still be very annoying. It's why I've held off on buying anything of the sort, even though they really WOULD improve the kit look by being more easily hidden.
Hasn't been an issue for me. They cover point to point. LOVE my knees.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:48 pm
by Baron Alejandro
Lookin' sharp, Eirik!
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:57 pm
by Owyn
Thanks for the replies AND suggestions!
I didn't want to risk picking up any "grey area" armor - stuff that's just on the edge of being list legal, so I very much appreciate the advice given on which ones work well for us.
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:55 am
by Coenred
Any suggestions/recommendations for upper body (chest/collar/shoulder) protection? Looking for ideas for low profile semi-rigid protection that can be hidden under the tunic of an 8th c. Saxon. Any help would be appreciated.
Coenred
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:08 pm
by Eirik
MissingLink wrote:Any suggestions/recommendations for upper body (chest/collar/shoulder) protection? Looking for ideas for low profile semi-rigid protection that can be hidden under the tunic of an 8th c. Saxon. Any help would be appreciated.
Coenred
I use courage, though I hear the Chivalry refer to it as virtue
None of the sports gear I saw looked like it would conceal very well. You might want to google for +body armor +law enforcement and see what pops up.... that is if making something like nice carpet "brig" is out of the question
http://www.cs.usu.edu/%7Ewatson/barthol ... r.htm#sec6
Perhaps a modified version of this?
***Edit*** ... and Thank you, your Excellency. You are indeed too kind. 'Twas my second event in armor in 10 years
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:59 am
by Tibbie Croser
MissingLink wrote:Any suggestions/recommendations for upper body (chest/collar/shoulder) protection? Looking for ideas for low profile semi-rigid protection that can be hidden under the tunic of an 8th c. Saxon. Any help would be appreciated.
Coenred
Perhaps lacrosse shoulder/torso pads with the rigid shoulder parts cut off? Another option, very low profile, is a male plastic chest protector as used in sport fencing (see triplette.com).
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:38 pm
by Urban
Just finished phase 1 of my hidden armor project. Quick, ugly, and cheap (insert crass joke here).
Needs a second strap on the bottom, and it will be placed over a padded vest/gambeson, then under my tunic. It looks a bit snug, but I plan on losing some weight (on the doctors orders) so if all works out as planned, it'll fit fairly well at that point.
