The Armour Archive

http://www.viaarmorari.com/

Cool site! A member over at www.myarmoury.com had posted it in a thread talking about reproduction Gothic harnesses. They've made some neat stuff, seem familiar with the SCA (as they talk about it on one of the pages) and take care do get a good, accurate look!

I'd be tempted to place an order, if I ever decided what I wanted. Oh, and I'd need some money, too!

If anyone has any experience with them, please share!

Cheers!

-Gregory-

I don't know their work personally at all, but it looks pretty good at first glance. Is this fellow in Sweden (ie, prices in "Skr" = Swedish kroner)? I tend to use bascinets as my authenticity yardstick, and I think he needs to do a little more research in this area. His bascinet has a nice late backpoint profile, which means it wants to be equipped with a side-pivoting visor with a long nose and a sloped forehead and not with the klappvisier as shown, albeit that visor (based on one in the RA?) appears to be well done in its own right. It's also a pity his customer added such a clumsy butted-mail aventail.

His English terminology is amusing in places: "1400th century," "salad." (I'll take a nice shiny salad with ranch dressing...)

Klaus

They've a ways to go to fulfill their aspirations.

I know the guy personally, and have seen some of his work up close. IMHO, its emphasis is on functionality rather than appearance, but Albert is improving continuously.

But what I'm most impressed by is the heat treat he can provide the armour with: case hardened mild steel (done by a professional company), carefully optimised to take an enormous beating. I've seen a live steel demo with his armours, using blunted steel swords and full speed and force. Sparks flew off the sword/helmet during one blow. It did leave a mark, but one had to look for it. Mild steel, even 12 gauge, would have folded in severely under that blow.

I like that approach- as a technique for reproducing pre-15th century armor, it seems even more authentic than doing a full heat treatment on high-carbon steel. Does his choice have anything to do with the availability of 1050 and similar grades in Europe?