The Armour Archive

Anybody want to trade some semi-precious stones (pref. garnets) for an Atzinger shield or scabbard?

I dunno about "trade", but firemountaingems.com is your one stop shop for the best quality and lowest price I've found.

You are right- the prices are great!

are you looking for cut or raw stones as I do have a rahter extensive collection of semi precious

Sir Vitus,

What exactly is it that you are looking for in regards to the stones?

Wade

Guys-
I want stones to mount in the handles or hardware of SCA daggers and swords.
Therefore, they must be bigger than teeny. They can be faceted or not. They need to be flat on the bottom- not beads.
-V

Thats a pretty cool idea Vitus. I have this image of a gold foiled mace with the handle studded with gems being the perfect kingly/pimp stick for a duke.

Large garnet cabs.

I'll look around, but I think you'd have a hard time finding them more than 1/2" or so in diameter. Ovals would be a bit easier to come by, but I'll check into it for you.

Vitus von Atzinger wrote:Guys-
I want stones to mount in the handles or hardware of SCA daggers and swords.
Therefore, they must be bigger than teeny. They can be faceted or not. They need to be flat on the bottom- not beads.
-V

I've the same plans! Once the hardware arrives and I get things done I'll post pics. Thinking also of etching my motto around the pommel with a "gem" in the center.

I think what your looking for are cabochons
cast epoxy would keep the costs down and permit personalizing them with emblems or even photos.

http://tinyurl.com/etsyskulls

PM sent.

We've got stones to trade. My wife's 1st husband was a jewler...and manic depressive.

Vitus von Atzinger wrote:Therefore, they must be bigger than teeny. They can be faceted or not. They need to be flat on the bottom- not beads.

For what it's worth (and not much at that) I have this idea in my head that faceted stones did not appear until quite late in the period encompased by SCA. Even on precious stones like rubys, emeralds etc.

I can't remember for the life of me where I got this from, so it was probably from a conversation with someone. Now that I think about it, it's probably the rock hound I know. I will ask him. Maybe he can name sources.

mattmaus, I know I read similar things in the Compleat Anachronist that covered gemstones and such.... No idea what number it was...

Vitus, if you end up looking for more stuff along these lines in a few months, I have some nice stuff back home.... And I can look for some more stuff while I'm away, if you like.

Are you looking to do more of a matched stone thing where you mount them in both sides of, say, a wheel pommel? You could combine the idea with losthelm's suggestion-ie put a stone in one side of the pommel and a cab with the owner's device or badge in the other side.

mattmaus wrote:

Vitus von Atzinger wrote:Therefore, they must be bigger than teeny. They can be faceted or not. They need to be flat on the bottom- not beads.

For what it's worth (and not much at that) I have this idea in my head that faceted stones did not appear until quite late in the period encompased by SCA. Even on precious stones like rubys, emeralds etc.

I can't remember for the life of me where I got this from, so it was probably from a conversation with someone. Now that I think about it, it's probably the rock hound I know. I will ask him. Maybe he can name sources.

You remember correctly. For most of our period, 'faceting' could be described as 'a number of flat spots on the rock'. Mostly, rocks would be cut like cabs, be flat on the top ("table"), or be like rough tumbled stones. Faceting doesn't much happen until you reach the 16thC, and it would still be nothing as fancy as our modern facets. Diamonds would be cut like pyramids, point out.

Vitus, I have some 'pit run' emeralds and garnets 'somewhere'. If I find them in the next few days (I'll look this afternoon), I'll send you the largest ones I have and we can work out a deal from there

I would second the suggestion for cast resin/epoxy. You can make it any color you want and it's much more durable than actual stone. Plus it's much less expensive.

Faceted stones start appearing in the mid-1300's. I'll take faceted or uncut semi-precious stones in trade for shields or scabbards.
-V

Vitus,

I understand the desire for total authenticity - but I have to agree with other here that for SCA rattan weapons, you are MUCH better off going with faux epoxy gemstones - they will look great and be MUCH cheaper and cause a lot less heartache when they get knocked off (as they inevitably will) in SCA combat. You can have a bag full of extras for replacement and not give it a second though, where losing real gems of the size you are talking about will hurt financially.

Take a trip to your local crafts store and see what they have for under $2.00- I think you will be suprized and pleased with what you get. The epoxy will pass the 2 foot, and probably the 6 inch rule for visual authenticity for very little cost.

Now if you were going to do this on actual steel weapons, I'd say go the real gem route.

my .02, worth everything you paid for it.

Brucer

I have some acrylic and epoxy gems already- they look groovy. However, for one of these pieces I'm going all out.
-V

Here is an example (lost the source) of what I plan, except with a nice gem of some sort in the middle...

Sir Vitus, do you have any pics of the ones you've already made with gemstones?

Sir Vitus did you recieve my email? I sent measurements and pics of the stones to the address listed at the bottom of your posts.

Yeah, they look great. Establish a $ value for them.
-V

Vitus von Atzinger wrote:Yeah, they look great. Establish a $ value for them.
-V

My wife found a reliable online apraisal site. Email sent.

I must also recomend Fire Mountain Gems. Not only great product at great prices but they emply a few SCAdians too....

Brian, I am cutting your shield out on Friday!