Riveted maille chausses
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2002 12:46 am
On page 363, figure 15, Northern France, in David Nicolle's Arms & Armour of the Crusading Era, 1050 - 1350, there is a picture of a late 12th, early 13th C. chevalier wearing a long-sleeved haulberk with integral mittens and a mail coif, plus maille chausses under a surcoat. It is from 'Martyrdom of Sts Fuscien, Victoric and Gentien', a carved relief from the County of Vermandois. To me it clearly depicts chausses with maille soles.
Templar Bob & I recently received soled chausses from Christian Darce' of Purpleheart armoury. I wear about a size 9. I traced my foot on thick chrome-tanned cowhide, and using red deer for the uppers, made a pair of tight-fitting turnshoes that I can wear inside. Obviously you couldn't wear this arrangement to jog on concrete with, or fight on your local school basketball court, but it looks like it would work for a grass field or for riding. Has anyone tried this, or have any other evidence it was done?
Secondly, they are too long and too tight around the thigh. But if you fold them like a hip boot to the outside, you can pull them up and get a better idea of where to cut them. Try that before you split them to add the wedge, Robert'. If you are a 7 or 8, these will fit perfectly. 9 works. A 10 or above, I don't think there will be enough heel space. You may have to add, or just go with a leather sole.
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Virtus vincit invidiam
"Virtue overcometh envy"
Templar Bob & I recently received soled chausses from Christian Darce' of Purpleheart armoury. I wear about a size 9. I traced my foot on thick chrome-tanned cowhide, and using red deer for the uppers, made a pair of tight-fitting turnshoes that I can wear inside. Obviously you couldn't wear this arrangement to jog on concrete with, or fight on your local school basketball court, but it looks like it would work for a grass field or for riding. Has anyone tried this, or have any other evidence it was done?
Secondly, they are too long and too tight around the thigh. But if you fold them like a hip boot to the outside, you can pull them up and get a better idea of where to cut them. Try that before you split them to add the wedge, Robert'. If you are a 7 or 8, these will fit perfectly. 9 works. A 10 or above, I don't think there will be enough heel space. You may have to add, or just go with a leather sole.
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Virtus vincit invidiam
"Virtue overcometh envy"