Lamellar: side or front closures

[Barnet]

Well not really all that happy with my lamellar, thinking of unlacing it yet again and re-doing it as a center closure. Really want to try and use a single cord on each row. Thinking I'd need a 2-3 plate overlapp in front and use 5 buckles, 1 for each row.

Most of the lamellar I have seen semms to be side-closure, just asking for some input and advise.

[Hrothgar Vegandi]

I have to say side closures have worked best for me[three years in this rig]. I have two buckles on either side. Leaving one side allways strapped and then only having to due the two buckles on the other side when I armour up.
You can see the two buckles on one side here. I also used wide leather to go over the shoulder conecting the front and back pieces.Also used a horozontal piece of leather in the back between the shoulder pieces keeping everything nice and tight.
I also used para cord it is elastic in its fiber so it keeps the plates contouring to my body while I move. The scales above are 16oz. wax hardend waterbuffalo.

I am sure you have seen this but it is what I used when I made mine.
http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/ ... t_Armr.pdf

Do you have a picture of your rig? Maybe some minor construction tweaks might be needed.

Hrothgar Vegandi

[adric]

My last suit was split up the middle. The one i am stiching up now will be offset to the side. I like the look beter and it sill i hope cover teh dead center beter. You could have the split in the back too, but that would need help getting in/out.

[Animal]

my lamellar splits up the middle front and it's SO easy. Like putting on a coat. I put my arms through, 4 buckles later I'm done. Way cool.

[Templar Bob/De Tyre]

my lamellar splits up the middle front and it's SO easy. Like putting on a coat. I put my arms through, 4 buckles later I'm done.

Way cool.

ADDENDUM:

When making a klibanion that is front fastening, one must construct it so that the armour has a one or two plate overlap where it buckles. Failure to do so means it will not protect the wearer from a thrust to the abdomen or solar-plexus. All of the front-opening lamellar klibanions I have built are built with this in mind. Note the illustration below:



I have built one which fastened on the left-hand side, and a pair which fastened along the spine as well--but those were for people who had special medical concerns and needed their lamellar armour to fasten elsewhere. But most people I've built them for (or instructed on building them) prefer the ease of donning their armour themselves, without assistance. And side or rear-fastening armours require help to put on or take off, to some degree.

Considerable care should be taken when lacing the lamellae. One should have the individual rows overlap so they will cause a glancing blow to slide back and away from the body. After all, if the rattan has nothing to catch on, a thrust won't stick---right?

Note the illustrations below:





This is a klibanion constructed for a client some years ago. The lamellae above the waist overlap upwards and backwards (as historical lamellar from Central Asia did), and the skirts and sleeve-flaps overlaps downwards and backwards. This eliminates places where a point or edge can easily snag, causing damage to the armour.

While our forebearers were primitive, they were not stupid.

[D. Sebastian]

I took a serious spear to the solar-plexus once while wearing lamellar. Since then, I lace an oval of spackle bucket plastic into the rig on the inside to reinforce and protect sternum and solar plexus against just that shot. For that reason, I colse on the side (shield side).

[broinnfinn]

Actually, I have been happiest with no closure at all.

Adam Berry of WMA assembled mine - no closures, and I pull it on and off like chainmail. Looks incredibly spiff:

http://www.chiptalbert.com/photo-album/SCA/foxes/fight/page3/pages/060.htm

Photo by Chip Talbert

Broinnfinn

[Barnet]

You just use the belt to hold it in place? Hadn't thought of that, not sure how that would work....still tikering with mine.

[broinnfinn]

Yep. Although having hips helps - I'm a chick fighter. You narrow hipped guys might find it rides the shoulders a bit, I wouldn't know.

It actually has a kind of curvy look when belted. Right sexy.

Broinnfinn

[Wil]

I'm with Broinfinn- I've made & fought in a number of sets of lamellar armour, and never laced any of them to open. I made one so that the shoulder straps could be fastened after putting it on, but even that wasn't necessary. Just make it like a tube, and pull it on- easiest thing in the world.

~Wil

[RedLeg]

Adam WMA

Has a cool way of buckleing up his lamellar.

T-Bob, I was looking at your pictures and was wondering why the edges of the plates are up instead of down like the singles on a roof?

Thanks
Martin

[white mountain armoury]

Yep. Although having hips helps - I'm a chick fighter. You narrow hipped guys might find it rides the shoulders a bit, I wouldn't know.

It actually has a kind of curvy look when belted. Right sexy.

Broinnfinn

Dead sexy for sure, it countours you nicey, you look so spiff.

I have a side closure, i do not buckle and unbuckle it to put it on, i slip it on over my head, im able to have more tension on the middle buckles, and less on the top and bottom, this helps give even a guy a little bit of a waisted shape when worn with a belt. (not nearly so nice as the ladies)
I also have a built in overlap so there is no gap regardless of where its buckled, im actually getting a double layer down my feft side which is nice as i mostly use a small centergrip and tend to get struck on that side.
<img src="http://www.whitemountainarmoury.com/lam9.jpg">

[Templar Bob/De Tyre]

Adam WMA

Has a cool way of buckleing up his lamellar.

T-Bob, I was looking at your pictures and was wondering why the edges of the plates are up instead of down like the singles on a roof?

Thanks
Martin

I refer you back to my posting on the matter, above:

ADDENDUM:

When making a klibanion that is front fastening, one must construct it so that the armour has a one or two plate overlap where it buckles. Failure to do so means it will not protect the wearer from a thrust to the abdomen or solar-plexus. All of the front-opening lamellar klibanions I have built are built with this in mind. Note the illustration below:



I have built one which fastened on the left-hand side, and a pair which fastened along the spine as well--but those were for people who had special medical concerns and needed their lamellar armour to fasten elsewhere. But most people I've built them for (or instructed on building them) prefer the ease of donning their armour themselves, without assistance. And side or rear-fastening armours require help to put on or take off, to some degree.

Considerable care should be taken when lacing the lamellae. One should have the individual rows overlap so they will cause a glancing blow to slide back and away from the body. After all, if the rattan has nothing to catch on, a thrust won't stick---right?

Note the illustrations below:





This is a klibanion constructed for a client some years ago. The lamellae above the waist overlap upwards and backwards (as historical lamellar from Central Asia did), and the skirts and sleeve-flaps overlaps downwards and backwards. This eliminates places where a point or edge can easily snag, causing damage to the armour.
While our forebearers were primitive, they were not stupid.

Hope that clarifies.

[RedLeg]

Ok, I read that but I was thinking of the wrong angles. I see what you mean now.

Thanks