Leather surcoat progress pics

Peter Baker · Post by **Peter Baker** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:17 pm

Ok, I'm in the process of making a leather surcoat from ye olde beaten uppe leather trenchcoat, both sides will look like the right side in the pics if all goes well.
I've only been working on it since yesterday afternoon, though, so all I've done at this point is remove the sleeves, collar, and lining, and stitch up the right hand front. Next on the agenda is to stitch both sleeves, the left front, and then extend the split in the back to about butt height, and make a few modifications to the collar.
I'm going to make strap and buckle sets to close it from the leather I've cut off and a bunch of bronze buckles I pulled off an old piece of horse harness.
It's likely going to wind up as either a CoP or backing for ring mail, but if it turns out well, I'll prolly just wear it over my tunic and look cool

(I apologize for the links, but the pics are over the max file size)
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll21 ... NY0375.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll21 ... NY0374.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll21 ... NY0377.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll21 ... NY0372.jpg

I'll post more as I complete the various stages

Swete · Post by **Swete** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:31 pm

Awesome! Can't wait for updates.

Dmitriy · Post by **Dmitriy** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:42 pm

Looks like a good start!

If you go with a CoP, make sure to balance the weight of the plates with the strength of the leather, you don't want it pulling in weird ways.

You know that ringmail is not a real thing, but a fantasy novel artifact, right? It's cool if you want to make fantasy armour, I just wanted to make sure you knew.

-D

Peter Baker · Post by **Peter Baker** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:47 pm

I know...
I'm also aware of the fact that ringmail is individual rings stitched to some form of backing, and that my brother's chain hauberk (made it himself, with a bit of help from me and another brother) isn't effing ringmail. I've been having this argument with someone for a couple years now, neither of us will budge, but I have history and a fair bit of research on my side.

And thank you for the tips, the material is light weight garment leather, so, on second thought, it'll prolly just look cool over my tunic.

(edited to add further info)

Vladimir · Post by **Vladimir** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:55 pm

It was my understanding that "ringmaille", though plausible, did not actually exist at all. Illustrations depicting "ringmaille" were actually the artist's attempt at drawing maille (chainmaille) in a simpler manner.

Have any extant examples of ringmaille been found?

Halberds · Post by **Halberds** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:12 pm

Anyway, a leather surcoat would be uber cool.
Yes more pics.

I think for fantasy, trimmed out in 22 ga. stainless steel with copper rivets.

Hal

Anime anyone?

Peter Baker · Post by **Peter Baker** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:14 pm

Why yes, please.
We could always use a little more anime around here

Vladimir · Post by **Vladimir** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:10 pm

Hmm, perhaps I should have read all the posts before throwing my sorry 2 cents worth out.

Sorry 'bout that.

Peter Baker · Post by **Peter Baker** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 5:06 am

Here's the best I can do for more info just at the moment, more after I get some sleep.
This is mostly a little trick I devised to allow a complete novice, such as myself, keep the seams straight and the stitching even.

Yes, that means that every stitch you see in the pics from earlier is 1 cm away from the last, and exactly 1.3" in from the edge ( the thickness of the ruler).