The Armour Archive

AwP

I'd suggest finding a brave assistant, put them in a normal breastplates and beat them with a stick, then put them in the boob plate and beat them with a stick. It shouldn't really matter if the brave assistant is male or female, only a particularly well endowed female would make a difference, and t...

AwP

Depends on definition of legit. It's odd to me. The person sells a LOT of military items (dozens), and it appears that just about everything starts at $9.99 starting bid (For a $260 A&A spear?!). Which seems like they are either a very uninformed seller, or they don't care. It's possible they raide...

AwP

A lot of the time the historical cross section -- uncoined links -- closely approached a capital D shape, with analysis uncertain whether the links were originally so formed or if this is better ascribed to a century or two of ring to ring wear. (The riveted overlap spreadout and pent-roof section ...

AwP

In pic#2 the joint looks pretty gap free, was it also like that under the welds? If so, I don't think it's coming from the backside, either a draft or the gas isn't blowing hard enough. The welds also look cold. If you're worried about burning through then do a vertical down weld, if that's anything...

AwP

If you're getting porosity then your gas isn't doing it's job. Either you need to turn the gas up, get out of the draft, or air is getting to the weld from the backside.

AwP

While not a completely historical pattern, since it's for a D&D costume, you could do less layers and make it close in a double breasted manner, so in the front you get double layers of protection.

AwP

If you have problems grinding fresh scale with fine belts after you HT it, just give it an overnight vinegar soak before the final grind.

AwP

If you have problems grinding fresh scale with fine belts after you HT it, just give it an overnight vinegar soak before the final grind.

AwP

Take this with plenty of salt, because whatever you make I won't be buying. Don't take that the wrong way, your knives are quite nice, but a) I'm a bladesmith too, and b) I can't justify spending the money right now. But anyway, are you particularly tied to making only medievaly knives or no? If not...

AwP

The rivets won't fail simultaneously, so as long as you check it after every use it should be fine. If you need to replace a couple rivets after every practice then you'll know they aren't good enough and replace them. But it shouldn't be dangerous as long as you keep an eye on it.

AwP

Fleece would be good. In the movie, a kid licks a flagpole in the winter and his tongue freezes to it.

AwP

I'm not so sure that steel is the material of choice for protecting your face from the cold. Did you ever see A Christmas Story?

AwP

Since the zupan was the top of a number of layers, you could wear a non-armor one over something else that is legal and nobody will see it.

AwP

A lot of sallets were painted, that would certainly hide any coloration difference.

AwP

Rust may or may not hide it, depending on the exact alloys involved and how they rust. Any sort of etch, like you get with mustard, will highlight the difference.

AwP

What if you put a thick heated plate on your anvil? I sometimes preheat my anvil some when working thin blades of tool steel (different situation I know, but maybe some cross pollination of ideas will work) preheating a hammer you don't care about ruining then temper on might help too. Another trick...

AwP

I would say to work it hot. Very hot. Cold working the wrought seems like it'd be crumbling the silica inclusions, adding a lot of weak points. I'm no expert on WI though, so take your salt with my advice.

AwP

I call that being in the zone. Helps with pretty much anything physical or even physicalish like video games. I imagine that's the mind state that Zen Buddhists are going for 24/7.

AwP

Maybe it's just a trick of the camera, but it looks like the last one is bent at a larger radius, which theoretically should help with the cracking.

AwP

These people are stupid. Brave, I'll give them that, but very stupid. Only two fatalities! You'd think one would be enough to call it quits.

AwP

wcallen wrote: Wait, I said that.....

It may sound crass or flippant, but it really is a serious piece of advice.

Wade

Oops, missed that, sorry for stealing your business model.

AwP

Most of the big name suppliers for SCA seem to fall into one of 4 categories: hobbyists with real jobs, importers, businesses supported by modern commercial machine shops making modern products, or guys living on the brink of poverty/collapse. Perhaps nobody in the SCA, but there is a fifth option ...

AwP

For the eBay armor... I'm pretty sure that real helms had eye slots somewhere around eye level. Unless maybe it's a replica of the armor worn by King John the blind of Bohemia?

AwP

It's probably a magnet, some people on some anvils find it helps. Didn't help me on mine though. Another common trick is to wrap chain around the waist (of the anvil, not yours ;p). I've also heard of people putting a rubber mat or silicone under the anvil.

AwP

That's a lot of effort for a sword that still wouldn't really be usable after. Just put some glue in the screw hole and try not to take it off the wall too often.

AwP

You guys talking about vinagaroon are not getting the results I used to get. One, make sure enough iron is dissolved to kill the vinegar (no more will dissolve). Two, just dip it in, no days long soaks needed. Three, (this is the part I am not seeing in anyone's description) dry the leather with HEA...

AwP

I'm really not understanding this asymmetry. It's like "Do you even drift, Bro?" They all seem to have this sort of smashed-down-burr thing going on. I look forward to hearing someone's theory on this, cause I'm pretty much at a loss. Mac Perhaps punched with worn or chipped tools, then smashed fla...

AwP

So there is nothing backing where you're drilling? It's probably vibrating the helm and that's why your bit isn't running right. Clamp the side you are drilling to the corner of a table if you don't have something better to back it on.

AwP

Huh, that's interesting, especially the first one that definitely shows sliding rivets. I may have to eat my words.

AwP

Either/both. Rivets without the ability to articulate, keep things solid. If it was only the arm holes, there might still be a bit of play in the center, though not much. And the breastplate you are talking about is actually my very favorite. I think it's of Hungarian make?

AwP

Actually, those seemed to me to be hard riveted solid, so the top part still acts like a single plate even though it looks like the articulated lames.

AwP

Yes, exactly.

AwP

I like brass when there's that... thing... on the spine, otherwise steel. I'm not in the market right now though, so don't make anything on my account.

AwP

Like others, I've heard of, but not listened to Manowar, I was always more of an Iron Maiden guy. I gave them a listen and wow, they are pretty awesome.

DA, you should post more often besides crown odds, I had no idea of the magnitude of your badassery.

AwP

I’m not sure how you get into that rig, would it be possible to put it on backwards around your torso, buckle it, spin it around, and then put on the shoulders? Similar to how some women put on bras. That stepped gap between the shoulders in the rear is something more of a puzzle. Does the harness a...

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Re: Solid rings for riveted maille

Re: Troubles with MIG welding, please help

Re: Troubles with MIG welding, please help

Re: Number of layers for a "lightweight" gambeson?

Re: Mac's blog

Re: Mac's blog

Re: Could use some knife ideas....

Re: Brass Rivets on a Helm?

Re: Looking for assistance with a menpō

Re: Looking for assistance with a menpō

Re: ISO rapier legal polish zupan/coat

Re: Patina - Corrosion

Re: Patina - Corrosion

Re: Working wrought iron

Re: Working wrought iron

Re: Fighter Reflexes

Re: Working wrought iron

Re: Live steel. Without armor.

Re: breaking free...but how?

Re: breaking free...but how?

Re: Need help ID'ing this armor, is this historical or fanta

Re: Railroad Track Armouring Anvil

Re: Converting a "rat-tail" sword tang?

Re: Period leather dyes?

Re: Rivet holes on real armour - ATTN BLACKSMITHS

Re: drilling stainless

Re: Hussar breastplate

Re: Hussar breastplate

Re: Hussar breastplate

Re: Hussar breastplate

Re: Steel or brass hardware, 19th century bowie?

Re: Manowar Farewell Tour

Re: Help with Segmentata