The Armour Archive

Gordon Thompson

in my opinion, exact following on specific example is not important in first projects. I would focus on basics execution: ergonomics, mechanical correctness, shapes, aesthetic details. Just take as many pictures of as many examples as you can, study them on how elements of a piece should be made and...

Gordon Thompson

Keep in mind you will need enough material for roll and hinge.

Gordon Thompson

A humble update:

Maille skirt added front and back. Butted of course, but it took a while anyway. Attachment is makeshift for now (dont mind a little hiccup at the front)

Ive assembled all pieces I have.

Gordon Thompson

Option A seems best, some kind of open faced, stretchy-tight balaclava might do the trick. Neck area dont have to be tight, but even if it will be a little you'll get used to it. Not-tight lining wont do much I think, as hair would be moving around under it, and it will probably annoy you more. By t...

Gordon Thompson

Hi guys, not much going on here, eh? Last year I thought almost none of armour, too much going on, too much new responsibilities. Had a little free time lately, so I touched a subject again. After a spectacular failure of cold making couters, I borrowed roofer's torch and was pleasantly surprised wh...

Gordon Thompson

I bet most of the folk being there have not a slightest idea how much in terms of money, skill and work are walking past them

Gordon Thompson

Thats a lot of rivets.

And thank you VERY much for documenting and sharing your work.

Gordon Thompson

Hell yea, trimming. I've noticed similar "mistake" here and there, some guys when they want to build something for the first time, they want to make "ideal pattern", spending hours of measuring and thinking. I think thats counterproductive(ineffective?), as their "novice pattern" will probably be no...

Gordon Thompson

Thanks Keegan, I was wondering if everything is ok with him.

Gordon Thompson

Oh by the way, whats going on with Mac? He went quiet lately.

Gordon Thompson

Second one looking better imo, especially crease. Im also doing my first couters so I cant say much, but my general advice is that you should always do corresponding pieces (couters, gauntlets etc) simultaneously - its easier to make them look the same that way, as less experienced metal benders lik...

Gordon Thompson

Hello Ilkka, I remember well my struggle with my first(and only) gothic gauntlets two years ago, so I can relate. As you should listen to more experienced guys first, I think - as this is your first pair of gg and you blaze the trail for yourself - you should go back and have fun with things you can...

Gordon Thompson

On my end pictures open with no issues. If you want, I can deliver them to you some other way.

You intrigued me about two pins idea, I went through my armour folders and couldnt find nothing of it so I'll be grateful for pics.

Gordon Thompson

Here is what I came up with. Ive traced inner and outer edges, and put a ruler against front crease to show curve. Again, all places are slightly dished against RRT anvil and inside area of thigh is bended inwards, I dont know how to describe it better. If you have specific questions or I can do mor...

Gordon Thompson

Yes, I think so. And if you add bigger overlap on plackard, it will give you maneuver room to adjust suitable angle between parts (and then you can mark how much actual overlap should be and trim excess, or even do it after shaping if the excess wont disturb tbe process). Edit: bolting parts was jus...

Gordon Thompson

I started my gothic cuirass from upper breastplate part, but that was my second cuirass and most of it was guessing, I would listen to more experienced guys above me. I would not reccomend doing patterns by just simply cutting one part in two. I did a quick messy sketch to show my point. If youd jus...

Gordon Thompson

Thank you, Scott! I didnt chose a specific example to base on, I just took features I like from couple different ones. Main plate: I shaped it first, then I fluted (I plan to do more fluting at the sides). "How" is a troubling question for me to answer, since I did not specifically planned how to sh...

Gordon Thompson

Oh, glorious examples! Thank you, Christian. I started to juggling with ideas how to do some kind of gothic couter without a heat source now. If I succeed, I will be able to see how big will be the gap and how to fill it with rerebrace lames. Indianer: All upper lames(front and rear) in my cuisses a...

Gordon Thompson

Yea... Nowadays, most likely death cause for a failed armor is embarassment. How lucky we are

Gordon Thompson

Rerebrace: goddammit, I knew it. Legs: I actually did a little trimming inside thighs after taking those pictures, it was already a little too deep. And I was thinking about doing additional lame(you assured me its a good idea), Im already figuring out how this will affect top plates edge alignment....

Gordon Thompson

Those are sexy legs. Of course, heres front shot: https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/38ee0c2b-5612-42af-a5fe-69ff81bcb5aa/deg1ljm-9d52d03b-3f34-43f1-b215-c265580fa04c.jpg/v1/fill/w_667,h_1199,q_70,strp/gothic_armour_progress_by_gordonthompson_deg1ljm-pre.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJK...

Gordon Thompson

Thank you, Christian:) Another question to clear my doubts, if I may: How high should reach upper edge of gothic cuisse? What is the margin, what heights should be considered as too low and too high? Im wondering if mine arent too low - heres a picture in attachment. As well, im not sure if rerebrac...

Gordon Thompson

Well, visible sliding rivets and overall cuisse articulation are pretty clear to me, but Im asking about articulation in "red circles" specifically. If it IS leather articulation, where are rivets fastening leather to lames(or maybe I just cant see them and making a fool of myself)? And if there are...

Gordon Thompson

I have a qestion, guys. This is Goll's 2367, I cant see any rivets for leather-to-lames connection in places Ive marked. Is that mean that leather straps is just a lining and theres no leather articulation (except that one strap in the center, of course) ergo, is there a "hard" rivet articulation un...

Gordon Thompson

Well my first thought is it would be nice to add more filing around the hinges, while strips could remain plain.

Thank you for documenting your work, its a delight to see.

Gordon Thompson

I guess you can say Im reaching next levels at making armour-shaped-objects, because my inventory of unfinished pieces is getting bigger: https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/38ee0c2b-5612-42af-a5fe-69ff81bcb5aa/decskfa-7d5473d0-e227-4272-a8c9-b1c958e0846f.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJK...

Gordon Thompson

Thank you, Johann! I havent noticed that until you pointed that out.

Edit: Is it just me, or flaws are generally easier to see on pictures, than "in the flesh"?

Gordon Thompson

...aaand its better now. https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/38ee0c2b-5612-42af-a5fe-69ff81bcb5aa/de28tfd-b4672a05-463a-494b-898b-797d76951567.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOiIsImlzcyI6InVybjphcHA6Iiwib2JqIjpbW3sicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvMzhlZTBjMmIt...

Gordon Thompson

Theres not much going on here on AA lately (summertime, I guess), so heres a new steel doodles, I managed to do it (with a great help of Scott Martin's patterns) during three workshop sessions - I have a hard time lately to find time and a peace of mind to do more: https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca...

Gordon Thompson

Mac, of course youre right(I used to have a small belt sander when I did with some knives a few years ago so I know the difference), but you know those sayings "a need is mother of inventions" and "if you dont have what you like, you must like what you have"

Gordon Thompson

i try to avoid angle grinders like the plague when working on armour surfaces. They leave unmistakable circular patterns(...) There is a way around to use it with better(as far as I can tell) results, since only surface leveling tool I have is an angle grinder with lamellar discs, I put it in a vic...

Gordon Thompson

(...) the wrist opening should be as wide as the outer distance from left to right knuckle, since those can barely be compressed(...) It may not be true. I can fairly easy squeeze my hand through a "three knuckles" diameter hole (outer distance between knuckles minus pinky knuckle) so its almost 1/...

Gordon Thompson

Let's hang on to that idea. I've always wanted to have a sort of armor "advise column", where people show me stuff and I tell them what went wrong. If there is interest, I may start that up. Mac Aye! Thats the main reason of posting pictures in my thread for you guys to see. Constructive criticism ...

Gordon Thompson

Mac, good call to start a new thread. This is one of the things on my projects list. In the next few months I plan on making myself a new mail brayette of the boxer as opposed to brief style. My hope is to incorporate a codpiece based on the armour/statue from the house of armourer Hans Grünewalt in...

Gordon Thompson

You dont have to tell me twice! So if I may, there's a thing in our discussion that bugs me: (...) The upper right shows how the tasset might be extended to reach the center-line of the fauld. The curves formed below this extension outline the saddle. The saddle edges are always hemmed. (...) https:...

Re: Tony's blog

Re: Tony's blog

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Mail coifs & hair

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Rene's blog

Re: Mac's blog

Re: Mac's blog

Re: "Splittens"

Re: "Splittens"

Re: Beginner 15th c. Rolled German Elbows attempt

Re: 1480 Gothic Gauntlet progress

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Trying to make a gothic breastplate

Re: Trying to make a gothic breastplate

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: 1580's Augsburg Cuirass

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing

Re: The start of a Journey: professional armouring

Re: The start of a Journey: professional armouring

Re: Question regarding the 2 wrist rivets on Milanese Gauntl

Re: Avoiding some common mistakes

Re: Codpieces

Re: Workshop temperature vs cold dishing