The Armour Archive

Pedro Ramirez

Sorry, I have no way to scan the images.
And if you have an existing pattern for gauntlets, even half gauntlets (which is what I used for the cuff/metacarpal pieces) then estimating the finger lame size should be no problem.
Just trying to help those out there with limited access to patterns.

Pedro Ramirez

Hey everyone! It's been a long while since I visited, life has been stupid busy. Lately in my group, there has been an interest in Cut and Thrust combat. So, I thought I'd make myself a pair of gauntlets. And I thought I'd like to share the pattern. I wanted them to be easily made, and could be made...

Pedro Ramirez

You will get far better results with either fire-blackening, or by chemical blackening with nitric acid or some commercial method.
Cleaner, safer and will stay on longer.

Pedro Ramirez

Hey all, I'm putting up this fighting helmet for sale. It's based on the Gnezdovo helmet dated to around the mid 900's. It is all 14ga construction with a bar grill and mail. I would recommend that the mail be changed but it's legal with it on as is (It's all I had so I used it) I have two photos. F...

Pedro Ramirez

The Iron Dwarf wrote: and on the other side it has

No. O.X. METAL PUNCH
PAT'D JAN 2119

COOL! It came to us via some wormhole from the future!
Lol, good score though. I'm betting with a bit of cleaning it will work quite well for you.
Pedro

Pedro Ramirez

Well I'm very flattered that you guys like it. I must admit it wasn't an easy helmet to build but that's the point right? To push your own limits and see where it goes.
Again, thanks for the compliments, coming from fellow artisans, it means a lot.

Pedro Ramirez

Well since I was unable to find a decent way to get the "crown" a gold color, I decided to leave it and finish it in a brushed steel color. It looks ok but it's not the rich color I was hoping for. Front view; http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q58/Blacksmith42/polishhelmetcenter.jpg Left side; http...

Pedro Ramirez

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
I'm off to get some brass this weekend. I was kind of hoping to avoid it since the original has gilt iron decoration but sometimes one has to bow to the inevitable...

Pedro Ramirez

I'm running out of options at this point. Does anyone out there know of a way to get a decent looking gold color on steel that doesn't involve paint (looks like paint), plating (far too expensive) or foil (impossible to use, not to mention looks terrible). Or should I just give up and get a sheet of...

Pedro Ramirez

Ciaran,
It looks like that's the way I'm going to have to go. The gold foil I bought it totally unacceptable. On the few places where it did hold on, it was crinkly and looked terrible.

Pedro Ramirez

what did you do/ use to put the patina on the helm? I first tried a chemical "plum brown" finish but it looked horrible. It was all streaks and splotches. So I simply put the pieces in the oven, baked them at 275 for a while and then used a spray one grease (It's made from lanolin) to coat it. I di...

Pedro Ramirez

Hey all, two new photos for you; Helm has undergone patina process and assembly; http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q58/Blacksmith42/crazyhairday004.jpg And from the side; http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q58/Blacksmith42/crazyhairday005.jpg To answer a few questions; Norman, the original still re...

Pedro Ramirez

Nicely done Gunther. What did you use to blacken the steel and did you etch or engrave the brass?
Keep up the good work!

Pedro Ramirez

Looking really good! Don't forget the copper fillets between the plates. Thanks and most of them are in place right now. You can see them on the side in the 4th and 5th photos. The fillet on the top cap it cut out but not in place yet. I wanted to make sure they fit before I started the decoration....

Pedro Ramirez

Someone bought me three steel dishing forms at Pennsic a number of years ago and I was hoping that someone still sold them. A friend is massively interested in armouring but coming over to my place is highly impractical. If anyone knows of a set of dishing forms for sale, could you send me a link or...

Pedro Ramirez

It's a slavic helmet found in Gorzuchy Poland. Here is a drawing of what the original might have looked like; http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q58/Blacksmith42/szlom_gorzuchy.jpg And photos of what's left of the original; http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q58/Blacksmith42/gorzuchy.jpg My first as...

Pedro Ramirez

Looking forward to more photos as usual Jiri.
Great work, keep em coming!

Pedro Ramirez

Well I assembled the helm, did some russetting, and added some copper accents, keeping with some of the Kipchak and Bulgar helmets I've been studying. All in all, not too bad. Going to add the aventail soon and I'll blacken that too. Front view; http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q58/Blacksmith42/IM...

Pedro Ramirez

Well I assembled the helmet. This photo shows the basic look of the assembled helmet while I'm holding the occularia where it will be attached to the helm. http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q58/Blacksmith42/Kipchakhelmet.jpg The helm will be russeted and the occularia will be gold plated along with...

Pedro Ramirez

I have to agree, the breastplate looks good, but odd with that extra plackart.
And one can never have too much fluting on a breastplate! Well, you can but you didn't go overboard, I think you gave it just the right amount.

Pedro Ramirez

I have to throw my compliments to Sergey in here as well. Everything we've bought from them has been excellent and the one time there was an error (only got one side of a pair of items) he put the replacement in a padded envelope and sent it right away. Great stuff, great service! Which is why we no...

Pedro Ramirez

Thanks guys! I'll certainly give them a look-see!

Pedro Ramirez

Does anyone have a good cocktail that gives a nice russeting to steel?
I used to use gun brown that I found in sporting goods stores but I can't seem to find it anymore.
So if someone has a good recipie to paint onto steel that will impart a nice "russet" look to the metal, I would appreciate it.

Pedro Ramirez

I've been looking more and more at eastern helms and I'm really starting to like them a lot. So, I thought I'd try one. Starting with, the hardest part to make; the Occularia/nasal part. First step; cutting and filing the piece. http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q58/Blacksmith42/kipchak001.jpg Next...

Pedro Ramirez

Anyone know of a good source for spun bowls in 16 ga or, preferably 14ga steel?
I have a project that would benefit greatly (and be a LOT faster) with a spun top.
Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Pedro

Pedro Ramirez

Saw that. Gorgeous helmet.
They say the mask was almost intact with only a bit of damage to the chin.
Amazing find. Sorry to see it go to a private collector though, that helmet should be in a museum.

Pedro Ramirez

yea safe spears are tough, for the Regia Anglorum/The Vikings Vinland/Jomsviking stuff spears are are one of the least safe weapons (with daneaxe coming close) Actually Regia Anglorum feels that spears are pretty safe and they are also the most common weapon during the time period for the culture/s...

Pedro Ramirez

Hey guys, I was wondering about Spring steel grades and what most people tend to use.
I'm making an order for sheet steel and was thinking of adding some Spring to the mix to try my hand at it.
Thanks,
Pedro

Pedro Ramirez

Hey all. While smithing at an event last weekend I thought it would be fun to make a few of these. I think the result was pretty good. Here is a photo of three of them black from the forge; http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q58/Blacksmith42/spears001.jpg The weird looking one on the right is for li...

Pedro Ramirez

Buy extra blades. They're cheap and tend to wear out quickly.
Thankfully, the replacement blades are only $5.99 so it's not a big hit to buy several.

Pedro Ramirez

I'm thinking of building this, it seems like a very interesting project.
I was hoping someone here had built one and could offer some suggestions.

Pedro Ramirez

Some of the Rus' helms had toppers holding horsetails or eagle feathers. Those helms were also quite tall. This most likely comes from far east influence. Donngal So your saying that the 'Rus' did use horse hairs on their helmets? Many Rus helmets have a top cap that is tall and hollow. What they p...

Pedro Ramirez

Nice Job! Im gonna have to agree with the others about the mail, at the least paint the bars black. Donngal Who the hell are you? You don't know how to make helmets. Lol. Actually, Pedro - I agree completely. The mail is a bit of a detraction. It looks like a $30 Ebay aventail was taken and chopped...

Pedro Ramirez

TrimarianJarek wrote:sweet mercy are these for sale lol ... gotta not let my lady know. hehe >.>

Well these two in particular, are mine. Though If someone wants one, either in SCA weight (14ga) or as a dress helm (18ga) I think I could be talked into it.
Depending on the price or trade involved of course...

Pedro Ramirez

I have found, as a small guy myself, that body armour accounted for most of the weight. Have you thought of making a Corrazina with plastic plates under the leather? A well padded gambesson with hidden elbow cops and vambraces should take care of your arm protection, while a pair of high density pla...

Re: Simple gauntlet patterns

Simple gauntlet patterns

Gnezdovo SCA combat helm for sale.

Re: interesting punch I found today

Gold on steel that isn't paint, foil or plating?

Who sells dishing forms and the like?

New polish helm, photos of final assembly.

Russeting formula.

Occularia for a Kipchac helmet. With updated photos!

Spun bowl source?

Spring steel grades?

Dark age spearheads

Has anyone ever built this helm?