The Armour Archive

Mark D. Chapman

I have both the XX and the #5. I will say that I use the number 5 most of the time because it is lighter and easier to use one handed. The XX is really good when you need a deeper throat, but I usually lock it into a vice due to the weight.

Mark

Mark D. Chapman

Either Barbara G. or gaukler reminded me that early European recipes for quenching, such as Theophilius and "vom Stahl und Eisen" from 1532, focus on quenching in water. Sometimes they add secret ingredients or get the water from a social source (urine, blood) but the mixture is mostly water. Chris...

Mark D. Chapman

Do a search on Amazon.de on "roper and whitney punch. I immediately found this one: it is the number 5 which I use the most. Sometimes it is handy to have one with a longer jaw reach as well. https://www.amazon.de/-/en/02612A/dp/B0002T87CW/ref=sr_1_2?crid=54USCXQ1S0PI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FIXev5kNBXmwAD...

Mark D. Chapman

Using a R&W number 5 punch with a 1/8" die is far faster than drilling.

Mark D. Chapman

Couple of thoughts: 1) If you look at the Maciejowski Bible (12th century illuminations), you see this same helm cleaving but only in relation to two kings in combat. The other injuries to minor players are far more realistic and possible. Based on this and what we know about modern experiments and ...

Mark D. Chapman

Thanks Martijn. Really good to know. I am looking forward to a good read!

Mark

Mark D. Chapman

Ordered on Jan 8. Just got a notice "Book is on backorder pending reprint.
Martjin, Do you have any idea if the reprint is happening or when???

Thanks,
Mark

Mark D. Chapman

Thanks for letting us know and the discount!

Mark

Mark D. Chapman

Rene's suggestion would look good, and work well. I found some very long handled fence pliers and used them. In my case I heated the ends, stamped the dents in and then re-hardened the ends. I was just doing pin rivets to tailor modern Indian mail. Marc Chapman had a nice pair that were set up to a...

Mark D. Chapman

Any idea when these will ship?

Mark D. Chapman

Just as a thought, if your are doing searches. Most people refer to these as bifurcated gauntlets.

Mark

Mark D. Chapman

Thanks for the commentary everyone. I lost so much thickness that I am starting over on the breastplate. Practice makes perfect. This time I will not riase so agressively in the armpit area and hopefully eliminate any cracks before they start. I will have to check out that book reference.

Mark

Mark D. Chapman

So I had done a weld in some 4130 and I thought I would do a full anneal to make sure any stresses were relieved. I put the 0.050 breastplate in the kiln and followed the process documented in the literature for a full 14 hour anneal cycle. Result. Heavy scale layers inside and out that flaked away ...

Mark D. Chapman

Here is the problem with the Olivier reconstruction. http://moviemezzanine.com/wp-content/uploads/Henry-V1.jpg As soon as he tips his head back the slightest bit, a gap develops between the upper edge of the gorget plate and the lower edge of the bevor plate. You can see it there on Henry's right s...

Mark D. Chapman

This is the painting that got me thinking, I saw it after the big trip to the KHM. Its a Michael Pacher of Pope Sixtus II and St. Laurence in the Beldevere in Wien. https://bookandsword.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/p1000643_legharness_details_belvedere_wien_4836.jpg?w=800 His lateral wrappers go all...

Mark D. Chapman

That plate looks like something that could cut into you at the lower knee as you flex the joint. Something just doesn't make sense about the lower edge. Could it be mismounted??

Mark D. Chapman

The ramp controller is handy if you need a particular profile for annealing. Otherwise I agree with Tom it can be overkill. The material the rope is made from crumbles more after being heated and is a toxic material to handle or inhale. I also had problems that it was too bulky for the kiln and had ...

Mark D. Chapman

One last thought. Here is one of the ramp controller kits. Make sure you have at least 40 amps rating in the SCR relay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Professional-Ramp-Soak-Temperature-Controller-Kiln-SSR-Kit-Ceramic-Thermocouple/121092751234?epid=1562779552&hash=item1c31b0bf82:g:iEoAAOxydB1SjO6g ebay se...

Mark D. Chapman

I would go to https://www.amaco.com for replacement parts and also to see if you can get a manual for the kiln. https://www.paragonweb.com/Kiln_Catalog.cfm Paragon is also a good site for supplies. http://hotkilns.com/ is also a good site. Instead of using fiber rope for the top seal I bought some o...

Mark D. Chapman

Amaco sells kiln materials and replacement elements
Mark

Mark D. Chapman

Also test each element. The resistance should be on the order of pewrhaps 25 ohms for that kiln. I would advise rewiring it for 240v dual phase a standard household available voltage that will give you less amps on the cords.
Mark

Mark D. Chapman

Go on Ebay and get a ramp controller kit that includes the controller, scr relay and thermocouple. They only run about 100 dollars or less and give you full digital profile control of the kiln. Much better than analog methods.

Mark

Mark D. Chapman

Another point is that a period lining in the great helm is essential. The lining is not only the pie wedges at the top, but also padding on the sides. Without this lining the great helm will not stay put on the cervelliere.

Mark D. Chapman

In regards to wire drawing. One see my article "The Construction and Metallurgy of a Late Fifteenth Century Mail Sleeve" Sept 1997 Journal of the Arms and Armour Society. A couple of points, * First it is possible to hand draw iron or steel wire. However a draw bench or the man on a swing using his ...

Mark D. Chapman

Nice progress Mac. Curiosity question, How long do you usually leave he pieces in the oven for the "stop temper" step?

Thanks,
Mark

Mark D. Chapman

The rings and piercing are looking good. I eagerly await your description of how you are doing it and what technique you are using to consistently center the pierce. One thought for you to consider re the use of mandrels. When we look at historic rings they are not circular. They are slightly oval o...

Mark D. Chapman

Very nice links. Your tooling is producing overlap tips that are well merged in and a good ridge line. One small suggestion tweak, if you look closely at the A2 links I think you will find that the ridge of the roof was slightly more centered on the overlap width than your tool is currently producin...

Mark D. Chapman

Really nice work Mac! Could you take a couple more pictures. i would really like to see how it acts with some raised arm poses. For instance right arm raised for a sword blow. Both hands up for a high pole arm block etc. I am really curious how it acts as the shoulders / upper arms are raised. Also ...

Mark D. Chapman

Thanks for te followup Mac. Looking at the historic pictures I see what you mean. I had not seen any period enclosed thumb tips before seeing those pictures. Looking at the first guilded one it looks to me as if the thumb tip was meant to project slightly in front of the closed fingers and the botto...

Mark D. Chapman

This view shows what I am trying to achieve. The upper surface looks like a normal thumb plate, and the lower surface is there to do its job... no thumb nail, no attempt at making it look human. Any resemblance to a cartoon whale are purely accidental :lol: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lJ3vll9...

Mark D. Chapman

Nice James. I always shoot armour in 3D. What camera are you using?

Mark

Mark D. Chapman

Craig,

I have had a few armourers tell me that they are making BON armour out of 1090 or 1095 with a 700 degF temper.

Curious as to your thoughts on this?

Mark

Mark D. Chapman

Years ago I tried this to reworks some heavilly rusted mild steel armour. I used iron oxide powder as the abrasive, oil to hold it on and a leather pad on the wooden stick. My recollection is that this did a good job and cleaned things up to where I could go back to standard polishing compounds for ...

Mark D. Chapman

Try Slice of Stainless. I have had good prices from them.

Mark

Mark D. Chapman

Thanks Mac, Appreciate you trying to remember. You answered the part I was most curious about. How you started the process.

Mark

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