The Armour Archive

John S.

The current buckles are only for an 11 mm ~ 1/2" strap. If I go much narrower, the leather is more likely to rip.

The issue is probably that the buckles aren't the perfect shape for this application. I have to roll with it this time, but I'll try to pick out something better for my next set.

John S.

https://www.google.com/search?q=leiden+vambrace&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyh_zQqqjhAhUOQq0KHVipBpwQ_AUIDigB&biw=1438&bih=567 https://www.google.com/search?biw=1438&bih=567&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=P5OeXLLjG4yYsAXT96qQCQ&q=dordrecht+vambrace&oq=dordrecht+vambrace&gs_l=img.3...18741.20666..21291.....

John S.

Congratulations!

John S.

Interesting info. Not much I can add to it beyond asking you to keep sharing.

John S.

Modern solution--Wrestling knee pads. These are low profile gel padding attached to a neoprene sleeve and invisible under pants. Medieval solution--Gamboissed chausses. I wear mine under hardened leather quisses and floating metal kneecops and point my leg armor to them. I used 4 layers of cotton ba...

John S.

Wow, the matching brass hardware brings it to the next level.

Do you see any pros/cons to measuring with the throat of the caliper opening away from the user (your set-up) vs towards the user (Jeff's set-up)?

John S.

You might be right Ckanite. I just know that thumb actuated pipettors hurt. This looks like it involves a similar stress-causing motion.

John S.

Do you anticipate the end user repeatedly removing and reinstalling the displacement gauge? If they over tighten the bolt that pinches the frame, would the (presumably) harder steel bolt wear against the (presumably) softer aluminum until it strips the threads? To prevent this, you could switch to a...

John S.

https://shocktec.com/

Shocktec air2gel HD + a thin quilted liner (linen+cotton batting.)

John S.

I prefer my newer pair from Boots by Bohemond to my first pair from Viking Leathercrafts. YMMV

Scuff the leather soles before the first time you fight in them. Use caution when fighting on dry leafs or pine needles.

John S.

Zoom in on several of the figures in this pick for an example of black-colored hats with ears http://sofyalarus.info/russia/Garb/PeriodImages/soloveckoevos32.jpg 17 c. so getting closer. Unfortunately, I think these figures represent monks, so their dress may be not represent an average person. Also...

John S.

Yes, the Ushanka was a post WWI invention. There were also plenty of other hats throughout history with earflaps (Andean Chullo for instance.) I was initially thinking that a hood over my skullcap was a better option--Western and Central Europeans wore them, Viking and Sami wore them (Skjoldehamn ho...

John S.

It seems intuitive that how high or low the seam between the torso panels and skirt is placed should match the level the belt is worn at. Again, artwork may help shed light on this.

John S.

Focusing on the vents, a coat could have: **No vents. **One vent center back starting at the waist. **One vent center back starting below the backside. **Two vents starting at the waist. **Two vents starting below the backside. Most illustrations show figures from the front or side, so maybe images ...

John S.

Maybe this question is closely related to how high/low on the torso the belt is worn. It seems like there would be little point to starting the gores above the belt line. Next to step is to search for some relevant images.

John S.

Here are a couple posts from Norman asking about a similar subject. http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=117481&hilit=+hood+east http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=114292&hilit=+hood+east Looks like he was going more in the direction of some funky ethnic...

John S.

12th century? http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/zchk1907/0156?sid=e1157456749f6bd3be8db1ead512f575 12th century http://www.kostym.cz/Anglicky/2_Detaily/01_Doplnky/II_01_160.htm 12th century http://www.kostym.cz/Anglicky/2_Detaily/01_Doplnky/II_01_184.htm 12th century http://www.kostym.cz/Angli...

John S.

Clarification--I meant clothing chausses not maille chausses. (Although the other one is a good discussion to have, too.) Aren't folks in the Bayeux tapestry shown either in pants or naked (when the dead are getting stripped out of their hauberks afterwords)? Here's another http://www.kostym.cz/Angl...

John S.

All the artwork I've seen for the 13th to 14th century Rus shows them in skull-cap-type hats like this https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/65/72/0e/65720e91bf5859ab6ab6d14af1871b92.jpg . It seems unlikely that folks would go through winter with nothing covering the rest of their head and ...

John S.

http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/327519 Image of "8th century "leggings" from Georgia in the Met. https://www.metmuseum.org/pubs/journals/1/pdf/1513058.pdf.bannered.pdf Publication about the same find. http://svenshaithabureise.blogspot.com/2012/06/rekonstruktion-der-haithabu-beinling...

John S.

I'd like to make a plausible Kaftan for 13th or 14th century Eastern Europe. See here for an example https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/George_IV_of_Georgia_%28Bertubani_fresco%29.jpg/220px-George_IV_of_Georgia_%28Bertubani_fresco%29.jpg Non-Mongol extant pieces are only avail...

John S.

In a Nockert pattern 1 geometrically patterned medieval tunic--(the Bocksten tunic http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/cloth/type1.html or one of the similar Norse tunics)--how high up on the body should the skirt gores start? Immediately under the ribcage (the 14th century waistline)? At t...

John S.

Fair enough. With the environment I work in, it's easy for me to slip into "protect your work." Just remember that you deserve credit for the legwork you're doing, too.

John S.

Some advice follows... (bear in mind that I work in different fields--(polymer physics and physics education)--so customary format may vary.) **3rd person is often best, but be careful. For example, "A survey of extant playing cards was conducted," sounds better than, "The researcher conducted a sur...

John S.

Bumping an old thread because I ran across something that might be relevant. http://cms.contubernium.de/?page_id=249 This is a reconstruction of a roman military belt or cingulum. It shows how a wider belt could be closed with a narrower buckle. The cingulum was originally associated with the milita...

John S.

Oh, and depending on how you write it up, what you're doing could verge on a publishable academic paper. Some of the pro's on the archive could probably suggest possible journals.

John S.

Harry, are you interested in checking for color fastness of any of these dyes? A possible protocol would be: *Cut each sample in 3 pieces. *First piece is a control. *Second piece gets wiped briskly with a wet rag and left to dry. *Third piece gets soaked in a water bath for ____ time and then dried...

John S.

I better understand now. Does stitching layers together also count as "mixing the fibers into the same cloth?" For single-layer construction: Relatively thick leather--(for example, light weight saddle skirting)--is pretty much the only option. For multi-layer construction: The outer layer should be...

John S.

You could easily substitute a plant-based material fabric like linen, hemp, or cotton for the outer layer. If you're using a few layers of canvas, the outer would just be for decoration anyway. Alternatively, canvas weight wool or silk might be available. Don't know if I've ever seen it. Out of curi...

John S.

This thread went a different direction that I originally intended, but I thank everyone for their input.

We had a few fighters at both practices this weekend. Only time will tell whether this will be the start of new, consistent trend but we'll keep encouraging folks to participate.

John S.

My preferred weapons form is sword and shield. I'm right handed. Second is 6 foot slashing spear. I like to play both aggressive instead of sniping at range. Physical condition is better than a lot of SCA fighters, but not what it used to be. Haven't gained weight but old injuries, accumulated stres...

John S.

Johann--To set-up a one-on-one practice with one of the old-timers that doesn't go to practice anymore, I'd probably have to seek out a squire's belt. I don't feel entirely comfortable with that. CTrumbore--The situation you describe pretty much sums it up for both Bay area baronies. I am trying to ...

John S.

I've been fighting for a long time, but am out-of-practice. Traveling to out-of-town events or out-of-town fighter practices isn't an option till next fall. Local practices are often cancelled due to low attendance. What should I be doing to train? (Don't want this thread to detour into complaining ...

John S.

There is a lot of disagreement on the dating of the Nikolskoye helm. I originally shot for c. 1200 since I found this helm in one of Nicolle's books and that was the date he gave it. Since then, I've seen other sources date this helm c. 1150 to c. 1350. There (at one point,) was even disagreement ab...

John S.

Thanks for the additional responses. Local SCA groups are large, but neither of them has a dance practice that I know of. Honestly, it seems like local folks aren't very active outside of events. I'll be moving after I wrap up grad school, so maybe the next group will be different. Point understood ...

Re: leiden, dordrecht, etc... vambraces

leiden, dordrecht, etc... vambraces

Re: Amazing news....

Re: Historical Etching Recipes

Re: new knee pads

Re: Armor thickness caliper

Re: Armor thickness caliper

Re: Armor thickness caliper

Re: Good source for helmet padding

Re: ISO fighting turnshoe recommendations

Re: 13th/14th century rus or steppe hats/hoods

Re: 13th/14th century rus or steppe hats/hoods

Re: kaftan pattern details

Re: kaftan pattern details

Re: tunic pattern details

Re: 13th/14th century rus or steppe hats/hoods

Re: use of chausses before the 13th/14th century

Re: use of chausses before the 13th/14th century

13th/14th century rus or steppe hats/hoods

use of chausses before the 13th/14th century

kaftan pattern details

tunic pattern details

Re: Looking for readers to savage a paper

Re: Looking for readers to savage a paper

Re: Boris and Gleb trim

Re: Period leather dyes?

Re: Period leather dyes?

Re: Making splinted armor while avoiding biblical prohibitio

Re: Making splinted armor while avoiding biblical prohibitio

Re: How do you train when locals don't go to practice?

Re: How do you train when locals don't go to practice?

Re: How do you train when locals don't go to practice?

How do you train when locals don't go to practice?

Re: I WTB Rus c. 1200

Re: medieval music ensembles--how-to start from scratch?