The Armour Archive

Laurie Wise

Might to contact Dave Demers of Aesir Mastyrworks

Laurie Wise

These are the "Kirby's" she is trying to sell. Made in the late 60s or very early 70s (before 1972). Soldier Grade finish. At the time, Kirby made several simple "Soldier Grade" weapons for sale when he would travel to Atenveldt just after it became a barony but don't think it was a principality yet...

Laurie Wise

Kirby uses oil to cool his blades (uses 5160 alloy/Spring Steel) for this very reason. The alloy creates a "tough" yet "springy" blade but if you cool it too quickly (a la "water"), you get a "hard" brittle blade.

Laurie Wise

Aesir Masterwyrks Dave Demers' makes a style like this.

Laurie Wise

I remember seeing those back in the 60s/70s sold as part of "Spanish Colonial" decoration.

Laurie Wise

Kirby has made a few. Similar to the one shown in the third photo (Left). Great "Stickers"

Our son still has his.

Laurie Wise

Dave Demers made the helmet.

My contribution were the six "Urnes Art" style "Orms" on the cheeks and on the four helmet plates. I have been supplying him with a few decorative "helmet" pieces for the last few months. Some are Viking Art style, some Celtic or Rus.

Laurie Wise

If ours was completely cleaned up, Kirby wouldn't be able to find anything

Laurie Wise

Unless you are able to "be there" for initial fittings (and especially, the final one), the best way is to have casts of your legs made and shipped. However, there are situations where actual visits have to be made. In the mid '70s, when Kirby was making Lysander of Sparta's full Milanese gothic "fl...

Laurie Wise

It looks familiar but don't remember exactly when this was made. At least, over six years ago (or more). Kirby began adding the "B" for our son back in the late 90s when Brenden began helping in the shop. Although he isn't as active forging as he used to be, the added "B" has remained as part of Kir...

Laurie Wise

I hand cut mine using 16 ga brass or thinner.

Laurie Wise

Yes, Dave does make fine helmets.

By the way, the brass piercework/engraved Urnes "Beasties" riveted to the skull and cheeks, are my work. Dave ordered a few sets from me last year to decorate helmets with.

Laurie Wise

Years ago, I was given a copy of the oversized edition of "The Book of Kells". It was published with a special box to keep it in. It has been one of my treasures. So glad you can now see it online

Laurie Wise

All I can say on this subject is Kirby used one in the early 70s in Calafia. It was very effective.. The opposite fighters couldn't defend very well against it because the flail went over and around the shield.

Laurie Wise

Ugo better watch out!

Laurie Wise

Just take the best of the current Dwarven armour (Thorin's isn't too bad) with a wee bit of the best looking weapons from the movie.....it'll do for now. Yeah, not every fighter is over six foot tall with a two yard reach and aspires to be Jon the Lean. :) I've been in early enough to see the worst ...

Laurie Wise

Make a cutting board with a "V" and clamp it down on a table. Mine is permanently nailed so there isn't any movement. After transferring the design and drilling your holes, You insert the blade through the hole and cut on the downstroke. Use slow strokes and get into a rhythm, or "Zen". But not too ...

Laurie Wise

I have seen thicker perforated decorative plates ages ago....used in helmets. Some were thick enough no backing was used but not covering big spaces. Most were used to cover the eye slots only. A few fighters used these in the Great Desert War battles (early 80s) because archery was being used. Othe...

Laurie Wise

Piercework and engrave a design then solder or rivet to a solid backing. This is how many buckles and belt plates were made. Including any that had insets or inclusions.

Laurie Wise

I had a bunch of early "Rus" reenactment group links on a back up disk made a few years ago. I'll dig the disks out and look through the old "Favorites" to copy down any I find for you.

Laurie Wise

You might want to try R.J.Leahy Company

Laurie Wise

Ah Crap! What Beautiful work. Hope your gear is recovered intact....

Laurie Wise

To anyone who hasn't seen the sword......I've uploaded Rhyance's full length image from my files. The others were better closeups of the decoration but are a wee bit too large to upload. Another photo showing the hilt's decoration and pommel plate can be found here in my Facebook's "My Artwork" albu...

Laurie Wise

When making full greaves, you have to allow for some space between the skin, pants material and the metal. You are not wearing these skin tight and must leave enough to "form fit" to each of your leg shape. Lysander of Sparta wanted his full Milanese Gothic greaves "skin tight" like his Greek ones. ...

Laurie Wise

Fortunately, I have "some" of those. Mostly obtained 30 - 40 years ago through various rare book lists. Or traded for years later. Since going online, the Internet is helpful but you will still have to "dig around" for copies of the older books listed. Many foreign ones were never translated into En...

Laurie Wise

Haha.....good for you! Back in the early 70s, Kirby made casts of both of Lynn Langer's lower legs (Lysander of Sparta) using plaster of paris (all we had back then) for a set of full greaves. Lynn wanted to change from wearing his Spartan armour to Milanese Gothic. Unfortunately, Lynn had bowed leg...

Laurie Wise

Same reasons why I don't watch this kind of stuff either. I haven't watched "my big fat Gypsy wedding" and the current trailers for the new "reality show" support the "trainwreck" scenario you speak of.

Laurie Wise

Interesting. Later this month, one of the satellite channels will be airing a new reality show about "American Gypsies". Will be interesting to read your comments after it premieres.

Laurie Wise

No, it wasn't Jaeger.

That was another maker who would pull that "stoopid" stunt. I don't remember his name but did see his wares back in 2005, the last time Kirby and I were at an Estrella event.

Laurie Wise

Congratulations!

Laurie Wise

Kirby would occasionally "proof" his breastplates for customers using a 60 cal. smoothbore musket. Made a nice dent in 14ga steel but that's all. Did this with his Webley 45 ACP (half moon clips) too and all they did was bounce off leaving a dent. He proofed a German Salade with a blackpowder .36 as...

Laurie Wise

He used the original shears for several years and was well acquainted with what it looked like. But also Kirby's mind just plain "works" that way. He "saw" in his mind's eye how to construct it and the dimensions. From his own blacksmithing/metal work experience, he knew what materials were needed a...

Laurie Wise

If you can't find a set, you can make your own. That's what Kirby had to do from memory after his set was stolen shortly after we moved from the Mine to our present place 30 years ago. Most of the shop equipment was packed onto a long open trailer and the shears were set in a barrel. When we came ba...

Laurie Wise

The Milanese Gothic armour Kirby made for Lynn Langer (Lysander of Sparta) back in 1975 was approximately 60 - 65lbs. All of 14gauge steel. The barbute was 12ga. Most armour back then was made from 16ga. so everyone thought Kirby's was too heavy. However, he knew 14ga could be hammered thinner where...

Laurie Wise

I once lost a 12" leaf blade on my workbench, untill it rusted... I always sift floor sweepings too lol.

Yep......

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