The Armour Archive

theodrik

If you're going to Estrella, look there. I once saw a massive 5" thick, 12' pole there. Some guy beat me to it, only to use as a pavilion pole.... sigh.

theodrik

according to Ffolkes, the Flemish used vertical rolls of linen, "3 to 4 fingers thick" sandwiched between 2 layers of canvas in the mid 1300's. probably good against blades and maces, but so so vs. anything landing in the gaps between the rolls.

theodrik

My question is: How do people in the west give and receive "positive motion" thrusts to the side of the head if the blow is unrecognized. If you feel something bump you do you assume that it was a weapon and take the shot? >What direction did it come from? That is a good indicator. Another is battle...

theodrik

try http://www.rjleahy.com/

theodrik

Be care with the on-line buys folks! The one I got is like 2" long! Apparently they come in different sizes! Don't get suckered like I just did.

theodrik

If the SCA ever adopts a "proof of plate" standard, then I suggest we take it further, at least in melees. Since only the wealthiest could afford it, anyone wearing full plate will be considered a person of great wealth. That person can be captured and ransomed, and his ransom shall be a real but no...

theodrik

I bought one of yours last year and added by riviting a 3/8"x8 ga. rim. I'm using a 14 ga 1" wide steel strip handle with a 1/2 split rattan grip wrapped in latigo to assorb some shock. It's heavier than I expected, blocks sweet and is just lethal for offensive shield work., esp. with the I.33 syste...

theodrik

I would welcome a special dispensation for Drachenwald too. This part of the new rules was met with a loud (if not unanimous) cry of despair. http://forum.drachenwald.sca.org/viewtopic.php?t=112 Cheers, This too would make sense to me. The one time I've been to Double Wars, it seemed like your ligh...

theodrik

I have to second the pervious posters concerning tools and the gradual tapering. Try some spongy leather like latigo between the rattan the the metal. I used to snap hose clamps like crazy until I did that.

theodrik

I was wondering if those of you with CA experience could help me with a few things. 1) Any web sites that may be helpful. The only one I have used is combat-archery.com. Very good site, was wondering if you knew more like it. I know it's left-coast, but look to the West Kingdom page (personal bias h...

theodrik

I'm looking for someone who can do some bronze casting. I need 100 1" compass stars with a approx. 1/2" sprue (read rivit shaft) in the center back. The fastest way to reach me is by email (theodrik (at) hotmail (dot) com.

Thanks,

theodrik

thats quite the broad brush youre painting with. i hand select all of my rattan (1.75" on average), i have a clue i think, i use 4-7 layers of strapping tape along the "edges", and yet a "sword" lasts me a month. guess that makes me a mouse. :sad: logan yikes! What are you hitting, titans?! Concret...

theodrik

I think it is a bad idea to wear weights for pell work, but not if you are only doing slow technique work. I am increasingly of the belief that any pell work other than slow technique work is counter productive The reason I think it's a bad idea for the heavy stuff is that it puts additional strain...

theodrik

[quote="Brennus"]I have found that highly trained people (one was a long time kendo fighter) when faced with a trained Scadian with a shield, fair badly. A trained person with a shield is so unusual outside SCA that highly trained men first facing it often fail to grasp how useful it is in combat. I...

theodrik

Gentlemen, are you men or mice? I've been using the same 2.75 lb. rattan sword (baton) for NINE YEARS now. It's straight, planed on sides and back, spiral taped with fiberglass tape, straight taped and then counter spiral taped. The final layer is a smooth layer of gaffers tape. I'm betting you guys...

theodrik

I use 2" thick ethylfoam as the base for my axe heads. I cut out the shape of the entire axe head. If this includes a back hammer/spike/claw, remove this at the back of the haft line. Cut out a heavy leather 'slapper' (sole leather, 8 oz. etc.) for the edge and the sides and top of the blade out of ...

theodrik

Tournament: Try not to let it get trapped in the first place! Since that obviously hasn't worked, use the haft as a lever and bull rush, taking your opponent off balence. They won't be able to throw a good shot while they are. They should 'flap', attempting to regain their balance, loosing their hol...

theodrik

My 3lb., 36" stick is going on 9 years and my 3.5 lber (38") is pushing 15. A quality stick (thick husk and dense core; few pores) plus a good tape job (3 layers of strapping tape; rt. hand spiral, parallel & lt. hand spiral, 50% overlap, no wrinkles) followed by good maintenance. Replacing the oute...

theodrik

This is the method that I use. Using a weighted string, I hold the shield by the corner (if there is one) that is nearest to the hand and let the string dangle. When it stops, that is the line of balance. I mark this usually with a pencil. Then centering my arm along that line and holding a short do...

theodrik

blue cover, softbound, large, 1" thick....by Charles Ffolkes. It's got great bits in it.

theodrik

SCA regs require helms to be made of metal. Many, many, many moons ago one fellow I met was trying for an Aztec persona and had made himself a WOODEN jaguar helm from laminating many layers of marine oak plywood. It was around 12 lb. or so and like 1" thick. Neat idea, I still think I was safe, esp....

theodrik

I haven't heard of anyone applying fiberglass cloth and resin to the outside of a rattan sword. It seems to me that such a treatment, in addition to making the rattan utterly rigid, would also make the stick prohibitively heavy, if applied thickly enough to protect the stick from impact. I wonder i...

theodrik

Well if any type of authenticity of actual medieval combat were to be proved or disproved in any form then you would need a sort of no holds barred fighting. Hmm... no holds barred with wooden wasters/bokun. That would be interesting. And if full contact jousting is do able, why not that? Rule set-...

theodrik

hjalmr wrote:The weapon is a Faussart.

Where did you find the name for it? Where/what is your documention.
I'm not challenging you, just curious.

theodrik

Having had a NASTY zipper bruse from a rawhide LACED rawhide-covered stick that also ripped my jeans, I can tell you that they do hit hard and I don't like them. IF you use light rattan to start with, and stitch it together downa side and use light-weight rawhide, I guess, just guess now, that it mi...

theodrik

My favs are the 1500-era german halberd @ 7.5', for the double-bladed polearm is like the English Ox-Tounge spear, also @ 7.5', and a 5' boar spear bridges, doorways, and fighting two-weapon with.

theodrik

It looks like a version (san hand guard) of a Dacian Rhompha. Caesar wrote about how nasty they were. Could out reach a Gladius and get the arm and even cleave a lorica. Caesar had his front line outfitted with gladiator-style arm defenses just to deal with these things. Apparently, only a local wea...

theodrik

I came for the fighting and stayed for the people. The combat rush is a hoot, and where else can you thug your friends with clubs and party with them later? Yeah, there are whiners, sciophants, bums and leeches, but they're everywhere. A Sir Maythen Gervasie said at my very first revel (WAY BACK in ...

theodrik

While not a chin strap, one of my fav helm failures was many, many mmons ago, Sir Eric Foxworthy was legged, fighting in a line battle. A pike caught the tip of his pig face bascinet and the catch gave away. Up goes the visor! Eric astonished face appeared for just a split second before he tucked hi...

theodrik

It used to be chain and gambeson, now just gambeson. Why? Because after having to return the borrowed chain shirt, it took me longer to make the replacement than I did to get VERY GOOD at defending my body. I fact, I took my first body shot in about a decade (from Duke Uther) that was remotely uncon...

theodrik

[quote="InsaneIrish3. Actually the "fencing" style of florentine mostly used sword and parrying weapon (usually a small thrusting dagger with basket hilt of some kind or sword breaker) Not long sword/short sword. That is a D & D thing. Since Japan was more advanced with its fighting system it is rea...

theodrik

You think Gulf Wars is sorta goofy? How about The Bambi War, Thumper's Revenge, The Wargy....

theodrik

You think Gulf Wars is sorta goofy? How about The Bambi War, Thumper's Revenge, The Wargy....

theodrik

Offensive shield work. You'll have the mechanical advantage if You apply the pin. The hook works against the 'back' edge, so I mostly use it there to assist MY movement to my opponates rear. They tend to find this disconcerting and stay at long range for some reason.

theodrik

My heater is 24 x 30". If you want to bring a bigger shield, please do. You have to carry it and I can shelter behind it too! You can't throw through your shield to get to me and with a nice mix of offensive shield presses, pins and hooks, I'll get along just fine. Hope you've got good armor coverin...

Heavy Rattan

cloth armor

How Westies take it

Commets to Sir Richard

getting a better fit

Re: Looking for Combat Archers

Bronze casting

Meece

Unbreakable swords

SCA legal battleaxe

Trapped polearm options

Re: On the Ideology and Practical use of Florintine