The Armour Archive

Alex Baird

It would be interesting to hear about sumptuary laws, and the implications they have about what the "uppity social climbers" were doing to ape their "betters".

Alex Baird

My first armoured tourney fight was a Queen's Champion bout vs Lady Eichling von Amrun. I doubt there is a seasoned fighter in Caid, nay the whole West Coast, that can't tell you the outcome of that one. My first war battle was at an Estrella. I was assigned to be in a rear unit scheduled to sweep o...

Alex Baird

In our kingdom (Atlantia), I've learned that when I do that, they can step up over me and almost pin me, which is smart on them and my own fault for taking the risk. Are you allowed to head butt him in the presented jimmies? Because when I see the "stand over and bash" style, that's what I think I'...

Alex Baird

Way to go, Snorri! That's farther than an unbelt has gone in quite a while.

Alex Baird

C'mere Blaine... I'll paint you a picture.

Alex Baird

Fight for someone. It makes a difference.

Afterwards, stay in harness and find new people to do pick ups with. Marshal a bit so others can fight too.

Alex Baird

Yer welcome.

Originally from this thread:viewtopic.php?f=2&t=118900&hilit=+cut+hose

Alex Baird

bigfredb wrote:Somebody please post lots of pics and video so I can imagine I was there (instead of stuck in Kuwait)!!

Yes, please, being currently abroad myself...

Alex Baird

Nissan Maxima wrote:A knight is a dog who's leash is held by the King. ( A master is a dog who's leash is tied to the throne.)

A dog submits to a master because it is his nature. A man submits to a leader because it is his choice. Therein lies the difference.

Alex Baird

I am entirely inconsistent on this. Some times I keep the earned advantage, sometime I discard it. It's not really about what is chivalrous or advantageous at the moment. It's whatever seems to be likely to yield a fun fight; that's why I am out there. On the other side of the coin, I am neither exp...

Alex Baird

Most of the pinking is very small, and the buttonholes are simple slits with no stitching. The many tiny slits are all about 1/8th of an inch, and very consistent. I'd guess a chisel type blade, maybe something similar to a lacing chisel with multiple blades evenly spaced. What surprised me was how...

Alex Baird

I was at the Globe Theatre today, in London, and shot a couple of pictures of a pinked leather jerkin front.

See links... to big to post.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g238/ ... erkinA.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g238/ ... erkinB.jpg

Enjoy!

Alex Baird

Baron Alejandro wrote: Bear also in mind that guys like Darkwood & Zen aren't manufacturers.

Dunno about that. Darkwood used to use Del Tin blades, but their site says "we decided to take over their manufacture ourselves." Do they sub it out or make them in house?

Alex Baird

No, just pointing out that "they hit hard in period when they fought in earnest" isn't a very good argument for force levels in SCA armoured combat, with rules that limit every other aspect of "earnest" fighting. What we do doesn't resemble mortal life-and-death struggle, so the argument is apples t...

Alex Baird

I think it's pretty obvious we are not recreating fighting in earnest. Otherwise, there would be grappling, kicking, full body targeting, shield smashes, blindsiding, etc.

Alex Baird

Thomas MacFinn wrote:Does "You need to practice more" count as a sweet nothing?

Blades get grumpy when neglected.

Alex Baird

Count Johnathan wrote:Hmm perhaps required rigid forearm protection might be a good thing eh?
I think our armor standard is lacking in that one area.

It's mandatory in Caid. Has been at least since the 80's.

Alex Baird

Its a dead horse, but anyone who chooses to take the field and fight heavy does so knowing that they may eventually get hit hard enough to get their arms, ribs, or shoulders broken. Even the best fighter may eventually take a spear to the gut that makes them heave. You accept the risk or get more a...

Alex Baird

I will start by borrowing my knight's rapier, but when I am ready, would it make sense to start with a Hanwei and then just replace the blade with a Darkwood? There are the blades, and then there is the furniture (hilt, grip, pommel). Darkwood makes both, as does Hanwei, but I am not sure you can r...

Alex Baird

Regarding the deco pen type gold (and metallic "gold" paints)... it is usually made with brass powder, which means it will turn brown relatively quickly with oxidation. Solution 1 is to seal under and over it for medium life. Solution 2 is refresh as desired.

Alex Baird

However if a shot to an arm is only good if it were to have broken that arm when it is out of armour (or suffered an armour failure) then you are hitting too hard. If we improve our armour to ensure our safety at this level of calibration, then up our calibration to make people in better armour fee...

Alex Baird

...People throw with the same force level with either tip size... Well, there's yer problem... People unwilling to learn how to do it right. I'm sure that folks could do hella more hurt with the 3" tips if they threw harder, but they have learned what the appropriate level is for calibration. ...

Alex Baird

Gosh, I'd like to insult you, if it's okay 'n all...

Don't be a nellie!

Alex Baird

Don't get me wrong- I'm a huge Darkwood fan, but their tips- since they don't have room for a nailhead or a washer- are ruined in a matter of hours for me. The sword pokes through the tip before it's even time to touch up the tape. If they came up with a way to mold a steel disc into their tips, I'...

Alex Baird

Even the reindeer started out as Wildman attendants dressed in reindeer hides and follow the standard cultural traditions of dancing fools (Dasher and Prancer) a wild woman (Vixen) and so on (sorry I forget the others). Ahhh, no. The reindeer were added to the Santa story and were named by Clement ...

Alex Baird

Caid hosts the Great Western War in Oct. After that, probably Potrero War over Memorial Day weekend. The biggest lyst tourney is probably Unbelted, in January (no Knights, 70+ entrants). Queen's Champion lysts probably top that, since there are typically concurrent lysts for armored, rapier, and you...

Alex Baird

Some time back, there was a New Yankee Workshop episode where the project was a tapered flagpole that was built using stave construction. I would imagine the jigs and techniques would work equally well for lances. I recall that a router on a sled was used rather than a lathe to turn the pole round.

Alex Baird

Ender: I am going to assume by "new" you mean brand new. Now is the time to work on your basics. You need to work on the toolkit of fighting techniques. What is timing, what is distance and measure, how can you move and stay in balance, where does your defense need to be, what are the body...

Alex Baird

I like mine a great deal, but then I don't live in a humid area. I find it much cooler than a standard fencing jacket of canvas, but it is not absorbent and takes a bit to wick away perspiration. You might wish to wear a t-shirt or something similar with it. It washes well and wears like iron. As me...

Alex Baird

Standing and waiting or even running away (= moving backwards) is the technique of cowards. It leads to a weak mind and bad fighting spirit. And it has no honour. What nonsense. What we are talking about here is controlling measure, controlling the fight. There are only two ways to get into the ran...

Alex Baird

Actually, many Atlantian marshals don't like to use the drop tester or the broken foil. They prefer to rely on their experience and judgment when inspecting rapier armor. Chris, take your garments to an experienced Atlantian marshal (like one of the White Scarves), and that person will tell you whe...

Alex Baird

The broken foil test is pretty much obsolete, due to being entirely variable in application. The drop tester is the current standard. Tibbie can likely point you to someone local that has one; our marshalate here has a few floating around. The best thing to do is to make up a 12"x12" squar...

Alex Baird

Riese Von Landsee wrote: baked potato 850.

note: the potassium is in the skin, not so much in the starchy part.

Alex Baird

Jeffrey Hedgecock wrote:It absolutely makes a difference.

CBS has to date been a network with a respected worldwide -news- division.

CBS? One word: Rathergate.

I think the reason you have that swampland for sale is because you already got suckered.

Alex Baird

AlvarGuerrero wrote:Now a swept hilt with protected finger ring for rattan would be something.

Darkwood's shiavona has an internal quillon bar. That's the reason I got one.

Re: Medieval legal issues

Re: First Tourament- Advice and/or Ancedotes

Re: How to deal with corkscrewing

Re: Caid Crown List

Re: Are we swordsmen?

Re: First Tourament- Advice and/or Ancedotes

Re: Cutting Heater Hose Thanks

Re: Caid Crown List

Re: SCA Topic- The Measuring

Re: [SCA] Consent to Points of Contest

Re: Pinked Leather Jerkin

Pinked Leather Jerkin

Re: Tell me about rapiers, SCA rapier fighting, etc....

Re: If noone gets hurt, we arent doing it right

Re: If noone gets hurt, we arent doing it right

Re: Tell me about rapiers, SCA rapier fighting, etc....

Re: If noone gets hurt, we arent doing it right

Re: If noone gets hurt, we arent doing it right

Re: Tell me about rapiers, SCA rapier fighting, etc....

Re: How would unhardened tooling stand up in SCA

Re: If noone gets hurt, we arent doing it right

Re: SCA Spear 2 inch thrusting tips

Re: Opinions wanted, another "Nellies" thread?

Re: Rapier Tips question.

Re:

Re: 19 SCA Kingdoms "what is your biggest fighting event?"

Re: Hollow Lances: Construction?

Re: Attack or wait?

Re: opinions on the ZWA Spectra Undergarment

Re: Attack or wait?

Re: Rapier "Protective Clothing"

Re: Rapier "Protective Clothing"

Re: Post fighting muscle cramps

Re: Tournament of the Phoenix to feature on CBS Sun Morn 10/

Re: custom basket hilts.