The Armour Archive

I am interested in making one, so I'd need a pattern and some instruction, or finding out about buying the shaped plates (with holes punched/drilled) so I can make it from there. I will do the binding cords, leathers and lining myself.

I'd prefer very thin spring stainless, or spring steel. Maybe aluminum, but I do not want them to be abnormally bulky. I would be wearing it for SCA, but I do not want heavy plates. Weight is a huge concern for me. I currently fight is leather and thin covered plastic.

The manica would be a decorative part of my armor that I would not want to impeed me, but also not want destroyed or deformed easily.

Prices, info, knoledge, please!

Thank you!

Owen

Having a manica for SCA would be difficult since it will not cover the elbow entirely so that is the difficulty in the design. I am thinking of making a Scale Manica with a hidden elbow cop inside for my sword arm.

Sextus Maximus wrote:Having a manica for SCA would be difficult since it will not cover the elbow entirely so that is the difficulty in the design. I am thinking of making a Scale Manica with a hidden elbow cop inside for my sword arm.

Thanks Sam, I am talking to him, but he does not use any of the materials I am looking for.

Sextus, Yes, I do understand that, but all I need to do is under-sling a low profile cop to make it legal, or turn the manica a bit sideways and extend one or two lames to protect the third point. In any case I do not believe it will be tough to adapt. I could also, even though it is not the agreed method of use, sling it under my arm, in witch case it would protect. That is the easy part, getting it is tougher for me.

Actually a scale manica is a good idea, and still documentable. What persona are you doing?

http://www.larp.com/legioxx/manica.html

Hope this helps!

A manica shouldn't be all that hard to make. Just pattern out your pieces on posterboard, that way you can make a set easily enough and wear it around to see where it binds.

Manica are made using simple curves so no dishing should be required. As you state a simple loprofile cop will solve the SCA requirement. I don't think aluminum will work, even though it is decoration, it will still be hit, so the alum. would need to be rather thick to survive combat.

Sextus and I took a swing at making a manica in spring steel a couple years ago. Despite relatively simple curves and lines they're deceptively difficult to get fully functional and protective. I don't mean to discourage your endeavor- in fact if you can form it, I'd be happy to fire it for you for free. Just be aware that it's not something you can just bang out in an hour and expect it to work well. It's going to be fiddly.

Anni, thanks for the link!

Thanks everyone.

Gaston, do you make them, then?

I've always wondered why nobody sticks a normal, SCA legal cop in the middle of the manica. Or a soupcan elbow!

We take FAR more unsightly and obtrusive liberties with Greco-Roman equipment in the name of "safety" than this. What's the problem, here???

Agreed.