The Armour Archive

Hello

I am trying like mad to figure out a way I can fight again. I have a detached retina that was surgically fixed. This means I have a higher likelihood that it will become detached again if I get hit in the head. I have written off wars and pole arm battles for the most part, but REALLY want to fight again. I don't particularly want to fence or do LARP. Not my thing. Does anyone know of any material that is highly impact resistant? My thought is that i will have a large mass on my head (a helmet and aventail) and if the foam or whatever absorbs the energy of the impact then the helmet would provide the mass and my head wouldn't accelerate too much, causing trauma to the eye. I know we have some military/police types here... maybe you have heard of something? Please help me, as I am fighting fairly severe depression and not being able to play SCA is part of it.

Pax
Anton

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"I fear all I have done is awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve."
--Admiral Yamamoto after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Why don't you consider a later period full plate harness with a helm securely belted or bolted to your breastplate. Possibly a grand bascinet tourney helm for example. A suspension harness with a padded arming cap might also help if mounted inside.

You could make up one of those odd helms for mounted combat with clubs like the one in the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art as an alternative, but these are pretty ugly.

These are both a knightmare to calibrate in (pun intended) and restrict your movement, but they will reduce the likelihood of injury.

two suggestions ...one ...we have alot of peole that use the karate head gear inside their helms just for that reason ...it is high impact foam .....that is very resilient ....and usually results in a very tight fit ...which is also very important ...if not that i have some foam that is very high impact.....but soft enough .....my e mail is drakken0000@aol.com

Thanks for the input, guys.

I may look into the karate headgear, I'll talk to the doctor about it. Drakken I'll email you and see whatcha got.

Any other opinions, guys?

Thanks a bunch.

Anton

I use foam pipe insulation in my greathelm and can barely feel a hit. You know it from the noise mostly. I use 3/4 neoprene pipe insulation and split it longways. I glue it in with the open part toward the metal. Good luck.

I've always wondered how well this stuff would work in a helm.

http://www.sorbothane.com/index.html

Tsar

Did you see the egg video?

I don't know how bad your detached retina is, but as a former boxer, I would be REAL careful...

It isn't the POWER of the blow that could do you in, the how often it happens (not acomment on your skill, BTW).

The foam in the helm would check some of the impact, but you still have to deal with momentum - and when your head snaps to on side, the retina will pull, and possibly detach, assuming it is the kind of detachment commonly refered to as "Boxer's Vision".

I'm not trying to disuade you, but is it really worth losing sight in one eye?

It was due to my diabetes... blood vessels form to compensate for poor circulation in the eye. These die and shrivel, tearing the retina. My doctor will probably tell me no, and I am slowly coming to the realization that after 12 years of fighting SCA on and off, the sport I love is no longer in my future. But I would be remiss if I did not try to find ANY way of getting out there again.

No, it's not worth losing what remains of the vision in the eye.. sigh... I guess I will be relegated to the fencing ranks... swish... poke... my what a lovely doublet you're wearing...

I hate to say it, but what about combat archery?