The Armour Archive

I'm not sure whether this post belongs here but this seemed to be the best spot for it, so here it goes. I am making armor for my friends and i and will probably be getting into the SCA as soon as we are decent enough to not look like complete asses (I am sure we'll look like asses, we just don't want to look like COMPLETE asses). So how do we make SCA legal weapons, what materials, padding, [img]http://www.armourarchive.org/ubb/confused.gif[/img] any and all relevent information concerning this topic would be much appreciated. Once again thx in advance

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Fortitudine Et Prudentia
"with fortitude and prudence"

Actualy your best bet is hear.
http://sca.org/officers/marshal/combat/armored/index.html
Pay paticular atention to the armour and weapon construction.
kingdome law may require some added armour. but the weapons for the most part are the same.
as far as looking like an ass just show up to a pratice to find out the worse that will happen is you might not get a chance to fight or the armour will look down right horid. but it will give you a place to start and maybe even contacts for places to work on armour.

ratan is easly found at one of these mail order groups. http://www.icefalcon.com/
probibly has the best price when ordering in bulk althougth to cut down on shiping they need to cut the ratan but they will cut to your specks. http://www.hhperkins.com/whoweare/swords.shtml
atlanta cultlery
http://216.245.165.123/cgi-bin/www11651.storefront
hhperkins and icefalcon are most talked about hear on the archive I have heard nothing bad about either of them.

there may be local supplyers that will save you shipping some of the locals may also have a piece or two they would sell at cost saving you the shiping time and the cost of mailing it. both of them offer volume discounts and icefalcon offers one to archivers.

measure thrice cut once.
cut the sword to lenth with a coping saw. hack saws will also work but take a while. dut through the outer bark all the way around then cut through this keeps splintering to a minamum. now take a sharp knife(I use a good utility knife beware the ones with the snap blade) cut off about 1/8 inch form both edges. this may take a few passes work slowly bit by bit. shape the grip to and egg shape in cross section to fit your hand cutting toard the butt of the sword not the blade. its easyer take off then put on so take you time. expecialy with fresh or wet ratan.

the padding is very open ended the blue foam can be found at target, walmart, green in the PX sold as camping pads usualy for around 6 to 10 bucks. some times other colors. get a feel for it before you start using other types of foam, neoprean, yoga mats, and nerf balls are just a small list of alternative matereals.
hockey tape works well for the grips and marking the striking edge. Fiber packing tape makes a good first layer spiral wraped on the ratan the one layer of duck tape. then the marking tape either the hockey tape or eletrical tape works well.

For trusting tips there are several styles and ever one thinks theres is the best. My method take a two inch strip of foam roll it on to it self so that it's hight is two inches with slightly larger then the ratan sword. add one more full roattion if you are making a polearm or grat weapon then tape it with a small piece of eletric tape. check compresion and diamiter. now take a piece of leather vegtabla taned preferably 6 oz. thiner then you belt about as thick as a dime or nickle then wrap it on the the bare ratan sword making it about 6 inches wide. now take it off spray it with a good spray adheasive or contact cement. also spray you sword put the thrusting tip on to the sword let it sit for a minet and wrap it with the leather strip covering the ratan and the trusting tip up to the top edge. now trim it so that there is no over lap in the leather. and trim all excess leather off the trusting tip. take and make two X shaped tape accross the tip.
now spiral wrap you weapons striking surface one layer of duck tape and then mark the striking surface.


edited for spelling probibly need to go through again for the same.

[This message has been edited by losthelm (edited 02-27-2003).]

Turambar!

Thanks for posting.

I'd really advise you to get in contact with your local SCA group _before_ you get too much of your armour made. They will have a lot of resources, tips and experience which will save you a lot of headaches.

I've had really sad experiences with guys who made great stuff than couldn't use it 'cos they'd overlooked one little thing in the rules...

Also it is hard to know how much to wear without having tried the combat. One guy I knew turned up in his own gear. It was nice, but was what I considered to be 3 sets of armour all worn at the same time. He could hardly move...

So drop down to your local practice, talk to the folks there, poke and pull at the armour (might be wise to ask first) and see if you can try some stuff out. That way, you'll be much better informed when it comes to makeing your own stuff.

Happy fighting!

Adam
/aethstan /SCA Drachenwald